SANDT RAY THERAPY

Sandtray therapy is an non-verbal therapeutic approach led by the therapist or client, using sandtray and miniatures as means of communication.

Sandtray therapy is the combination of play and art therapy. Through metaphors, people describe their inner troubles. Sandtray therapy was developed by Margaret Lowenfeld and Dora Kalff based on Carl Jung's psychological approach. Many different techniques of various therapeutic approaches can be applied in the sandtray as well.

Sandtray therapy includes a blue sandtray, sand, water and various miniature figures representing the inner world of the human being to create a story. With these figures, the client is asked to create a world on the sand. Through metaphor, the client allows the reflection of his own inner world. It provides the opportunity to describe him/herself in a non-verbal way as much as verbally possible. It offers the opportunity to solve confusions, remove obstacles in  life and achieve self-acceptance. It helps the person to realize the past and present difficulties that cannot be revealed in life. It allows the body to process the emotions it stores through symbols from implicit memory.

The tray is limited; as a safe and protected area, it is for the client to discover memories and experiences that he/she has difficulty speaking and is uncomfortable with. The inside of the tray is blue, which is for giving a relaxing and refreshing feeling like the sky and the sea.

The reason for using sand is that it both leaves a good feeling in our body and creates space to give us the shape we want. You can draw something on it, create waves, shapes or just touch it. It can carry all its figures on it."The bond we establish with the sand reminds us of the bond we establish with the spirit within us." says Homeyer. In therapy, it is necessary to use real sand that occurs naturally. There are usually two trays in the therapy room, wet and dry sand.

The world or scene created through the figures reflects the inner world of the client. When the consultant completes the sandtray, the therapist and the client talk about what they have observed. After the consultant's conversation, he/she can make changes on the tray if he/she wishes. Many situations such as which theme the consultant prefers, which themes he/she avoids, the way he/she puts the miniatures on the tray, whether the tray is empty or full are made sense in the therapy.