Sandtray therapy is a modality that uses a tray of sand, water, and an extensive variety of miniatures to create (demonstrate) stories that represent an individual’s inner and outer world.  The therapeutic modality may help and individual process their known or unknown past or current challenges.  The trained clinician serves as a witness to the “build” and ensures the same safe space that is created within the therapy office. 

 

The foundation of sandtray therapy states that we use our entire brain to process information.  This processing is done when we utilize the right hemisphere (picture focused) with the left hemisphere (language focused) to interpret new information.  The result is processing that is done within the “Free and protected space” (Kalff, 2003) provided by the therapist. 

 

Sandtray is completed in a playful way that is often non-threatening for the client.  It can be conducted by using verbal or nonverbal communication.  The outcome is that the client and the therapist will process the information with trust and curiosity.