Using Sandplay in a Creative Arts Therapeutic Intervention Program for Depression in Elementary School Children
Graduation Date
Summer 2004
Document Type
Master's Thesis
Document Form
Degree Name
Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy
Degree Granting Institution
Notre Dame de Namur University
Program Name
Art Therapy
Dean
Lizbeth Martin, PhD
First Reader
Richard Carolan, EdD, ATR-BC
Second Reader
Arnell Etherington, PhD, MFT, ATR-BC
Abstract
Sunshine Gardens Elementary School in the South San Francisco Unified School District is interested in sponsoring a grant for a sandplay psychotherapy program for the academic year 2004-2005 to help children recover from acting out behaviors and other common symptoms of masked depression and depression. This program will be an adjunct to their on-site school-based counseling program, which includes art therapy and play therapy.
This grant discusses why and how sandplay therapy will aid in the reduction for these behaviors and improve the lives of these children. The results of sandplay therapy will be measured by two frequently used assessment tools: the Children’s Depression Inventory and the art-based assessment Draw a Person in the Rain. Post Intervention Surveys will be completed by the participants and their teachers. This grant proposal also discusses therapeutic goals of the program, and includes a projected annual budget for the first year of operation.