Sandplay therapy is a powerful healer for those who have difficulty expressing themselves verbally with both adults and children
Sandplay therapy is literally playing in sand, in a sandbox either wet or dry.
I have hundreds of miniature figures of everyday people, mythic beasts, and inanimate toy models displayed on accessible shelves. Free of any direction on my part, clients follow their own creative impulse to choose objects and compose a setting in the sand.
Whether they have a theme in mind or not, whether they work consciously or unconsciously, they often choose symbols and compose settings that reflect their confused feelings, problems, and worries. Symbolic meanings become clear in time. Healing takes place in the process, somewhat analogously to journaling. My clients unburden themselves of conflicts in an act of unconscious self expression.
Children's play is their work. While playing, they feel secure in my non-critical, understanding and supportive presence. Their play becomes serious when their creations reflect the drama of what is happening in their lives. They begin to heal as they work, play out, express their unconscious issues.
Read about Sandplay in the Washington Post or download the article in PDF.