Sand tray therapy for adults and adolescents is one of the methods I use to assist clients to access and process past and current issues, wounds and traumas that currently interferes with their current lives.

Play Room Section of Office

Utilizing a Sand Tray containing dry sand, the client randomly selects as many or as few miniature objects as s/he chooses and creates a “scene” or “picture” in the sand. The objects available are animals, people, houses and abodes of all sorts, trees, soldiers and warriors, bridges, fantasy and religious figures and objects, etc However in contrast to other modalities, the “hand” and “unconscious” mind directs the process.

There are no “right” or “wrong” ways of creating a sand tray. The creation of the sand tray is powerful in itself and now words are necessary although people often use words to express what is happening in the “picture.” It reflects the client’s conscious and unconscious present state. The sand itself adds a kinesthetic experience which allows for body-mind connection with an associated validation and acknowledgment of one’s reality and thus, offers the opportunity for deeper healing.

Sand therapy objects

The client is invited to “be with” the tray silently and allow its unconscious significance to surface to the client. The therapist may ask a question or offer a reflection but the therapist does not interpret. Rather I listen to the unique meaning that the picture has for the client. Derived from “Art Therapy” its advantage is that no artistic skills are required. Clients are welcome to elect when to “do” sand trays whether once or twice during the course of many therapeutic sessions or weekly or bi-monthly or once a month. The goal is to provide a client a picture of his/her therapeutic journey.

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