Sandplay Therapy
Sandplay therapy, is an experiential therapeutic approach where clients build their own world using miniature toys or figurines and colored sand. A sandplay-trained therapist will view the client’s scene as a reflection of their life, thoughts, feelings and concerns, and help him or her to interpret the sand tray as an opportunity to resolve conflicts, remove obstacles, and gain acceptance of self. Sandplay therapy is often used to address trauma or abuse and can be particularly useful for clients (both adults and children) who have trouble expressing themselves verbally. A sandplay therapist's office is equipped with a specially proportioned sand tray and allows clients to express themselves in a safe and supportive space. Think this approach might be right for you? Reach out to one of TherapyDen’s sandplay therapy experts today.
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I am a Certified Sand Tray Therapist and enjoy utilizing sand tray for many topics my clients bring to therapy. "Is that just for kids?" No! It's great for children who cannot completely communicate their thoughts and feelings yet and because children learn and express through play. However, in my experience it is even more beneficial for adults because they are able to be more insightful about their tray. Sand tray is excellent for anyone who doesn't want to only do traditional talk therapy.
— Kimberly Fann, Mental Health Counselor in Oviedo, FLMichele is in the process of completing her Registered Play Therapist (RPT) credential. Michele also enjoys utilizing expressive interventions, such as sand tray and art.
— Michele Munday, Licensed Professional Counselor in LEWES, DE
The Sandtray provides a safe, contained space to express and explore your inner world in a tangible way. The tray can be used with or without a prompt. Sometimes, the tray can help communicate or illustrate something words cannot. The scenes created with a tray can help clients experience emotional release, gain new realizations, and practice out fictitious change leading to real change in their life. I utilize sandtray therapy on its own as well as in conjunction with parts work and EMDR.
— Jasmine Hiland, Associate Marriage & Family Therapist in Nashville, TNMy office is filled with figurines and toys with which you child can use to create a sandtray or "mini-world" in order to express their unconscious material. As a sandplay therapist, I hold the safety in the space and the relationship so that your child is free to create in the sand that which is beyond words to express. Some clients say that doing sandplay is like "dreaming, while awake." And like dreams, oftentimes, important material comes up as an offering to work through and overcome.
— Skye Horie, Psychotherapist in Wailuku, HI
Like play therapy, sand tray is a fantastic way to get to the root of some issues without always having to come up with the words to explain it. It allows our brains to access the deeper parts to begin to heal itself.
— Evan Woodall, Counselor in Heath, TXI took a semester long class dedicated to sandtray therapy and continue my education in sandtray therapy by attending and presenting at local sandtray trainings and conferences. I have served as a board member for Austin SandTray Association for 3+ years and am a co-founder of the Texas SandTray Association. I currently serve as Executive Director and Treasurer for the Trxas SandTray Association.
— Lacey Fisher, Licensed Professional Counselor in Austin, TX
Sand tray therapy provides the client with a method of exploring their world along with their fears and states of regulation without having to talk about themselves with the therapist. The therapist explores the sand tray creation with the client and looks at potential correlations to life experiences. Sand tray therapist is a non-evasive method of exploring past trauma and current life struggles. The client is welcome to share as much or as little as they are comfortable with the therapist.
— Larry Colby, Licensed Professional Counselor in FREDERICKSBURG, VAI have sought out specialized training and supervision in sand tray therapy. This is a modality that is appropriate for both children and adults. It consists of utilizing a specially proportioned tray of sand and a variety of figures. Clients are able to create a "world" in the tray with the figures. This technique allows clients to access feelings, perceptions and experiences which may be outside of their everyday awareness. When these become illustrated in the tray, processing can begin.
— Sarah Stein-Wolf, in Greenville, NC