Sand Tray Therapy

“The creation of something new is not accomplished by the intellect but by the play instinct.” – Carl Jung

What is sand tray therapy?

Sand tray is an expressive therapy used to “show” rather than talk about the inner world using sand and miniature figures.

Using a non-verbal modality of therapy allows you to create symbolic worlds that reflect your inner experiences, feelings and conflicts. This method helps individuals, both children and adults, externalize their internal struggles in a tangible, creative way, promoting healing, insight, and problem-solving when verbal expression is difficult, particularly for trauma survivors.

How does sand tray help?

Nonverbal Expression: The use of sand and miniatures offers a powerful, creative outlet for feelings and ideas that words alone cannot capture.

Engages the Right Brain:

The symbolic and creative nature of the activity stimulates the right side of the brain, which processes emotions, music, and art.

Symbolic Representation:

The sand and objects act as symbols, allowing for a deeper, more intuitive connection to one’s inner life and unconscious thoughts.

Tangible and Interactive:

The tactile experience of sand and the ability to manipulate figures provides a concrete medium to work through and resolve conflicts.

Is this just for kids?

Adults can benefit from this modality of therapy just as much as kids. In fact, it can be especially helpful in making progress if you find yourself talking about the same things over and over again in talk therapy.

We use sand tray therapy for both kids and adults at The Well!

How does a sand tray session work?

The Setup: When you get to session your therapist provides an empty sand tray and shelves of miniature figures and objects. We have a lot of cool figures and objects to choose from and they are curated and set up with intention for you to engage with easily.
Creation: You will select figurines that you resonate with, gather them and arrange them in the sand tray to construct a 3D scene or world.
Externalizing the Inner World: This process allows you to express complex emotions, experiences, and internal conflicts that may be hard to articulate verbally. This process also allows you to expand your perspective and make new connections.
Therapeutic Processing:

After the scene is built, your therapist engages with you to discuss the tray, helping you to recognize connections between your creation and your inner world and inviting new ways of relating to yourself and the world around you.
Our therapists are trained specifically in this process. They have taken hours of training and special supervision to utilize this modality

How does this differ from play therapy?

Sand tray can fit under the umbrella of play therapy, utilizing attunement and limit setting, but more of an emphasis on patterns and symbols in order to track progress. They are both expressive and experiential modalities that shift the focus from what you are thinking to what you are doing. It is an embodied approach to therapy.

Who does sand tray benefit? How do I know I'm a good fit for this?

Utilizing this type of therapy can relieve symptoms of trauma, anxiety, depression. It is effective for identity exploration, perspective taking, and building self confidence and is well known for helping young children with behavioral issues.

For adults, if you are feeling stuck in traditional talk therapy or wanting to process trauma in a more embodied way – this is for you! If you are someone who intellectualizes as a defense mechanism and feel constantly in “go” mode, this process will challenge you to slow down and connect to your inner world in an authentic and less defensive way.

“Being able to process in therapy using the sand was surprisingly helpful. It was different than what I did before in talk therapy but I found new insights I really needed that I don’t think I would have gotten to just by talking.”

Not sure if this is for you?

Reach out for a free 15 minute consultation to see if this is the right next step.

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Play is the opposite of survival mode.

When we play our bodies must be in a state of safety – and this is neurologically opposed to a state of survival. Play fosters growth, creativity and connection. Survival is focused on coping, managing and assessing danger. Play and creativity shift our nervous system and brain out of chronic stress and into freedom and relaxation.

Schedule a Free Consultation

There are many ways to connect with us. You can fill out this form and we will get in touch with you. Or you can schedule directly on our calendars for a free 15 minute consultation during a time you know already works for you.

We would love to connect first and find out what your needs are! When it comes to therapy…it really matters that you find the right fit! We have a team of highly trained and warm, down to earth, creative therapists. If we aren’t the right fit, we will help you find resources to take the next step. Reach out here and we will get you started.

If you are experiencing an emergency:
Call 1-800-273-TALK (8255) to reach a 24-hour crisis center, text MHA to 741741, call 911, or go to the nearest emergency room.

We are a private practice that offer a range of cash pay services. We partner with Mentaya to support your out-of-network insurance benefits and can use an easy benefits calculator to see what your reimbursement will be. We also accept HSA/FSA and partner with Arizona ESA for students.