When people think of therapy, they generally picture sitting in chairs talking through problems. While talk therapy is incredibly valuable, sometimes our deepest experiences and emotions exist beyond words. This is where sandtray therapy offers a unique and powerful pathway to healing—one that speaks to parts of us that may have been silent for years.
Sandtray therapy is a form of expressive therapy that uses a tray full of sand and miniature objects to help people explore their inner world. Developed by Margaret Lowenfeld in the first half of the twentieth century, this approach recognizes that our psyche naturally seeks healing and wholeness, and sometimes the path to that healing runs through our hands rather than our words.
The tactile experience of the sand itself is soothing and grounding. Many clients find that simply running their hands through the sand helps them feel more present and connected to their body—an important foundation for healing work.
My collection of sandtray miniatures includes people, animals, buildings, vehicles, natural objects, and symbols. During a sandtray session, you’ll choose objects that resonate with you, then place them in the sandtray. There’s no right or wrong way to create a sandtray—the process itself is what matters.
While sandtray therapy is powerful by itself, it also integrates beautifully with Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy and EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) therapy, creating a comprehensive healing experience.
IFS recognizes that we all have different parts within us. Sometimes these parts have been silenced, exiled, or are difficult to access through conversation alone. Sandtray work provides a safe way for these parts to express themselves:
- A wounded child part might select a small, vulnerable animal.
- A protective part might choose a warrior figure or a wall.
- A wise part might pick a tree, mountain, or spiritual symbol.
- A nurturing part might choose a mother holding her child.
Clients often discover parts of themselves they weren’t consciously aware of through their sandtray creations. The process allows for a dialogue between your conscious Self and these various parts without the pressure of finding the “right” words.
While EMDR helps reprocess traumatic memories, sometimes those memories contain elements that are pre-verbal or exist as bodily sensations, images, or emotions. Sandtray can help:
- Externalize traumatic experiences in a safe, controlled way
- Identify resources and strengths that can support EMDR processing
- Process the aftermath of EMDR sessions when new insights or emotions arise
- Create a visual representation of healing and growth over time
What Happens in a Sandtray Session?
A typical sandtray session in my office might unfold like this:
Preparation: We begin with a brief check-in about how you’re feeling and what’s present for you today. I might invite you to take a few deep breaths and simply notice what draws your attention.
Creation: You’ll start by selecting miniatures from my collection that speak to you. There’s no need to have a plan—trust your instincts. Some people create detailed scenes that tell a story, while others arrange objects more abstractly.
Exploration: Once your sandtray feels complete, we’ll explore it together. I might ask questions like:
- “What do you notice about your creation?”
- “If this figure could speak, what might it say?”
- “What’s the relationship between these objects?”
Integration: We’ll discuss what emerged during the process and what it might mean for your healing journey. Sometimes insights arise immediately; other times, understanding unfolds over days or weeks.
Sandtray therapy can be helpful for anyone, but it’s particularly valuable for:
- Trauma survivors who struggle to verbalize their experiences
- Adults who feel stuck in traditional talk therapy
- People working on their individual roles in complex family dynamics or relationship patterns
- Those exploring spiritual or existential questions
- Anyone wanting to access their creativity and intuition
One of the most remarkable aspects of sandtray therapy is how it reveals the wisdom of our unconscious mind. Clients often choose objects that perfectly represent aspects of their experience, even when they can’t initially explain why.
While sandtray therapy can certainly help process difficult experiences, it’s not just about addressing problems. This approach recognizes your innate wisdom and capacity for healing. Your sandtray creations often reveal not just where you’re struggling, but also your strengths, resources, and natural healing impulses.
In our achievement-oriented world, we don’t often have permission to simply be present with our inner experience without judgment or the pressure to figure things out. Sandtray therapy offers that rare opportunity.
You don’t need to be artistic or creative in the traditional sense. You don’t need to know what your sandtray “means.” You just need to be willing to let your hands and your intuition guide you into deeper relationship with yourself.
If you’re interested in exploring how sandtray therapy might support your healing journey, I invite you to reach out. Sometimes the most profound healing happens not through talking about our experiences, but through giving them form and witnessing them with compassion.