Sandtray – Worldplay

What is Sandtray-Worldplay?

Sandtray-Worldplay is a non-directive psychotherapeutic process for people of all ages.

It’s a way to deepen your understanding of yourself – how you interact in your daily world and with others.

It’s another way to express what is troubling or haunting you – by creating a microcosm in a tray of sand. Using figures and objects representing the world, you create a story that illustrates what’s bubbling up within you.

The sandtray creates a safe place where you can share your story – and I can witness it – without words.

Isn’t Sandtray-Worldplay only for children?

Absolutely not!

It’s an expressive form of telling your story for any age.

Sandtray-Worldplay affords you a non-threatening opportunity to share your story nonverbally – to enable you to express what you’ve been holding within and to contain it, safely, within the sandtray itself.

The process allows you, the builder, to re-experience pre-verbal and non-verbal states you’ve either forgotten or have been unable to verbalize.

How do I build a Sandtray World?

When you come for your session, I’ll have an empty Sandtray – a blank slate – ready for you.

To create your world, you’ll choose from shelves filled with a collection of figurines – people, animals, houses, bridges, boats, fantasy creatures, natural objects of all kinds, and symbolic and religious figures representing numerous cultural spheres and magical elements.

You’ll use these items to create a symbolic representation of the actual world in which you live.

How will I know where to begin?

As your session begins, I’ll invite you to explore the shelves of figurines.

As you walk around, you’ll use a basket to collect the figurines that speak to you.

When you’ve finished the gathering process, you’ll engage with the sandtray and begin building.

On the other side of the room, I’ll observe as a silent witness.

You are the master architect – the expert of your world.

It’s not uncommon to go back to the shelves to get more figurines after you’ve begun building.

You assume the role of teacher by building and then telling the story of their world to me, your witness, who has been observing and holding the space for you.

However, the figurines begin to tell your story even before you use any words.

How do I “witness” your process?

I silently take notes and observe your creative process.

When you’ve finished, I encourage you to step back and view what you’ve built from all angles – to see it from all perspectives. You’ll often learn more about your psyche from seeing your world at different vantage points.

At this point, you may begin to verbalize feelings, thoughts, insights, or life issues – or you may simply tell the story of your creation.

All the while, I listen, watch, and enter your world.

But it’s your story – I don’t share my perspective. My role is only to validate and receive.

Two Phrases of Processing

The first phase is our silent reflection of the world you’ve created.

The second phase begins when you invite me in.

You tell your story, make connections, and share your experiences in response to the process. With your permission, I may want to ask questions, but they will all relate directly to your story.

At the end, we take photos of your sandtray that you may take with you for further reflection.

The Power of Sandtray-Worldplay

We often incorporate Sandtray-Worldplay during a regular session.

For some clients, this is the most powerful and primary process of transformation and growth.

Sandtray is powerful and useful for anyone who has difficulty using words for their internal experiences or for those who have put traditional talk therapy in a holding pattern because they want to explore and experiment with a different process.

This “playground” is all about the “work.”

Perhaps you’re dying to get it all out in the open, but somehow, you can’t seem to put it into words.

Or perhaps you’ve hit a wall using traditional methods.

Sandtray-Worldplay may be precisely what you need to break down obstacles and move forward with your growth process.

Reach out to me today at (909) 584-5963 to learn more about harnessing its power.

So you can get on with filling your actual world with creativity, joy, and fulfillment.