Sandplay Therapy

Jungian sandplay or Sandplay Therapy as it is often called, is a method of depth psychotherapy. It offers a specialised way to understand more about internal experience. It adds sensory processing through touch, colour, form and image to verbal expression and thinking.

This technique was developed by Dora Kalff, who applied the analytical psychology of Carl Jung to image making. She discovered that creative expression using sand and miniatures/figurines could lead to greater personal insight and understanding. Image making can provide a more effective therapeutic benefit than words alone and this forms the basis of Sandplay Therapy. It makes it possible to work with experience through a non-verbal creative and sensory based process.

Who is it for?

The Sandplay process is available to anyone who would like to work in this way. As such it is used by adults and young people alike. Here the word ‘play’ is applied to indicate the creative, exploratory nature of the process so it is not the simpler meaning associated with something childlike. You might attend specifically for Sandplay or use it occasionally during a psychotherapy process. Clients are welcome try it, to see if it is something they might find useful and helpful.

“Often the hands will solve a mystery that the intellect has stuggled with in vain”
― Carl Gustav Jung

What does Sandplay Therapy involve? What do you do?

On entering the room the first thing you will notice is that there are two trays of sand and many shelves with figures. The trays are at a suitable height and size to sit at, and two trays facilitates the option of working with dry sand or wet sand. You might have a preference for the distinct feel, form and nature of either or both.

There is multi sensory stimulation in Sandplay, the feel of sand the colours, shapes and forms of the figures. It often evokes ideas, thoughts and feelings that can be outside of assumed thinking and perception. This can be very helpful in giving a broader viewpoint and new or renewed insight which can be very effective in making progress. You can use and shape the sand as you focus on this and add miniatures that might help to express and illustrate the experience.

Creating an image allows you to experience something visually that can help you to see into, around and discover. It can be like a waking dream or being in a conscious reverie, where you are an observer to yourself. I encourage clients to just notice and be curious. It can be helpful to allow yourself to observe your experience and what might arise – allow it to take shape rather than determine what it is about. The process can seem different and unfamiliar for clients at first, so I invite clients to ask any questions they might have as they experience it.