Comments for Peace Garden (Sand Tray Therapy Class First Assignment)

Click here to add your own comments

Translation of sand tray therapy peace garden
by: student #6 summer 2014

I really liked your peace garden! The first image that stood out to me was the bride figurine. A bride can symbolize a union or partnership and in your world it represents the bride of Christ as you have stated. Could it mean the union or partnership you have with Christ or your Spirituality? Alternatively, it may represent the most feminine qualities about yourself. The bride may also symbolize purity and virginal qualities. This bride may also represent parts of you that are committed to things. I noticed that the rose is directly at her feet and the rocks are at her side. The Rose is also a single rose and is next to the body of water or ocean. Roses can often symbolize love, passion and faithfulness, the love and passion fits in with your translation of this being a spiritual peace garden.
It seems that the ocean takes up a huge part of your peace garden sand tray, was this on purpose or by chance? Bodies of water/Oceans can represent the state of your emotions and feelings. It is indicative of spiritual refreshment, tranquility and renewal. Is there reason why there are no animals in the ocean? I also noticed the large white fence or chapel like object behind the bride figurine. What does this represent? Could it be an alter at a church or a chapel? The color white signifies holy, pure and clean. There are two sets of rocks next the bride, one to her left and one to her right. Two stands for balance, diversity, partnership, marriage cooperation, soul, or receptivity. Rocks symbolizes strength, permanence, stability and integrity, as conveyed in the common phrase "as solid as a rock". This fits in very well with the overall theme of your peace garden. Alternatively, a rock represents stubbornness, disharmony and unhappiness. Is there any truth to this? Maybe parts of your personality that can be this way? I’ve enjoyed viewing your world!
Response
by: Anonymous

Your translation sand tray for sand tray therapy makes me want to cry. It is very appropriate and very well done.
Interpretation Mercer Summer Sand Tray Therapy Class
by: #2

The sand tray is simplistic and calming. The creator has placed flowers or plants in what could be interpreted as a garden of sorts. There is a body of water at the top of the sand tray and what appears to be a rose in front of a bride who is standing in front of an arch. According to the dream mood website brides represent partnership, flowers represent perfection, spirituality, and love and happiness. Water represents spirituality, flow of life, and healing. It can also represent cleansing and as a source of life. It can may be viewed as calm and a peaceful mind. The bride is standing in front of an arch which indicates a support system.
What does it all mean? It appears that the bride has agreed to partner with the water and the flowers. The bride may not represent an actual bride but peace and happiness. Who could be happier than a bride? She is in search of a peaceful partnership and has represented love and happiness with the flowers. When one is seeking calm and peace they need a support system that is represented by the arch. It is as if she is looking out at the body of water taking in the beauty and spirituality of the water, the white dress represents purity and calmness.
The creator of the tray did not fill the tray which could have led to crowding. Everything in the tray is simple, clean lines, orderly, and intentional. Peace has been achieved!

Click here to add your own comments

Join in and write your own page! It's easy to do. How? Simply click here to return to Submit Your Creative Counseling Ideas / Lessons with Other Professionals / Publish Your Ideas Here!.

Return to Peace Garden (Sand Tray Therapy Class First Assignment).

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.

Share this page:
Enjoy this page? Please pay it forward. Here's how...

Would you prefer to share this page with others by linking to it?

  1. Click on the HTML link code below.
  2. Copy and paste it, adding a note of your own, into your blog, a Web page, forums, a blog comment, your Facebook account, or anywhere that someone would find this page valuable.

See our Exciting Selection of eBooks:

Award Winning:

Creative Counseling 101 eBook 
Our Best Seller!

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 the Set
of all four  
eBooks for only $98.95:
An incredible collection of how to do therapy eBooks!
A $159.80 Value,
You Save Over $60!

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 Link

See 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 Link

Play Therapy 101 eBook

Learn how to do play therapy or enhance your skills.

Play Therapy eBook For Sale Link

Small Group Counseling eBook For Sale:

Learn how to do creative group therapy and enhance your skills.

Creative Group Therapy eBook For Sale Link

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:

Warm & Fuzzy School Counselor Guidance Lessons eBook