House, tree, pet, sun, water in the sandtray for Sand Tray Therapy Class Assignment

by Sand Tray Therapy Student
(Decatur, GA)

I was not really sure how to go about this for my sand tray therapy class assignment. I've drawn these before, but putting it in the sandtray is a different dynamic. So, I chose pictures that I liked and printed them out.

I chose a house that I would love to have; I used to see them in Western Pennsylvania. The dog looks like my Zoey. I love ponds with water plants in them. And, the sun is stylized. I added colored sand to make green grass and a blue sky.

If the house symbolizes how I feel about or perceive myself, my house has very strong lines in those logs. The lines mean strong boundaries, which I do have around myself. The house is large, and I really wish I had a large house, but that can mean I feel overwhelmed by my family. That part is true. (I should not, though, that I was tempted to use a picture of a small, English cottage.)

My roof has a lot of detail, which could mean that I concentrate on fantasy. I do, as a matter of fact. I do a lot of, "I wish...."

There are many windows, doors, and even a patio in front of my house. That can mean that I am very open to interacting with other people. I am.

I should note here, though, that my front door looks pretty small compared to the rest of the house--that is architectural. That could mean I am also guarded. I am.

Overall, though, it is a welcoming, warm house, and I am a welcoming, warm person.

There are bushes around the house which could be a sign that I can be hesitant to open up to people. I am.

My trunk of the tree is relatively small which could mean weak ego. The way the picture printed left it without visible roots, which can mean instability. I always am seeking stability in my life.

The leaves of the tree are full and lush, which means that I can successfully connect with others. I can. When I was student teaching ESOL this summer, the supervising teachers commented on my rapport with the students.

My tree touches the house. That means I could need a way to escape, which is what I feel at times.

The water is a decorative, garden pond. Well, my mother was sometimes just there for decoration, rather being a warm, supporting mother. The water is separated from the house by a large patio and fire pit. There is separation between my mother and me.

The sun is pretty close to the house. I did not mean to make him so large. The sun, representing my father, is not smiling. Ours was a pretty grim relationship.

The dog is my dog, Zoey, who I adore. She does look at home in the sandtray. She gets her food from inside the house--home cooked. In the sandtray, she does look like she is guarding the house. She does guard me in a sense, with her love and devotion.