Adlerian Sandtray Therapy in Counseling: Exploring the Dynamics of Abuse among Female Adolescents Under Shelter Protection in Malaysia.
Main Article Content
Abstract
Adolescent abuse is a profound mental health crisis that severely disrupts identity formation and internal working models of relationships. Standard verbal psychotherapy often struggles to access deeply encoded, non-verbal trauma narratives due to defensive avoidance or cognitive numbing. This study explored the lived experiences of abused female adolescents using Adlerian Sandtray Therapy integrated within therapeutic counseling sessions to examine how polyvictimization is symbolically externalized and processed. Utilizing a qualitative multiple-case study design, five female adolescents (aged 13–18) residing under state-regulated shelter protection in Peninsular Malaysia were selected through purposive sampling. Data was generated from unstructured, participant-led interviews embedded directly within a sequential counseling protocol. Thematic analysis was executed using Braun and Clarke’s framework, epistemologically sensitized by Adlerian constructs of lifestyle, inferiority feelings, and perceived belonging. Two primary themes emerged from the qualitative analysis: (1) Metaphorical projections: Symbols of perpetrators and power asymmetry, and (2). Dynamics of abuse experienced. AST functions as a powerful counseling “third language” that circumvents verbal resistance, offering a safe, non-threatening medium for the externalization of abuse dynamics, cognitive re-authoring, and psychological well-being..
Article Details
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
References
Adler, A. (1956). The Individual Psychology of Alfred Adler (H. L. Ansbacher & R. R. Ansbacher, Eds.). Basic Books
Ahmad, N.L. & Amin Nudin, N. Kes penderaan kanak-kanak di Malaysia: Caknakah kita? (2022)
Blummer, H. (1969). Symbolic Interactionism: Perspective and Methods. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall.
Bowen, G.A. 2006. Grounded Theory and Sensitizing Concepts. International Institute for Qualitative Methodology 1–2.
Bratton, S.C., Ray, D., Rhine, T. & Jones, L. 2005. The efficacy of play therapy with children: A meta-analytic review of treatment outcomes. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice 36(4): 376–390.
Braun, V. & Clarke, V. 2006. Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qualitative Research in Psychology 3(2): 77–101.
Braun, V. & Clarke, V. 2019. Reflecting on reflexive thematic analysis. Qualitative Research in Sport, Exercise and Health 11(4): 589–597.
Broadhead, R.S. & Rist, R.C. 1976. Gatekeepers and The Social Control of Social Research. JSTOR 23, No 3
Child Act 2001. 2006. Malaysia Child Act 1. The commissioner of law revision, malaysia.
Coyne, I.T. 1997. Sampling in Qualitative Research. Purposeful and theoretical sampling; merging or clear boundaries? Journal of Advanced Nursing 26: 623–630.
Creswell, J.W. 2013. Research Design Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods Approaches. Edisi ke-4. Sage Publications.
Creswell, J.W. & Creswell, J.D. 2018. Research Design: Qualitative, Quantative and Mixed Methods Approaches. Edisi ke-5. Sage Publication, Inc.
Creswell, J.W. & Poth, C.N. 2018. Qualitative Inquiry & Research Design: Choosing Among Five Approaches. Edisi ke-4. Sage Publication.
Denzin, N.K. 2012. Triangulation 2.0*. Journal of Mixed Methods Research 6(2): 80–88.
Dickson-Swift, V., James, E.L., Kippen, S. & Liamputtong, P. 2009. Researching sensitive topics: Qualitative research as emotion work. Qualitative Research 9(1): 61–79.
Figley, R.C. 2002. Compassion Fatigue: Psychotherapists’ Chronic Lack of Self-Care. Psychotherapy in practice 58 (11)
Finlay, L. 2002. Negotiating the Swamp: The Opportunity and Challenge of Reflexivity in Research Practice. Sage Publications 2, No. 2: 209–230.
Flewitt, R. 2005. Conducting research with young children: Some ethical considerations. Early Child Development and Care 175(6): 553–565.
Gearing, R.E., El-Bassel, N., Ghesquiere, A., Baldwin, S., Gillies, J. & Ngeow, E. 2011. Major ingredients of fidelity: A review and scientific guide to improving quality of intervention research implementation. Clinical Psychology Review
Herce, N.B., Alda, O.I. & G, Marrodan.L. 2024. Sandtray and Sandplay in the Treatment of Trauma with Children and Adolescents: A Systemic Review. World Journal for Sand Therapy Practice 2(1): 1–23.
Homeyer, L.E. & Sweeney, D.S. 2022. Sandtray Therapy: A Practical Manual. Sandtray Therapy Edisi ke-4. Routledge.
Institute for Public Health. (2024). National Health & Morbidity Survey (NHMS) 2023: Non-Communicable Disease and Healthcare Demand - Key Findings. Ministry of Health Malaysia.
Jamaludin, L., Johari, K.S.K., Amat, S. & Lee, G.M. 2018. The Effectiveness of Adlerian Group Play Therapy-based Counseling Intervention on the Holistic Wellness of Neglected Children. International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences 8(4): 1242–1253.
Kamis, C. & Copeland, M. 2024. Childhood maltreatment associated with adolescent peer networks: Withdrawal, avoidance, and fragmentation. Child Abuse and Neglect 158
Kimmel, D.C. & Weiner, I.B. 1985. Adolescence: A Developmental Transition.
King, J.L., Kaimal, G., Konopka, L., Belkofer, C. & Strang, C.E. 2019. Practical Applications of Neuroscience-Informed Art Therapy. Journal of the American Art Therapy Association 36(3): 149–156.
Kottman, T. 2023. Adlerian Applications of sandtray play therapy. World Association of sand therapy profesionals 1, no 3
Kusumandari, R.B. 2025. Trauma-Informed Game-Based Learning: A Technological Approach to Enhancing Children’s Resilience in Post- Disaster Education. International Journal of Learning, Teaching and Educational 24, No 7(Trauma): 611–623.
Landreth, G.L. 2012. Play Therapy: The Art of the Relationship. Routhledge.
Lee, G.M., Johari, K.S.K., Mahmud, Z. & Abdullah, M.N. 2018. Sandtray for Children of Divorced Parents. International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences 8(4): 1203–1213.
Lincoln, Y.S. & Guba, E.G. 1985. Naturalistic inquiry hlm. 1–416. Beverly Hills, CA: Sage Publications.
Lowenfeld, M. 1935. Play in Childhood. New York, London: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Malchiodi, C.A. 2023. Chapter 1: Handbook of expressive arts therapy hlm. 1–18 www.guilford.com/p/malchiodi9.
May, T., Younan, R. & Pilkington, P.D. 2022. Adolescent maladaptive schemas and childhood abuse and neglect: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy. John Wiley and Sons Ltd.
Merriam, S.B. & Tisdell, E.J. 2016. Qualitative research: A guide to design and implementation. Edisi ke-4. A Wiley Brand.
Muda, T.F.M.B.T. & Alwi, E.A.Z.B.E. 2012. Care and protection against child abuse: With special reference to Malaysia child act 2001. Asian Social Science 8(1): 202–208.
Miles, M.B., Huberman, A.M. and Saldana, J. (2014). Qualitative Data Analysis: Sourcebook Methods. Sage, London.
Paslan, N.A., Abdul Hanid, M.F., Zaiden, F., Salleh, S. & Raimi, N.F. 2025. Global Research Trends in Educational Counselling: A Bibliometric Analysis from 1976 to 2024. International Journal of Learning, Teaching and Educational Research 24, No 10(Counselling): 723–746.
Pillow, W.S. 2003. Confession, catharsis, or cure? Rethinking the uses of reflexivity as methodological power in qualitative research. International Journal of Qualitative Studies in Education 16(2): 175–196.
Ramalingam, N. & Alavi, K. 2021. Cabaran pekerja sosial dalam mengendalikan pengurusan kes penderaan kanak-kanak di taska. Universiti Malaysia Terengganu Journal of Undergraduate Research 3(1): 99–110.
Ramsey, L.C. & Zaporozhets, O. 2015. Windows into families: Using sand tray to assess families post-trauma for counseling in a cross-cultural context 1–9.
Rauch, S.L., Van Der Kolk, B.A., Fisler, R.E., Alpert, N.M., Orr, S.P., Savage, C.R., Fischman, A.J., Jenike, M.A. & Pitman, R.K. 1996. A Symptom Provocation Study of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Using Positron Emission Tomography and Script-Driven Imagery. Arch Gen Psychiatry 53: 1–8. http://archpsyc.jamanetwork.com/.
Roesler, C. 2019. Sandplay therapy: An overview of theory, applications and evidence base. Arts in Psychotherapy 64: 84–94.
Ryff, C. D. (1989). Happiness is everything, or is it? Explorations on the meaning of psychological well-being. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 57(6), 1069–1081.
Sprang, G., Clark, J.J. & Whitt-Woosley, A. 2007. Compassion Fatigue, Compassion Satisfaction, and Burnout: Factors Impacting a Professional’s Quality of Life. Journal of Loss and Trauma 12(3): 259–280.
Tornero, M.D.L.A. & Capella, C. 2017. Change during psychotherapy through sand play tray in children that have been sexually abused. Frontiers in Psychology 8(MAY): 1–12.
Tufford, L. & Newman, P. 2012. Bracketing in qualitative research. Qualitative Social Work 11(1): 80–96.
UNICEF East Asia and the Pacific Regional Office. 2022. Strengthening mental health and psychosocial support systems and services for children and adolescents in East Asia and Pacific Region Malaysia country report 2022. www.burnet.edu.au.
van der Kolk, B. 2014. Praise for The Body Keeps the Score.
van Nes, F., Abma, T., Jonsson, H. & Deeg, D. 2010. Language differences in qualitative research: Is meaning lost in translation? European Journal of Ageing 7(4): 313–316.
Yin, R. K. (2018). Case Study Research and Applications: Design and Methods (6th ed.) Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.