Comments for 2014: Student #4 Dream Analysis Sand Tray for Sand Tray Therapy Class

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Translation of Student 4 Sand Tray for Sand Tray Therapy Class
by: summer 2014 student #6

I thought your dream sand tray therapy was very interesting. I’m wondering if this is all 1 dream or a series of dreams you had during one night’s sleep. I found the positioning of the figurines interesting. I notice that they are in corners of your tray. Your swimming pool is a rectangle shape, rectangles can mean permanence, materialism and stability. Do you find this to be true of your emotional state? Do you feel a sense of stability in your life? It appears that the happy figurines are much smaller than the two army men and cowboy figurines. Is there a reason for this? There are a number of sea animals buried in the sand but that are swimming in the pool To dream that you bury something suggests that you are hiding your true feelings. Or you are trying to cover up some situation or act. In particular, if you are burying a body, then it suggests that you are trying to hide something that you find repulsive or that others may find unappealing. Can the shark and/or sea monsters represent a person, thought or event in your life? We’ve learned that snakes can represent fear, maybe the snake represents the group of friends you didn’t know or maybe your ex and his friends. Were you conscious about choosing the army men or were those the only men figurines that were available? Dreaming of a swimming pool, To see a swimming pool in your dream symbolizes relaxation, calmness, luxury and ease. You need to take a break. Alternatively, a swimming pool suggests that you need to acknowledge and understand your feelings. It is time to dive in and deal with those emotions. You need to cleanse yourself and wash away past hurts. Consider the depth of the pool. If you were swimming on the deep end, then it means that those emotions are deeply seated and may be harder to confront.. You will need to work through it, no more matter how difficult. If you are swimming on the shallow end, then it implies that you should be able to easily deal with your feelings. It seems like this dream has a lot to do with you emotions and feelings. Items are buried etc. I enjoyed viewing your dream sand tray therapy world!
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response to dream tray
by: Student #5

One area I was immediately drawn to in this tray was the pool of sharks, sea monsters,and snakes. This was most certainly one of the hot spots of the tray, which is the part of the tray I would want to focus on primarily. The author mentions that at one point in the dream she comes outside of the club to get away from everyone, and notices these creatures in the pool. One of the creatures she names is a snake, but I wonder if it is actually a serpent that is more aquatic or befitting of an animal that would be in the water, like an eel.

When I looked up the meaning of eel in the dictionary of symbols, it describes it as a "messenger of the gods" (p. 337). On the dream moods website, an eel is seen in a dream "if a person has issues with commitment". It also defines a person as having difficulty holding on to things (Dream moods dictionary). According to the dream moods dictionary, the shark is said to indicate feelings of "anger, hostility, and fierceness". It also speaks to going through a tough emotional period and possibly serving as a threat to themselves or others, especially in regards to a relationship. The next figure I looked up in the dream moods dictionary was sea serpent. That was the closest word to sea monster. A sea serpent represents an "emotional transformation" (Dream moods dictionary). Each of these creatures seem to represent a consistent theme of internal emotional issues and conflict in relationships.

When analyzing the figures used in this dream, the author placed a princess Cinderella in the corner with her friends, and the maid Cinderella in front of the pool. The contrast in choice of miniatures here says something about the conflict the author is experiencing. According to the dream moods dictionary, a princess represents someone who is "realizing their full potential", but "still has more growing to do" (Dream moods dictionary). When the word maid is looked up in the dream moods dictionary, it is defined as someone who "needs to be more independent and look after their own self" . It also states that a maid metaphorically symbolizes the clutter that a person needs to clear up in their lives. They should "nurture and cleanse their emotions" (dream moods dictionary).

Overall, this dream has seemed to reveal a lot about some internal conflicts the author is having in relationships. The image of the pool with the creatures inside and the image of her kneeling by the pool represent her facing the reality of some things she needs to deal with in her personal life, both possibly with her ex and/or within herself. When she presents herself as the princess, it serves as her mask to attempt to hide from the reality of the issue, although she knows it is there. The pool forces her to confront these issues and deal with the internal conflicting emotions, which is why she is alone in the image with the pool. I would take this therapy session to asking about some difficulties she had in the relationship with her ex, or even jump forward to discussing any current relationships with significant others and friends to get a better grasp on the conflict she is fighting to not face.

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Disclaimer: This website and its content is intended for trained licensed mental health professionals and school certified mental health professionals to use for their clients / students at their own discretion.

*If you ignore the disclaimer above are using these techniques on yourself and you feel any discomfort or upset it is highly suggested that you seek out a licensed  mental health professional immediately.

"Beyond Art Therapy" is the concept from Dr. Stangline that combines all creative fields in therapy. It is not the traditional "art therapy" but goes beyond to include sand tray therapy, play therapy, mindfulness, meditation, color therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, and a vast majority of other therapies.

For any other type of mental health emergency call your local 911 / Police Number immediately.

Dr. Stangline does not offer advice / suggestions to anyone who is not a professional mental health provider, or a student who is studying this field and has questions about mental health programs of study.

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