How to use Sand Tray Therapy with kids in Play Therapy - Help For Play Therapist

by Sand Tray Therapy / Play Therapy Student #8
(Atlanta, GA)

I can remember playing in the sand box when I was younger – creating little fantasy worlds and acting out different scenarios in the sand with friends. However, I must admit that, as an adult, I never knew that the play therapy with sand tray therapy could offer as many therapeutic benefits as I experienced in class. Going into the play therapy sand tray therapy assignment, I did not know what I wanted to depict. So, I allowed my mind to fall on how I was feeling at the moment; and whatever pieces spoke to me in said moment, I placed them in the sand.

The first piece I placed was the castle. Next, I placed the princess, the soldier, and all the scary insects and creatures surrounding them – in that order. I then drew a line in the sand and created another small “kingdom”. This one had another castle, another soldier, a shark, and was surrounded by hearts. After, I looked at the creation, I started to dissect it. I explained to my “therapist” that this world represented how I viewed my life during a very difficult and fairly recent experience.

The upside down castle represented Atlanta during that difficult time. I was the princess being held captive by the hurt, disappointment, and the broken heart I had experienced here - my world was turned upside-down. The bat, rat, and creepy crawler all represented the things that I feared the most – isolation, feelings of low-self-esteem, betrayal, depression, etc. – surrounded me and kept me from ever feeling like I could overcome and be happy again. The line in the sand was the division I felt from the place I was in and the time when I was happy – with my family in Birmingham.

My parents are represented by the shark (my mom) and the soldier (my dad) and the (3) hearts around the castle (my family home) represent my siblings and the overall love that I feel every time I am there.

I was absolutely floored and overwhelmed by emotion after completing this play therapy sand tray therapy assignment. I did not know the level of negative feelings I was still harboring for this experience, nor did I know how much emotion this exercise would bring out of me. Because of this assignment, I was able to finally see my feelings and can now fully begin to openly and honestly process them – putting me one step closer to feeling whole again.

More Ideas for Play Therapy Link:

More Ideas on Play Therapy


How to Use The Sand Tray for Sand Tray Therapy Link:

More Ideas on Sand Tray Therapy





For more free ideas on creative therapy visit the link below:

Creative Counseling 101.com Home