| Sandtray therapy is an expressive form of | | | | to begin the processing phase by saying, "Tell me |
| psychotherapy in which clients use miniature figures | | | | about your scene," the client may be experiencing |
| to create scenes in the sand. Most sandtray | | | | feelings as she creates her scene. If the client is |
| therapists use a tray that is 30 x 20 x 3 inches with | | | | experiencing an emotion after creating the sandtray |
| a blue floor and blue sides. The advantage of | | | | scene, I might start the processing phase of therapy |
| sandtray over traditional talk therapy is clients are | | | | by saying, "It looks like you're feeling something. |
| allowed to create metaphors, which allow them to | | | | What is it like to create this scene?" In the humanistic |
| express feelings symbolically rather than verbally. | | | | approach to sandtray processing, the focus is on a |
| Sandtray therapy is a type of play therapy (Flahive | | | | here-and-now exploration of emotions. During this |
| and Ray, 2007) and like play therapy affords clients | | | | phase of sandtray therapy, my main goal with the |
| an activity-based mode of expression. Homeyer and | | | | client is to facilitate a process of exploration, |
| Sweeney (1998) noted that sandtray provides a safe | | | | expression, awareness and discovery. |
| psychological distance for clients. This distance can be | | | | Theory of Change |
| very beneficial to traumatized or bereaved clients | | | | All humanistic therapies focus primarily on the quality |
| who may avoid direct verbal expressions of painful | | | | of the therapeutic relationship. Humanistic sandtray |
| emotions. | | | | therapy is based upon a deep and accepting |
| Like many forms of psychotherapy, there are | | | | therapeutic relationship and an approach to sandtray |
| numerous theoretical approaches to sandtray | | | | processing that focuses on here-and-now |
| therapy, but in this article, only two approaches will | | | | experiencing. Humanistic sandtray theory emphasizes |
| be mentioned: Jungian and humanistic sandtray | | | | the role of awareness in psychological growth and |
| therapy. Most Jungian therapists actually call sandtray | | | | change. I change not by trying to be something |
| therapy "sandplay therapy." Many Jungian therapists | | | | other than who I am but rather I change by being |
| believe that that it is unnecessary for clients to | | | | fully aware of how I am (Carson, 2003). This theory |
| discuss their scenes after they create them. In other | | | | of change has several implications but let's focus on |
| words, these therapists believe that creating a | | | | two of them: self-acceptance and self-awareness. If |
| sandplay scene is in and of itself a complete | | | | I do not have to be something I am not, I can |
| experience. I would agree that the actual creation of | | | | accept myself. In other words, this theory promotes |
| sandtray scenes is very therapeutic but disagree that | | | | self-acceptance. If I truly believe that deep down in |
| it is sufficient for growth and change. | | | | the core of my being that I am acceptable and |
| In humanistic sandtray therapy, the creation phase of | | | | okay-and many people do not believe this-then being |
| sandtray therapy sets a tone for exploration and | | | | more aware of myself is a good thing. However, if I |
| discovery as clients look at the miniatures and find | | | | believe that the real me is unacceptable, knowing |
| connections to them. I usually ask clients to, "Create | | | | myself is not a good thing. In fact, if I believe that |
| a scene of your life the way it is now." Some clients | | | | who I really am is unacceptable, it would make sense |
| get lost in the process of arranging the miniatures | | | | to avoid knowing myself. |
| just the way they want them. If the creation phase | | | | Given the importance of awareness in this theory of |
| is a meaningful experience for clients, if they are | | | | change, it is critical for humanistic therapists to be |
| seeing and thinking about aspects of their lives that | | | | highly skilled in facilitating client awareness. By |
| they normally do not focus on, then the processing | | | | focusing on in-the-moment experiencing, therapists |
| phase-talking about the scene and experiencing it-has | | | | create an environment in which clients pay attention |
| begun internally. Moving to the verbal processing | | | | to how they are and what they are feeling. Unlike |
| phase is much more natural when clients allow | | | | Jungian sandplay, emphasis is placed upon awareness |
| themselves to experience the creation phase. | | | | rather than insight. |
| Though it is typical for humanistic sandtray therapists | | | | |