What is Sandplay?

Sandplay is an expressive, “hands on” and “nonverbal” therapeutic approach which can serve as a compliment to talk therapy. Influenced by the teachings Carl Jung and Margret Lowenfeld, Sandplay is a therapeutic approach founded by Dora Kalff in the late 1950’s. Sandplay incorporates the use of shallow rectangular wooden boxes filled with sand, referred to as sand-trays, along with miniature objects selected and placed inside the trays by the patient enabling them to create miniature worlds reflective of their current situations or experiences. Aided by the therapist, patients increase awareness to the connection between the world they created in sand and their own inner worlds. Through recognition of metaphors, or themes in their miniature worlds, patients are often empowered to recognize conflicts, or emotional struggles within their lives and address them to improve their well-being.

What to expect?

At LOTUS, participants will be welcomed into a safe therapeutic space where they will be introduced to the sand -tray, a variety of miniature objects and receive short instruction on the Sandplay process. They are encouraged to pick miniatures from the therapist’s collection to place in the sand-tray and create their own miniature world. Trays can be worked in with both wet and dry sand. The process of Sandplay is commonly a quiet experience, uninterrupted by the therapist. This allows for the participant to uncover and investigate themes and meanings from their experiences on their own, in a safe and contained space. As themes emerge from the Sandplay process, they are discussed and analyzed by both the participant and therapist at session end. The goal is to gently increase the participant’s awareness to less conscious struggles they have been experiencing and enable healing through supportive self-realization.

Who is Sandplay for?

Sandplay is for anyone, from those that may be experiencing psychological and emotional struggles to those simply seeking a deeper understanding of themselves, their choices, behaviors and lives. Sandplay is an effective therapy for both adults and children. Sandplay is beneficial for a wide range of psychological diagnoses and therapeutic needs. Adults and children are encouraged to work in the sand and create “worlds” to uncover or express inner conflicts, provide emotional release, and gain perspective on their issues.