Sandtray: Talk to Me!

A wonderful activity I discovered at the TCA Professional Growth Conference last fall was Sandtray Therapy.
Difficult student? Doesn't want to talk? Ask him/her to make a scene.  Not a scene like throwing chairs in the cafeteria and yelling the bad words...a sandtray scene! If nothing else, they will think you are nuts and try to satisfy you just to stay on your good side.

This is therapy.

Just running your hands through sand calms the soul. Many of your students have never been to the beach. The sand in your bikini bottoms isn't fun, but running your hands through it is pure bliss. I have had full throttle uncontrollable students go from 60 to 0 in a few seconds just by busting out my sand tray and asking them, "Have you ever been to the beach?" I'm still waiting for one of them to throw sand at me. It hasn't happened...yet...

There are two types of sand tray therapy I utilize. Keep in mind that sand tray is not for young children.  They are unable to use symbolism and will just play. Play is fine for building trust but the sand will fly and you will lose your patience. Around the age of 10, students can use symbolism and will be able to make revealing, therapeutic scenes of their lives.

Sandtray Kit from Amazon.com 

"Make me a scene from your life (or home.)" Very. Powerful. Words.

I have had students show me a favorite memory (titled "Hawaii",) and their living nightmare, a scene of dad getting arrested (titled "Bad Times.") The scene will reveal so much to you and allow your client (student in my case since I work at a school) to talk about his/her problem.

Always ask for a title.  Never put away the scene while the student is with you. And take a picture (out of confidentiality I do not want to post my pictures.)

I learned from this book, the Sandtray Bible.  Order it on Amazon.

The other use for Sandtray is using Solution-Focused Therapy (works better with older kids.)  Have a student set up a scene of his/her problem. Work through the aspects of the problem.  Then ask the student, "If a miracle occurred, and you woke up tomorrow and your problem was fixed, what would it look like?"  Give them time to re-work the scene. Then discuss ways to turn their first scene (problem) into their second (solution.)

Teachers also love sandtray.  I wish I could post some of the hilarious scenes they can come up with, depicting frustrations about ~ well ~ you probably know why teachers might feel frustrations.

Sometimes it helps to have a cool beverage on the beach.
Even if it is only enjoyed symbolically.
(miniatures found on amazon.com)

I am still learning about sandtray, but I have found it to be an amazingly simple. You get to peek in and see what is going on in that complex inner world of your student-client.

What is going on in there?