Research Proposal to Study Sandplay Therapy as a Modlaity to Enhance Self-Esteem in SED Adolescents: Part I
Graduation Date
Summer 1993
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
Abstract
New Directions Adolescent Services, Inc., is interested in adding a new treatment component to the comprehensive services it offers emotionally disturbed adolescents. The purpose of New Directions is to enable emotionally disturbed, physically and sexually abused adolescents requiring intensive treatment to remain with their families, continue school, and become independent and productive members of the community. Extensive services treat the families of the adolescents through case management and family therapy. New Directions presently provides evaluation, care, treatment, and services to 12 adolescent clients (12 to 19 years old) in its partial day treatment program.
New Directions currently serves adolescent clients with severe problems related to sexual and/or physical abuse, affective disorders, thought disorders, adjustment reactions, depression, suicidal ideation, and interpersonal conflicts.
Executive Director of New Directions, Arnell Etherington. has identified an art therapist who has extensive training and experience to administer this treatment intervention (see resume of Robert A. Goulart. Appendix A).
This proposed research is to develop and evaluate a Pilot program which uses the unique qualities of sandplay therapy to enhance self-esteem (Appendix B). This study further intends to test a specific technique known as sandplay therapy as an adjunct intervention in a milieu setting. It is hypothesized that outcome expectancies and self-efficacy of emotionally disturbed adolescents will improve more significantly with this therapy than with art Therapy or psychoanalytic therapy.