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Sand Tray ~ Play Therapy
What is Sand Tray Therapy
Sand Tray Therapy is a nonverbal, therapeutic intervention that makes use of sandboxes, small figurines, and sometimes water, to create scenes of miniature worlds that reflect a person’s inner thoughts, struggles, and concerns.
Sand Tray Therapy is a creative counseling technique where a person expresses their understanding of themselves, their world, and aspects of their reality through figurines or miniatures. The scenes created in a sand tray reflect the person's past and present inner thoughts, feelings, and hardships.
When is Sand Tray Therapy used
Sand Tray Therapy is a hands-on therapy, often used with those who have suffered some form of trauma, neglect, or abuse. Although Sand Tray is especially well suited for working with young children, who often cannot express their feelings in words, this technique is helpful for teens and adults who are having trouble expressing themselves or who suffered some form of severe emotional wounds. This method may also be used for anger, depression, anxiety, even relationship problems such as divorce, or learning disabilities.
What to expect
Sand Tray Therapy takes place in box-like containers referred to as sand trays. The trays are filled with sand that may be formed, along with miniature toys, to create a play world that reflects characteristics of real people and real experiences in their own lives. The client chooses from a large collection of toys and builds a small “world” in the tray that reflects internal conflicts in their lives. The therapist observes the choice and arrangement of toys without interruption, allowing the person to find answers within themselves. No cleanup is involved, as the therapist returns the figures after the session, thereby reinforcing validation of the unconscious expression.
How we know it is working
In Sand Tray Therapy, the therapist guides clients toward better understanding of the connection between the world they created in the sand and their inner world. By making changes in their make-believe world, clients are often empowered to make similar changes in their real world.
A key point is that the therapist provides a safe environment for the client to realize the root of their difficulties and gain insight through better understanding their unconscious conflicts.
Play Therapy
Other methods of Play Therapy include imaginary play with toys, board games, and puppets. Bibliotherapy uses literature to help children interpret stories, and how such writings relate to the child’s own difficulties. Heart and Soul Healing has canine assistants for high energy play and comfort from physical touch.
When provided with a safe space to express their feelings, children act out internalized "patterns" of behavior in their play, for example needing to win, be right, or withdraw from interpersonal conflict. The therapist can interpret and guide the child in developing new behavioral strategies.
“I am not what happened to me, I am who I choose to become.”
~ Dr. Carl Jung
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