The Therapeutic Sandstory Method (TSM) is a newly developed, multimodal child psychotherapy intervention that integrates three expressive therapeutic pillars: sandtray therapy, therapeutic storymaking, and the use of therapeutic documents. This presentation introduces the TSM and reports on a qualitative case-study project involving five South African middle-school aged children experiencing emotional distress and behavioural challenges. Developed for use in resource-scarce settings, the TSM offers a structured yet flexible protocol designed to support children's meaning-making, emotional regulation, and identity development through symbolic play and narrative co-construction.
Guided by Narrative Therapy and social constructionist principles, the study documented and analysed each child's therapy process to explore how engagement unfolded, how sandstories were collaboratively created, and how these stories facilitated therapeutic change. Case material shows that children used the TSM to externalise problems, process complex emotions, and author alternative identity-rich narratives that strengthened their sense of agency and coherence. Themes emerging across cases highlight the importance of collaboration, the therapist's role as co-creator, and the value of therapeutic documents in consolidating new meanings.
The findings indicate that the TSM is an effective, developmentally attuned, and culturally adaptable short- to medium-term intervention for children; both in under-resourced and resourced contexts. Mechanisms of change and factors that support or hinder engagement are identified, contributing to the first formal articulation and evaluation of this method. Recommendations for refining the protocol include careful preparation for the storytelling phase and the incorporation of a definitional ceremony involving caregivers in the concluding phase to reinforce children's emerging narratives.
The presentation will outline the TSM protocol, illustrate its application through selected case examples, and share practical guidelines captured in a provisional implementation manual. Overall, the study offers initial evidence for the TSM as a promising new psychotherapeutic intervention for children and a valuable extension of narrative-informed sandtray practice.