Sandtray Therapy is a form of expressive therapy that can be used by adults, teens, and children.

In a sandtray therapy session, the client has access to a wide selection of miniature objects and figures which he or she places in trays of sand to create imaginary landscapes or to visualize past or present events.

Facilitated in a non-directive way by the therapist, the tactile experience of working with the sand and choosing objects or figures to position in the tray is a therapeutic experience in itself. No artistic or creative ability is required or expected. 

As the client creates these ‘miniature worlds’, they may find themselves accessing feelings and experiences that could not be put into words in traditional therapy, or that are out of a conscious awareness.

Play, often involving sand and toys, is the language of childhood but as adults we forget the spontaneity of play and become overly dominated by our cognitive side. Allowing our more imaginative and playful self to emerge in a sandtray process can be both revealing and healing, especially in relation to early experiences or traumatic events.

This enables clients to reflect on their life situation and explore solutions to their issues, while gaining greater self-acceptance and compassion.