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.

Need help finding the right therapist?
Find Your Match

Meet the specialists

 

Sandplay therapy is a non-verbal, expressive therapeutic approach where individuals use miniature figures and a sandbox to create scenes that reflect their inner experiences. It taps into the unconscious, allowing healing and self-discovery by fostering a safe, symbolic space for emotional exploration and integration without needing verbal articulation.

— Amy Belcastro-Andrews, Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor in Westerville, OH

I am a certified Systemic Sand Play Therapist, and I use this technique to help clients work through trauma and family discontent that they may have experienced.

— Melissa Marshall, Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor Supervisor in Timonium, MD

I 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
 

I have been using this modality with children, adolescents, and adults for almost 20 years and find that it complements both play therapy and traditional talk therapy by providing a rich and powerful means of self-expression and exploration of significant issues.

— Robin Knoblach, Clinical Psychologist in Herndon, VA

Sandplay therapy is a non-verbal, expressive therapeutic method developed by Swiss Jungian analyst Dora Kalff drawing from the work of Carl Jung, Margaret Lowenfeld, and Tibetan & Zen Buddhism. Jung, whose work provides the foundation for sandplay therapy, understood almost a hundred years ago that the mind and body were inextricably linked. In sandplay, this link is seen again and again in both the symbolic activity of the psyche and the embodied experience of healing and change.

— Jill Corvelli, Licensed Professional Counselor in Portland, OR
 

I have completed numerous sandplay workshops where I have gained knowledge and experience regarding specific skills and techniques used in sandplay work. This is a unique experiential process where children (and parents) can freely express themselves through creating a tangible and visible narrative. Sandplay is a great form of therapy for any challenge a client may be facing, especially trauma and communication.

— Pamela Norris, Licensed Professional Counselor in Highland Village, TX

I have received considerable training in Sandplay Therapy, an evidence-based methodology that can be effective with children, adults, and teens in processing trauma and other events. Sandplay Therapy allows the client to tap into inner strengths.

— Lynne Cohen, Mental Health Counselor in Nashville, TN
 

I am a Registered Integrative Sandtray Therapist. During my play therapy certification training, I fell in love with Sandtray therapy & knew I would continue on this journey. I use it when working with adults to help them connect words (the left brain) to the their memories & emotions (the right). As someone who has personally experienced the power of sandtray, I am equally amazed when I see how it transforms my clients.

— Monique Randle, Clinical Social Worker in North Little Rock, AR

I have been using sand tray therapy successfully with clients on a regular basis since 2017 and have an extensive collection of miniatures for use in the sand tray. I receive supervision for my sand tray work from my supervisor, who also uses a sand tray in her work.

— Lauren Krzyzaniak, Licensed Professional Counselor in Saginaw, MI