Sand Tray Interventions
Sand tray focused counselling is where the conscious and unconscious parts of the psyche meet
Sand tray therapy is an expressive play process, which may be static or dynamic in nature. The child is invited to select items of interest from a collection of miniatures representing various themes (ie family, animals, fantasy, etc), which take on whatever meanings the child assigns to them. He or she is then instructed to create a world in the sand tray in a way that feels right to them. This process allows the child to symbolically create their inner and outer worlds, so that personal experiences can be translated into a concrete, three dimensional form.
The therapist observes the child’s story as it unfolds, and honours the child’s desire to talk or not talk during the process. There is no interpretation or analysis necessary as the therapeutic value lies in creating the world and having this witnessed by the therapist.
Benefits of sand tray focused counselling:
Sand tray therapy is an expressive play process, which may be static or dynamic in nature. The child is invited to select items of interest from a collection of miniatures representing various themes (ie family, animals, fantasy, etc), which take on whatever meanings the child assigns to them. He or she is then instructed to create a world in the sand tray in a way that feels right to them. This process allows the child to symbolically create their inner and outer worlds, so that personal experiences can be translated into a concrete, three dimensional form.
The therapist observes the child’s story as it unfolds, and honours the child’s desire to talk or not talk during the process. There is no interpretation or analysis necessary as the therapeutic value lies in creating the world and having this witnessed by the therapist.
Benefits of sand tray focused counselling:
- sand is a familiar medium with inherently soothing qualities
- is kinesthetic and allows sensory trauma memories to be released
- increases capacity for self-awareness as unconscious material comes to consciousness
- enhanced communication
- once externalized the experience can be viewed from a different perspective and reworked allowing the child to move towards resolution and a sense of mastery
- provides safe psychological distance from which to deal with emotional pain
- provides a sense of catharsis.
- the sand tray provides a sense of containment for overwhelming experiences
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