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Sand Play Therapy

Taylor Wyatt
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Tools for Sand Play
A 57 x 72 x 7 cm. Blue Tray
Why Blue?
Sand
Dry or Wet
Why Sand?
Structure and Psychological Development
Objects or Props
Human or Imaginary Figures, Animals, Trees, Vehicles,
Houses, Stones
Offers Representational System to Draw On

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- Mode of Play Therapy

- Uses Objects & Props

- Allows emotional
expression without as much
verbal interaction

- Creative freedom and
expression


What Is Sand
Play Therapy?
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The process of creating a
scene in the sand can derive
from any of these points:
Gesture
Expression of Emotion
Visual Portrayal
Verbal Communication
(Chiesa, 2012)
Gesture
Body Movement (touch, movement, and rhythm
of the body)
Formal Resolution (order and structure)
Symbolic Narration

Visual Portrayal
Scenes created
Ridges in the sand
Use of water



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Why Sand Play Therapy?
In constructing their world in the sand, children gained the ability
to observe and transform certain aspects of their emotional
world, thoughts, and memories. (Chiesa, 2009)

Can be used with children or adolescents
Allows for the client to be actively engaged and involved
Client creates the terms of the session
Offers an opportunity for self-expression if the child has
difficulty talking about their issues

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Benefits for
the Facilitator
Observes the way that the client constructs their own
world

Allows for them to see emotional quality of the objects
used

Helps demonstrate expression for younger clients

Efficient mode of therapy based on developmental
factors

Examine the beginning, working, and end products of
the process

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Developmental Effectiveness for Sand
Play Therapy IN CHILDREN
Permission and Protection
Tray offers a protected space to create reality with the
permission of the therapist or counselor


Eriksons Stage Three
Initiative vs. Guilt
Encouraging imagination and time for play


Piagets Cognitive Stages
Exercises and demonstrates cognitive location within
stages

Experiment with new behaviors

Express his or own emotional world



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Developmental Effectiveness in
Sand Therapy
Drastic developmental changes
Reconstruction Zone
Dont understand the adolescent experience
It activates the limbic region of the brain
Sends sensory input and processes it into emotionally meaningful context
(Roaten, 2011)
Gives them a way to express themselves without that forced
conversation
Activates the prefrontal cortex
Engages their brains in a way that talk therapy cannot (Roaten, 2011)
Creates an alliance between you and the client
Identity formation is captured through creative processes
WITH ADOLESCENTS
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How It Can Be
Used with
Adolescent
Clients &
Why It Works
Theories can be integrated into the
process
Helps ease resistance
Metaphorical and symbolic meaning
Concrete representations of symbolic meaning (Piaget)
They have a sense of control
May gain insight to the meaning of their
world through the symbols
Engages them in meaningful therapy



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Sand Play Therapy &
Secure Attachments In Adolescents
Allows for secure, safe environment with empathetic relationship
Assists in expression when adolescents are incapable of describing their
relationship dynamics
Less ashamed and afraid of their feelings through self-expression
Positive client-counselor relationship enforces clients sense of secure self
Provides creative outlet for emotions
Through the use of self-expression in sand play, client developed alliance with
their therapist that created a secure environment

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SAND PLAY THERAPY VIDEO
START 1:05 END 3:50
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REFERENCES
Chiesa, C. (2012). Scripts in the Sand: Sandplay in Transactional
Analysis Psychotherapy with Children. Transactional Analysis
Journal, 42(4), 285-293.
Green, E. J., Myrick, A. C., & Crenshaw, D. A. (2013). Toward
secure attachment in adolescent relational development:
Advancements from sandplay and expressive play-based
interventions. International Journal Of Play Therapy, 22(2), 90-
102. doi:10.1037/a0032323
Roaten, G. K. (2011). Innovative and Brain-Friendly Strategies for
Building a Therapeutic Alliance With Adolescents. Journal Of
Creativity In Mental Health, 6(4), 298-314.
doi:10.1080/15401383.2011.630306
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wnBjv-v4G74