This is a case study of sandtray therapy to an institutionalized child with
stealing symptoms. The subject experienced his parents’ divorce and loss of
nurturing, and complained of maladjusted problematic behaviors such as stealing,
anxiety, depression, and withdrawal. I constructed a safe and trustful maternal
relationship with the client, and induced him to experience the process of
establishing self by freely expressing the inner energies through total 32 sandtray
therapy sessions.
Analysis about the process of sendtray therapy shows that through expressing
the oppressed inner frustrations and emotions, the child emotionally stabilized and
established his self, and his stealing, anxiety, depression, and withdrawal symptoms
were relieved. By this case study, I proved that sandtray therapy is an effective
treatment to institutionalized children with stealing symptoms.