Dori Pelz-Sherman and Stephen Olmsted
Journal of Sandplay Therapy
Volume 24, Issue 1, 2015
Keywords
Sandplay therapy, aspergers, autism, clinical examples, male, boy, child, children, neurobiology, integration, deintegration, reintegration, disintegration, developmental disorder, sensory integration, emotional regulation, arrow facings, directions, behavior, nonverbal communication, verbal communication, autism spectrum, ASD, ADD
Abstract
Individuals diagnosed with autistic spectrum disorder may have limited capacities for verbal communication, or they may communicate verbally in an unconventional manner. Sandplay therapy facilitates the expression of unconscious content and nonverbalized emotional issues. This paper articulates the salient aspects of autism that influence how sandplay therapists can conceptualize the therapeutic modality including nuances in sandplay therapy as a treatment with individuals diagnosed with autism. Guidelines for practice and documentation are discussed. Theoretical concepts are presented along with case material that explores integration, deintegration, reintegration and disintegration in the sandplay of two individuals with autism. Patterns of behavior in and out of the sand are outlined. While there is much diversity among individuals diagnosed with autism, themes emerge in the context of sandplay treatment that provide opportunities for the sandplayer. Within the “free and protected space,” as defined by Kalff, the individual with autism is not wrong, or delayed, or “obsessed,” or dysfunctional, or quirky; the child, and of course the adult as well, is whole, capable and creative.
German / Deutsch
Sandspiel Therapie mit Individuen auf dem Autistischen Spectrum
ZUSAMMENFASSUNG: Individuen mit der Diagnose einer Autismus-Spektrum-Störung, haben oft eine limitierte Kapazität der verbalen Kommunikation oder kommunizieren in unkonventioneller Art und Weise. Theoretische Konzepte werden mit Fallbeispielen präsentiert.
SCHLÜSSELWÖRTER: Sandspieltherapie, Asperger-SYndrom, Autismus, Fallbeispiele, männlich, Junge, Kind, Kinder, Neurobiologie, Integration, Deintegration, Reintegration, Zerfall, sensorische Integration, emotionale Integration, verbale Kommunikation
Spanish / Español
Térapie de Sandplay avec des Personnes avec L’Autisme
PALABRAS SIGNIFICATIVAS: La terapia de sandplay, aspergers, autismo, ejemplos clínicos, varón, muchacho, niño, niños, neurobiología, integración, deintegration, reintegración, desintegración, transtorno del desarrollo, integración sensorial, regulación emocional, “arrow facings,” la comunicación verbal.
French / Français
Terapia de Sandplay con Personas en el Espectro de Autismo
MOTS CLÉS: La thérapie par le jeu de sable, autisme, Asperger, exemples cliniques, mâle, garçon, enfant, enfants, neurobiologie, intégration, deintegration, réintégration, désintégration, désordre développemental, intégration sensoriel, régulation émotionnelle, communication verbale
Suggested Citation
Pelz-Sherman, D., & Olmsted, S. (2015). Sandplay therapy with individuals on the autism spectrum. Journal of Sandplay Therapy, 24(1). https://doi.org/10.61711/jst.2015.24.1.157
