Sandplay Therapy can be helpful for almost anyone in resolving issues on a deep unconscious level.
It is especially helpful for people who have suffered trauma or loss.
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Sandplay Therapy happens in a free and protected space of empathy and deep listening.It is well known in the children's mental health field and its effectiveness has been documented in the books: Trauma Through A Child's Eyes by Peter Levine and Maggie Kline and Helping Abused and Traumatized Children by Elana Gil. It is also a wonderful therapy for adults and is now recognized as a branch of analytic therapy.
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Sandplay therapy as taught by the Canadian Association for Sandplay Therapy is a psychotherapeutic process for children and adults developed by Dora Kalff in the 1950s based on some of the theories of Carl Jung about the collective unconscious and the meaning of universal symbols and dreams.
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According to the Canadian Association For Sandplay Therapy:
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"Through spontaneous imaginative play in small trays of wet or dry sand, clients sculpt sand and position miniature figurines and objects to create three dimensional scenes. In the 'free and protected space' of the therapeutic environment, these sand pictures express and mediate between the client's inner and outer worlds, and promote healing and wholeness.
The Canadian Association of Sandplay Therapy |
"When psychic wounding has occurred or typical development has been interrupted or impeded, a sandplay process may encourage psychological healing and expansion of consciousness through activation of the human psyche's innate drive toward healing and wholeness. Psychological distress occurs because of inner conflicts about relationships, situations and decisions. Sandplay provides a means of concretizing opposites and unifying resolutions that ideally lead to transformation and healing."
What happens during a session?
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"In Kalffian sandplay, the healing process includes the power of the 'free and protected' space of the therapeutic environment and the sand tray, the therapist's attitude of unconditional acceptance towards the client, and the active presence of a therapist engaged in silent observations without judgment and interpretation. Listening and looking, the therapist attends with empathy and understanding during the sandplay process."
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The therapist is mainly silent, through most of the creation of the scene, but sometimes may ask the client if he or she wishes to tell a story about the picture or make associations. Sometimes it is helpful for older children and adults to keep a journal of thoughts and feelings and dreams that come up between sessions. Some clients may want to write a fairy tale about one of the figures chosen for the sand tray which can be very transformative. As therapists we know something about the meaning of symbols chosen and stages; therefore we are able to journey with the client with greater empathy but it is up to the client to determine his or her own meanings. Interpretations are usually delayed until the sandplay therapy process is complete which may be after many sessions...
"The rectangular sand tray has precise dimensions (28 1/2'' X 19 1/2 x3'') that match a person's field of vision. This quality provides limits within which fantasies are shaped and explored to create a safe container. The tray's liner is coloured blue to give an impression of sky on the tray's sides and of water when sand is moved to expose the bottom."
Many miniature figures and natural found items are arranged in categories on open shelves or tables. A pitcher of water is available for pouring into the sand tray. Some art materials are also available for drawing, painting or working with clay. Children may also play with toys on the floor such as a family house, road mat and vehicles, or puppets.
"The rectangular sand tray has precise dimensions (28 1/2'' X 19 1/2 x3'') that match a person's field of vision. This quality provides limits within which fantasies are shaped and explored to create a safe container. The tray's liner is coloured blue to give an impression of sky on the tray's sides and of water when sand is moved to expose the bottom."
Many miniature figures and natural found items are arranged in categories on open shelves or tables. A pitcher of water is available for pouring into the sand tray. Some art materials are also available for drawing, painting or working with clay. Children may also play with toys on the floor such as a family house, road mat and vehicles, or puppets.
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"There are no rules for making sand pictures. Clients are free to explore the sand and the multiplicity of figurines on the shelves. Sand players may position and reposition figures in the sand, and remove those no longer needed. They may use the sand to sprinkle, mound, sculpt, and bury,"
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Creations are never taken apart in the client's presence as they are honoured as sacred.
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"At the end of the session, the client leaves with an intact image of the scene created, while the therapist photographs the picture. These photographs are used to record the clients sandplay therapy process. When therapy is finished, which may be after many sessions, the therapist and client may look at the pictures together and connect the images with the client's inner and outer life events that were significant during the course of the therapy and in the present."
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