Sand Tray Therapy
Sand Tray Therapy
Clients express their thoughts through miniatures.
🌊🖐️ In sand tray therapy, the tray begins as a blank slate where children (and adults!) can express their inner emotions through miniature scenes that speak louder than words. At Emmaus Counseling, I honor each story created in the sand. 💙
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What Is a Sand Tray?
Hi, my name is Edith Cuevas and I'm a licensed professional counselor. I wanted to introduce you today to the sand tray. This is the sand tray—just exactly like it sounds. The sand tray is a blank slate. This is how I usually present it for my clients, and then I allow them to create the surface however they want.
I have different tools they can use—their hands, or different items I provide—so they can get the texture and look they’re going for. Just the process of running something through the sand tray can be very soothing and very relaxing. Oftentimes, kids will simply run their hands through the sand for a while.
Creating the Scene
The bottom of the sand tray is blue. This blue bottom can be turned into a river, a lake, an ocean, a beach—so many things. So many possibilities are offered just by this surface. Once the texture is how the person wants it, we begin adding miniatures, which the client picks out on their own.
Sometimes they know exactly what they’re creating and why. Other times, they’re unsure of the significance, but we trust that what they choose is meaningful to some part of them.
They’re free to place the miniatures however and wherever they want. They can include as many or as few as they’d like.
Respecting the World Within
Once their world is created, we don’t disturb it—we respect it. This world is a personal expression of the client’s inner self, and we honor that space. I don’t touch or rearrange anything. Instead, I may ask if they’d like to explain it or tell me more about their world. Sometimes they do, sometimes they don’t—and either is okay.
If they are open to sharing, I might ask a few questions. That’s what sand tray therapy is all about. It’s beautiful.
I invite you to schedule a 30-minute free consultation to discuss your needs and provide guidance on next steps. Terapia disponible en español.
