EXPLORING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF SAND PLAY THERAPY ON EMOTIONAL REGULATION AMONG AUTISM STUDENTS USING THE FUZZY DELPHI METHOD

This study evaluates the effectiveness of sandplay therapy as an intervention to enhance emotional regulation among students with autism in Malaysia. Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition that significantly affects children's communication abilities, social interactions, and emotional management. The Emotion Regulation Theory (Gross, 2002) is utilized to explain how individuals manage and control their emotions in various contexts, supporting the understanding of how sandplay therapy can help students with autism regulate their emotions more effectively. Through the Fuzzy Delphi Method (FDM) approach, this research analyzes the impact of sandplay therapy on the development of emotional regulation skills among students with autism in special education environments. The findings indicate that a systematic and structured sandplay therapy approach can significantly stimulate the development of socio-emotional skills in students with autism. This intervention provides a safe and therapeutic platform for students to express emotions and build meaningful relationships with peers through controlled sandplay activities. The research results also highlight the potential of sandplay therapy as a cost-effective and easily implemented intervention method in supporting the emotional development of students with special needs, particularly in the context of inclusive education in Malaysia."