Sandtray Therapy: Healing Through Play

Sandplay TherapySandtray TherapySomatic TherapyJungian TherapyInternal Family Systems

May 28

Sand may bring up memories of playing in the sand box as a kid or building a sandcastle on the beach; it can be associated with children’s play but is actually a powerful therapy tool that can be used with adults as well. Sandtray is a holistic therapy that involves a tray full of sand and a shelf full of various items that can be chosen by the client and placed in the sand to makes different scenes. The items often include animals, structures, trees, household items, creatures and many more. Working in the sand helps clients tap into imagination, curiosity and more creative aspects of their psyche. It has an ability to help the client access their nonverbal, subconscious and instinctual parts of their brain. Carl Jung had said that ‘Often the hands will solve something that the intellect has struggled with in vain.’ In the sandtray, clients may be able to make connections and have insights in a way that is not always possible with traditional talk therapy or cognitive approaches. The deeper parts of the psyche tends to express itself in images, symbols and metaphors rather than rational or logical thoughts.

What will a sandtray session look like? During a session, I may ask clients to make scenes based on prompts such as:

Create a scene that represents the life you are wanting for yourself.

Create a scene that represents something you are struggling with right now.

Create a scene that represents a certain time in your childhood.

Create a scene that represents the conflicted feelings and thoughts you are experiencing right now.

After a client creates their initial scene there may be more prompts to direct the client to continue to construct and contribute further to their scene. Then throughout the session I may ask the client to notice what happens in their body as they are placing the items or viewing the scene in order to deepen into the somatic aspect as well. Often, because of the tactile nature of the sand and placing items in the sand—this can elicit some emotional and somatic responses for the client. Clients also tend to report that feeling the sand in their hands as well as maneuvering the items has a calming effect for them.

Somatically, sandtray can contribute to creating a safe space externally that can also provide a sense of safety internally. Stephen Porges, in his polyvagal theory, tells us that the brain is always scanning for threat and safety in the environment—this process is called ‘neuroception’ and is happening all the time subconsciously and without our awareness. Sandtray, because of its soothing nature, can help the nervous system detect a ‘neuroception of safety’ and also helps the nervous system move from fight, flight or freeze into social engagement. Play can only be done when the nervous system is in ‘social engagement’ mode—when the body feels safe enough to explore and connect. Below there is a polyvagal chart that illustrates how the nervous system reacts when it detects threat or safety.

Clients that are doing trauma or grief work may benefit from sandtray because it allows the client to express their pain and deep emotions without having to process it through just talking alone. Clients doing IFS or ‘parts work’ may find that sandtray can be a helpful way to work with different parts of themselves. Externalizing the parts by placing them in a sandtray scene can be a great way to get to know them better, build a relationship with them, learn more about their dynamics and the roles they play in the inner system.