Sand Tray Therapy - My Extended Sand Tray S.B.

by Sherrie Bridges-Sinclair #9
(Macon, GA)

Sand Tray Therapy Activity Extended Sand Tray
The concept of the extended sand tray was very difficult for me to grasp. I think I was not sure how I was supposed to start the initial sand tray. It seems like I understood in class but by the time I started it on the next day, it did not make sense to me. I started with Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs and then added or took away miniatures based on how I felt for that day. I am not sure that I experienced the effects of the extended sand tray.

When I started setting up the sand tray, I only had the physiological level of food, shelter, and clothing. By the end of the night, I had completed the pyramid. On some days, I did not feel as if I needed to add or take away anything. As the week progressed, I did more taking away than adding.

On the physiological level, I added an angel. I am praying for my angel to watch over and provide for my physiological needs. Initially, my Angel was on the self-actualization level. But by the end of the week, I needed my Angel watching over my physiological needs. On the safety/security level I added a soldier and a flag and removed a brown horse. The brown horse, with one raised hoof, seemed like it was on guard, patrolling my life. By the end of the week, I felt I needed more reinforcement, so the soldier was called in. The flag, to me, represented the marking of my territory (astronauts placed flag on the moon). There remains a studious girl and a boy wearing religious clothing (Catholic).

The greatest change that I made was to the self-esteem level. By the end of the week, I had removed the princess, clapping hands, bride/queen, and the lion. It had all been replaced by a soldier and an ostrich. There have been some things that have happened recently that have resulted in a lowered self-esteem. The soldier is there to fight off negative thoughts or comments. The ostrich represents my embarrassment, shame, and guilty feelings; although in the dictionary of symbols it symbolizes justice, righteousness, and truth. For self-actualization, I have a lighthouse and a green bush, representing peace, guidance (lighthouse), and growth (bush).