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Explore Emotions And Feelings With Sand Tray Therapy

By Donna Graham


Verbalizing the things that they are struggling with inside is a huge challenge for many kids, especially the very young and teenagers. Children today face a lot of pressures that adults might not immediately recognize so it is necessary for them to have the means to communicate these issues effectively so they can be dealt with. Sand tray therapy is one method that many therapists are finding to be a great outlet for their clients.

The name of this therapeutic approach is pretty self descriptive. It employs the use of a sandbox, miniature figurines, and in some circumstances, water might also be included. The individual uses these items in order to create settings and scenes from the world inside their mind as a means to reflect and express their thoughts, feelings, struggles, and concerns.

The concept is based on the very simplified idea that play is something which comes naturally to children, and that by allowing them to do this freely without direction or interruption, a lot can be learned. It gives them a free space in which they can safely display symbols of the world that is inside their mind. This is a low pressure setting which helps them feel safe and comfortable.

The belief is that given this freedom of expression, children are able to work through their problems and begin their own healing process. Once the child feels comfortable enough, the therapist will initiate a discussion about what is happening in their symbolic world. The things that they are unable to express verbally, they can demonstrate through these figurines.

This approach works well with very young children who do not yet have the verbal capability or the mental maturity to express what they are experiencing or clearly describe their feelings. However, play is something that they understand very well and by observing them in action, the therapist can get an idea of what they need to say. Kids often utilize play time as a way to act out things that they are seeing in their real life.

It is frequently used when treating certain autistic children of all ages as well. These individuals process sensory input in a different way and many of them are not able to verbalize very well, if at all. Their demonstrations through play can be an effective means of communication with their therapist, who can utilize other methods to get more in-depth information at a different time.

In order for a child to have the freedom to explore their own thoughts and eventually discover a solution of their own making, a therapist typically will not interfere with the scenarios. Some clients only need one session, though others may require several weeks, a couple months, or possibly years, all depending on what their specific situation is. The key to success in this method is patients and observation.

Although playing in the sandbox may not seem like a traditional approach to helping a child cope with something that is bothering them, it has shown great promise and effectiveness, especially for those who are verbally challenged. It is a simple concept with a passive nature that promotes safety and comfort. Each therapist may make adjustments as dictated by the individual situation.




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