by Nancy G
(California)
I did my first sand tray with a 7-year old boy who had trauma from his father at the age of 3. He completed a sand tray that consisted of him dumping everything I had in 9 cubbies into the sand tray. He mixed it all up, buried many figures, and finally had a battle between the red and blue brothers. He spent about 30 minutes creating his "world" then he said he was done. When we talked about his sand tray after he talked about protection team and the destruction team of the blue/protection and red/destruction brothers. There was a lot of aggressive play with planes crashing into the brown male figure, and the mother figure was pushed out of the sand tray and left on the floor. Much chaos was created in his world, and from that chaos my goal is to move him toward organization and a sense of peace within himself. At the end of the session I asked him how felt, and his reply was, "I feel great." That was confirmation for me that this is a process that works, even without our direct interventions. The child's psyche can figure it out, trust the process!
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.
Step By Step Therapy:
Learn how to be a more Creative Therapist with the Book that started it all!
- Graduate School Counseling book used by hundreds of graduate counseling students!
- Includes full color reproducible worksheets with most activities.
- Winner of the Counselor Writer of the Year Award, 2011, Georgia Regional Award
Download Your Copy Today Only $39.95:
See Creative Counseling 101 eBook Information Here:
Get your complete set of the Creative Counseling 101.com eBooks by Dr. Michelle Stangline for only $98.95, that's less than $25.00 per eBook (Regular Price is $39.95 for each eBook.).
Your complete set includes:
- Creative Counseling 101
- Creative Group Counseling 101
- Creative Play Therapy 101
- Creative Sand Tray 101
For more information click the link below:
See Complete Set of eBooks For Sale Here:
New!!! "Beyond Art Therapy" 101 eBook
Over 300 pages of Beyond Art Therapy activities and techniques. Learn what I teach graduate counseling students!
See the link below for more information.
Only $39.95
Art Therapy 101 eBook for Sale LinkSee More Invividual eBooks For Sale:
Sand Tray Therapy 101 eBook:
Learn how to do Sand Tray Therapy or enhance your skills.
Sand Tray Therapy eBook for Sale LinkPlay Therapy 101 eBook
Learn how to do play therapy or enhance your skills.
Play Therapy eBook For Sale LinkSmall Group Counseling eBook For Sale:
Learn how to do creative group therapy and enhance your skills.
School Counselor Guidance Lesson & Social Stories eBook for sale:
Get a year's worth of school counselor guidance lessons with "Creative Warm & Fuzzy Classroom Guidance Lessons eBook". Introduce your students to the "Warm & Fuzzy Way". Click the link below for more information: