Sandplay is a therapeutic method which has been used for children, adults, and families. Sandplay usually includes two standing desk-sized sandboxes, one filled with dry sand and the other filled with wet sand. Many miniature figures and objects, small toys, ceramic objects, as well as shells, rocks, marbles, and feathers, etc., are displayed upon open shelves.

Click here to see examples of the objects on the shelves.

These richly symbolic objects are used by the client to create a three dimensional imaginal landscape in the sand. This is a form of projective, creative, imaginal play which, like dreaming, taps into the pre-verbal and non-verbal areas of the psyche. These scenes are created to express feelings, relationships, desires, fears, and conflicts. It is a particularly effective therapeutic method for adult clients who have traumas dating from their pre-verbal childhood. It is also, obviously, a powerful, and natural medium for working with children. Clients enact stories, create designs, build dream worlds and the therapist documents the scene with photographs, which can then be shared and compared over time. For further information please visit the Sandplay sites on my Links page.