Silent group sandplay activates healing

Abstract

BACKGROUND : This paper describes the effect of silent group Sandplay (SP) with early adolescents as observed and reported in circumstances of deprivation, neglect and abuse. OBJECTIVE : The objective was to explore with childcare staff, group SP as an intervention with early adolescent participants. PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING : Nine childcare staff participated in an in-depth SP exploration involving a series of six group SP sessions with five children at a child protection organisation in a resource-constrained context. METHODS : Group SP offered in a particular way in a protective child and youth care environment facilitated an opportunity for inner processing and self-discovery. In-depth semi-structured interviews with childcare staff conducted both before and after group SP provided descriptions of the SP experience for both children and adult participants. RESULTS : The before-SP reports of the children's behaviour and demeanour highlighted wounding and after-SP observations indicated healing patterns. The before-SP topics included overwhelmedness, vulnerability, constrained resources, the need for change and culturally appropriate, accessible interventions. Themed descriptions after SP included a newfound desire to play and activation of healing for both child and adult participants. Healing processes indicated a desire to play, cooperation, openness, increased awareness, adaptation, grounding and belonging. The implications are potentially far-reaching in terms of the accessibility, efficiency and cultural suitability of providing group SP in child protection and community-based settings, particularly in contexts of deprivation, neglect and abuse.

HIGHLIGHTS • Silent Group Sandplay (SGSP) beneficial community-based intervention for neglect abuse and deprivation. • Stimulates a desire to play and activates healing processes. • Supports cooperation and a sense of belonging and benefits childcare provision. • Facilitates unique inner trauma processing and is a culturally suitable community-based intervention.