What is Sandtray Therapy?

Sand tray therapy is a creative approach to counselling that can help children, teens, and adults explore emotions and experiences that may be difficult to put into words. Using sand and miniature objects, clients can express themselves in a different way while working alongside a trained therapist.

At Thrive Collective, sand tray therapy can be incorporated into in-person counselling in Chilliwack and Abbotsford. And despite what many people assume, it isn't just for kids.

What Is Sand Tray Therapy?

Sometimes talking isn't the easiest way to explain what is happening inside.

You might know that something feels heavy, confusing, or overwhelming, but struggle to find the right words. For children and teens, this can be especially difficult. Adults can experience the same thing, particularly when working through complicated emotions, relationships, or past experiences.

Sand tray therapy offers another way to communicate.

During a session, clients have access to a tray of sand and a collection of miniature figures and objects. They can use these objects to create scenes, represent experiences, explore relationships, or simply see what emerges.

There isn't a "right" way to do sand tray therapy. The therapist provides a supportive environment where the client can explore what they have created at a pace that feels comfortable.

What Are the Benefits of Sand Tray Therapy?

One of the things we appreciate about sand tray therapy is that it allows counselling to move beyond conversation alone. For some people, talking comes easily. For others, the words aren't there yet. Sand tray work can create another pathway for understanding what someone is experiencing.

It Can Make Self-Expression Easier

Have you ever known exactly how something feels but had absolutely no idea how to explain it?

Sand tray therapy can help.

Instead of relying entirely on words, clients can use objects, symbols, and the placement of items in the sand to represent thoughts, emotions, relationships, or experiences.

For children and teens, this can provide a more natural way to communicate. Adults may also find that working visually helps them recognize feelings or patterns they hadn't been able to explain before.

It Can Support Emotional Regulation

Counselling sometimes involves exploring emotions that feel uncomfortable or overwhelming.

Sand tray therapy can provide some distance between the person and the experience they are exploring. Rather than having to explain everything directly, clients can represent an experience outside of themselves in the sand.

With the support of a therapist, this may make it easier to slow things down, notice emotions, and explore them without feeling pressured to immediately find the perfect words.

It Encourages Creativity and Reflection

Sand tray therapy isn't about being artistic- You don't need to be creative, imaginative, or "good" at anything to benefit from it.

The process simply gives you another way to explore what is happening internally. Choosing objects, arranging them, moving them around, or noticing what feels important can sometimes bring new perspectives to the surface.

A scene in the sand may help someone notice a relationship dynamic, emotion, conflict, or need that wasn't as obvious during conversation.

Can Sand Tray Therapy Help With Trauma?

Sand tray therapy may also be incorporated into trauma-informed counselling.

Traumatic or distressing experiences can sometimes be difficult to describe directly. For some clients, having a visual and symbolic way to explore an experience can make therapy feel more manageable.

A trained therapist can help determine whether sand tray work is appropriate based on the client's needs, comfort level, and goals for counselling.

Sand tray therapy isn't about forcing someone to revisit difficult experiences. Like other therapeutic approaches, the work should happen collaboratively and at a pace that feels appropriate for the client.

Is Sand Tray Therapy Just for Children?

Definitely not! This is probably one of the biggest misconceptions about sand tray therapy and we have many adult clients that participate in sand tray therapy.

Because sand and miniature figures are involved, people often assume it is a form of children's counselling. While sand tray therapy can be a wonderful tool for children and teens, adults can benefit from it too.

In fact, adults are sometimes surprised by how meaningful the experience can be. There are times when talking about something over and over only gets us so far. Creating something visually can offer a completely different perspective.

Adults may use sand tray therapy to explore relationships, family dynamics, grief, identity, trauma, life transitions, anxiety, or other experiences that feel difficult to explain.

You don't have to know what you're going to create before you begin. Your therapist can guide the process and help you explore what comes up.

Sand Tray Therapy for Children and Teens

Children don't always have the language to explain complicated emotions.

They may know they feel angry, worried, sad, confused, or overwhelmed without understanding why. Asking a child to sit down and explain exactly what is happening can sometimes make them shut down even more.

Creative therapeutic approaches can give children another way to communicate.

Sand tray therapy allows children to use play, symbols, and imagination as part of the counselling process. A therapist can then help them explore emotions and experiences in a developmentally appropriate way.

Teens can benefit as well, particularly if traditional talk therapy feels uncomfortable or they find it difficult to open up.

What Happens During a Sand Tray Therapy Session?

Every session looks a little different.

Your therapist may invite you to choose objects that stand out to you or create something in the sand based on a particular feeling, relationship, or experience. Other times, the process may be less structured.

Once the scene has been created, you and your therapist may talk about what you notice.

There is no pressure to create something profound or immediately understand what everything means. Sometimes the value is simply in slowing down, seeing something from a different perspective, and becoming curious about what comes up.

Sand Tray Therapy in Chilliwack and Abbotsford

At Thrive Collective, we believe counselling doesn't have to look exactly the same for everyone.

Some people love traditional talk therapy. Others benefit from incorporating creative, experiential, or body-based approaches into their sessions.

Sand tray therapy is one of the tools that can be incorporated into in-person counselling at our Chilliwack and Abbotsford locations when it fits the client's needs and therapeutic goals.

If you are interested in exploring sand tray therapy, Beth Scholes and Patricia Felzien are trained in this area.

If you're curious about sand tray therapy, you don't need to know whether it is the "right" approach before reaching out. Our team can help you explore your options and find a counsellor and approach that feel like a good fit.

Thrive Collective provides in-person counselling in Chilliwack and Abbotsford, BC with a team of mental health professionals offering a variety of therapeutic approaches. Our goal is to help clients find care that feels supportive, collaborative, and suited to their individual needs.