Sandplay Therapy

Sandplay is evidence-based and combines beautifully with other therapeutic play as well as integrating with talking therapy.

Let me tell you a bit more.

Sandplay therapy originated in the 1920’s with Margaret Lowenfeld’s "World Technique," which allowed children to express emotions through miniatures in sand. In the 1950’s, Dora Kalff developed this into modern Sandplay Therapy by integrating Jungian psychology and Eastern philosophy. Techniques differ today, just like most practices, so here is my way of working and some of the theories that I hold in mind during sessions.

The ideal sandtray is wooden, 28 ½ inches by 19 ½ inches and 3 inches deep. The sides and bottom of the tray are often blue, which can represent water, but also represents the unconscious. The sandtray represents both the inner and outer world of the client, holding space as the figurines are used for creative expression. (You can see more about their symbolism in the box to the right >>)

Whilst a client is processing through play, I am in observation mode. Aspects I take into consideration revolve around the story, setting, symbols and overall experience. What meaning do we both give to the symbols being used, what is the theme and how is the client interacting with the sand, symbols and me.

I am also considering how appropriate the tray and play are. Each therapist is different but I find three theoretical frameworks particularly helpful. Mahler described new-born infants going from normal autism and symbiosis into the separation-individuation phases around 36 months. Neumann started with intra-uterine embryonic phase moving through the phallic-chthonian, magic phallic, warlike, solar warlike and solar rational ego states by around 12 years of age. Hill described a more fluid experience of individuation through the static feminine, dynamic masculine, static masculine and dynamic feminine.

These theories may not make much sense to you, but that’s why I’m the therapist! With children I hold these theories in mind based on what I see and check them through supervision, informing the therapeutic process. With adults, I still use supervision but may make some of these interpretations part of an expanded process through talking therapy.

All of these processes are going on at the same time, a sort of global listening, or in coaching language level 3 listening. In transpersonal terms this is being connected to the Field, being aware of what is going on in the sandtray but also in us and outside the room. I end with a reminder to come back to the body and the experience. Theories are lovely to try and make sense of something but sandtray therapy works best through Jungian typology. I reflect on what is going on through the order of body first, brain last - Feeling, Sensation, Intuition and Thinking. More on that in a blog post anon.