A Study on the Images Used in Sandplay Therapy by Children Who Experienced the Gyeongju Earthquake

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the themes and images in the sandplay scenes of children who experienced the 2016 Gyeongju earthquake. The subjects of this study were children aged 3 to 6 years, and a total of four sessions of individual sandplay therapy was conducted once a week for 40 minutes per session. The children's stories were collected and their behaviors were categorized into themes and symbols commonly expressed. We identified a total of seven themes: attack, confusion, protection, precious things, mourning, emptiness, and energy to change. Individual sandplay therapy with the children was found to have a positive effect on their psychological recovery. We observed a decreasing tendency to use figures of soldiers, weapons, and religious spiritual images as they stabilized and their need for protection diminished, while images of construction, building facilities, and treasure increased over time.