The Effectiveness of Adlerian Counseling with Sandtray Therapy Technique to Reduce Anxiety
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.21093/tj.v7i1.11812Keywords:
adlerian counseling, anxiety, sandtray therapyAbstract
This study aims to examine the effectiveness of Adlerian counseling integrated with Sandtray Therapy in reducing anxiety levels among final-year university students. A quasi-experimental design with a one-group pretest–posttest model was employed. The participants consisted of 10 final-year students who exhibited moderate to high levels of anxiety as measured by an Adlerian-based anxiety scale. The instrument was validated using Spearman’s rank correlation and demonstrated satisfactory reliability based on Cronbach’s Alpha coefficient. Data were analyzed using the Wilcoxon Signed-Rank Test to compare anxiety scores before and after the intervention. The results showed a significant reduction in anxiety levels, with the average score decreasing from 73.0 (pretest) to 55.1 (posttest), and an average reduction of 17.9 points. Statistical analysis indicated a significant difference between pretest and posttest scores (Z = -2.803, p = 0.005). These findings indicate that Adlerian counseling integrated with Sandtray Therapy is effective in reducing anxiety among final-year students. This study suggests using this approach as a practical intervention strategy in university counseling services to help students manage anxiety and improve psychological well-being.
Downloads
References
Abbing, A., Ponstein, A., Van Hooren, S., De Sonneville, L., Swaab, H., & Baars, E. (2018). The effectiveness of art therapy for anxiety in adults: A systematic review of randomised and non-randomised controlled trials. PLoS ONE, 13(12), 1–19. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0208716
Adler, A. (2024). Understanding human nature the psychology of personality. Bod-Books on Demand.
Ariska, A., Yani, D. P., Purweny, H., Putri, L. S. M. M., & Sahid, V. I. (2024). Manajemen stres pada mahasiswa semester akhir Program Studi Manajemen Sekolah Tinggi Ilmu Ekonomi Tanjungpinang. PESHUM: Jurnal Pendidikan, Sosial dan Humaniora, 4(1), 790–806. https://doi.org/10.56799/peshum.v4i1.6700
Ashori, M., & Shamsi, A. (2023). The effect of adlerian play therapy on the alexithymia and social isolation of deaf students. International Journal of Play Therapy, 32(1), 10–21. https://doi.org/10.1037/pla0000192
Berutu, R., & Mutiawati, M. (2023). Understanding learning anxiety and mental health of final year students: A qualitative study. ProGCouns: Journal of Professionals in Guidance and Counseling, 4(1), 42–51. https://doi.org/10.21831/progcouns.v4i1.60000
Bosgraaf, L., Spreen, M., Pattiselanno, K., & Hooren, S. V. (2020). Art therapy for psychosocial problems in children and adolescents: A systematic narrative review on art therapeutic means and forms of expression, therapist behavior, and supposed mechanisms of change. Frontiers in Psychology, 11, 1–32. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.584685
Christian, D. D., McCarty, D. L., & Brown, C. L. (2021). Navigating adventure therapy: Using adlerian theory as a guide. The Journal of Individual Psychology, 77(3), 374–388. https://doi.org/10.1353/jip.2021.0026
Corbett, B. A., Muscatello, R. A., Klemencic, M. E., & Schwartzman, J. M. (2021). The impact of COVID?19 on stress, anxiety, and coping in youth with and without autism and their parents. Autism Research, 14(7), 1496–1511. https://doi.org/10.1002/aur.2521
Corey, G. (2023). Theory and practice of counseling and psychotherapy. Cengage.
Effendi, M., & Juita, F. (2024). Statistik non parametrik: Sebuah tinjauan aplikatif untuk penelitian sosial. Penerbit NEM.
Erba?, M. M. (2023). Adlerian therapy: A general review. International Journal of Innovative Approaches in Education, 7(2), 79–90. https://doi.org/10.29329/ijiape.2023.567.3
Evans, C. (2021). Trauma-informed adlerian play therapy: A case study. The Journal of Individual Psychology, 77(3), 362–373. https://doi.org/10.1353/jip.2021.0025
Fatimah, V., Ramli, M., & Wahyuni, F. (2024). Counseling Adlerian approach: A systematic literature review. Technium Social Sciences Journal, 54, 234–240. https://doi.org/10.47577/tssj.v54i1.10401
Febri, H. (2024). Stres no more: Strategi efektif mengelola stres di tengah kehidupan digital. Coram Mundo: Jurnal Teologi Dan Pendidikan Agama Kristen, 6(2), 54–71. https://doi.org/10.55606/corammundo.v6i2.383
Gong, X. W. (2024). Case studies of sandtray play in promoting recovery of children with psychological trauma. Hong Kong Journal of Mental Health, 50(1), 34–42. https://www.mhahk.org.hk/index.php/journal2024s/?lang=zh
Homeyer, L. E., & Sweeney, D. S. (2022). Sandtray therapy. Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003221418
Jayanti, S., & Adim, A. K. (2024). Konsep diri self-diagnose anxiety mahasiswa Prodi Ilmu Komunikasi Universitas Telkom. Jurnal Ilmu Komunikasi UHO: Jurnal Penelitian Kajian Ilmu Komunikasi dan Informasi, 9(4), 866–883. https://doi.org/10.52423/jikuho.v9i4.322
Jung, B. (2024). An analytical psychology perspective on suicide, depression and suicidal ideation: Therapeutic approaches through sandplay therapy. Journal of Symbols & Sandplay Therapy, 15(3), 1–18. https://doi.org/10.12964/jsst.24010
Keane, C., Waldeck, D., Holliman, A., Goodman, S., & Choudhry, K. (2021). Exploring the experience of anxiety among final year students at university: A thematic analysis. The Qualitative Report, 26(8), 2621-2630. https://doi.org/10.46743/2160-3715/2021.4874
Liang, J., Pan, J., & He, Y. (2024). Utilising sandplay therapy to support children with intellectual disabilities and complex mental health needs in China’s child welfare institutions: A case study. International Journal of Developmental Disabilities, 1–14. https://doi.org/10.1080/20473869.2024.2414136
Liang, Y.-W. M., & Rodriguez, C. M. (2025). When worlds collide: Impacts of personal self on counselor identity through the sandtray lens. Journal of Education and Social Development, 9(1), 9-16. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.16195367
Mason, M. (2022). An exploratory investigation of using sandtray in couples therapy. Psychological Applications and Trends, 27–31. https://doi.org/10.36315/2022inpact006
McCarty, D. L., & Christian, D. D. (2020). Using an adventure therapy activity to assess the adlerian lifestyle. Journal of Creativity in Mental Health, 15(3), 393–404. https://doi.org/10.1080/15401383.2019.1697405
Oetari, A. Y., Nishafa, D. K., Susanto, A. M., & Alhabsyi, B. (2024). Konseling adlerian dalam mengidentifikasi penanganan harga diri. Advice: Jurnal Bimbingan dan Konseling, 6(1), 23–31. https://doi.org/10.32585/advice.v6i1.5146
Parsons, M. (2023). Using sand tray therapy with individuals diagnosed with alzheimer’s disease. World Journal for Sand Therapy Practice®, 1(9), 1–15. https://doi.org/10.58997/wjstp.v1i9
Rahmawati. A., Agustini, A., Ramadhan, M. R., Zulfaa, N. M., & Nisrina, H. (2025). Gangguan kesehatan mental terhadap performa akademik mahasiswa tingkat awal. Educate : Journal of Education and Learning, 3(1), 1–15. https://doi.org/10.61994/educate.v3i1.329
Rasmussen, P. R. (2021). Adaptive reorientation therapy: An adlerian-based model of psychological treatment. The Journal of Individual Psychology, 77(1), 73–95. https://doi.org/10.1353/jip.2021.0005
Reid, M. (2021). Finding safety. In R. Grayson & T. Fraser, The embodied brain and sandtray therapy (1st edn, pp. 193–207). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003055808-14
Sauerheber, J. D., & Bitter, J. R. (2024). Getting up from the rocking chair: Adlerian interventions in anxiety disorders. The Journal of Individual Psychology, 80(4), 241–255. https://doi.org/10.1353/jip.00010
Schoonover, T., Jha, P., Romito, M., Arogundade, B., & DePinto, A. (2024). Sandtray therapy’s impact on trauma symptoms in adults. Journal of Creativity in Mental Health, 1–17. https://doi.org/10.1080/15401383.2024.2377410
Shooli, Z. A., Khodarahimi, S., Bougar, M. R., Rasti, A., Mazraeh, N., & Golchin, M. (2025). The role of emotional empathy and assertiveness in interpersonal success: Mediating effects of conflict management. The Journal of Psychology, 1–21. https://doi.org/10.1080/00223980.2025.2546861
Sweeney, D. S. (2021). Sandtray therapy. In H. G. Kaduson & C. E. Schaefer (Eds), Play therapy with children: Modalities for change (pp. 9–24). American Psychological Association. https://doi.org/10.1037/0000217-002
Wiersma, J. K., Freedle, L. R., McRoberts, R., & Solberg, K. B. (2022). A meta-analysis of sandplay therapy treatment outcomes. International Journal of Play Therapy, 31(4), 197-215. https://doi.org/2022-48948-001
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Authors who publish articles in TAUJIHAT: Jurnal Bimbingan Konseling Islam agree to the following conditions:
- Authors own the article's copyright and grant the journal rights for first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under CC-BY-SA or The Creative Commons Attribution – ShareAlike Licence.
- Authors may enter into separate additional contractual agreements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., posting it to an institutional repository or publishing it in a book), with acknowledgment of its initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their websites) before and during the submission process, as this can lead to productive exchange and earlier and more extraordinary citation of the published work.







