Empowered Through Play 560 W. Canfield Suite 300 Coeur d' Alene, ID 83815
WHAT IS PLAY THERAPY ?
Sand Play/Tray
What is Sand Tray/ Sand Play
Sand Tray/ Sand Play
Making the Most of Sand Play By Sandra Crosser Ph.D.
Children have always been intrigued by sand play. They dig in sand, sift it, build with it, pour it, enjoy the feel and smell of it, pretend with it, and explore how it moves. Balke (1997) contends that, "The culture of children is threatened by mass media and overproduction of plastic playthings that are ready-made and demand nothing of the child" (p. 358). Sand, on the other hand, is well-suited to the explorative and imaginative nature of young children.
Why Play in Sand? The use of Sand Tray.
There is no right way to use sand. It invites participation; it permits children to make and test hypotheses; it stretches the imagination; it provides a potentially soothing sensory experience; and it is an excellent avenue for children to learn physical, cognitive, and social skills.
Because sand play is open-ended, the child determines the direction and path of his or her own play. This freedom then clears the way for the child to build developmental concepts.
According to the 'Constructivist Theory' (Piaget, 1945), children have an inner drive to build an understanding of their world as they explore and interact with materials. Concepts about how the world works are built gradually and become increasingly complex as the child enters a rich learning environment and exercises his, or her, freedom to play.
ABOUT SANDPLAY:
According to Barbara Turner, Ph.D
The Sand Play Method is a play therapy modality which consists of the child, or adult, client making whatever he or she feels like building with a wide assortment of miniature figures in a tray of sand in the presence of a trained professional. Generally this is done in silence. There is no judgment or comment from the therapist.
The miniature figures, or collection, include representations of all parts of life and fantasy. In addition, there are building materials available to make unique items when needed.
It is the “inner world,” or psyche, of the client that chooses the figures and arranges them in the sand tray. In this way, the less conscious parts of us become visible and are shared in a safe setting. This includes our conflicts, remedies, and potentials. Sand Play work is much the same as working with dream imagery. However, there are significant differences.
Sand Play work is three-dimensional and concrete so the imagery does not “fade away” as it does with dreams and some other forms of play therapy. Because the sand tray scene is constructed in concrete form the client becomes more aware of what stands in the way of his or her continued growth and personal development. It sits right in front of us in the sand tray. On a preconscious level we also become aware of our strengths and gifts because they are equally visible in the sand play. The changes that are set in place in the play later become a part of the conscious personality.
The therapist makes the inner exploration of Sand Play safe by respectfully understanding the process as the client moves through deep issues and discovers new ways of 'being' in the world.
The depth of the work undertaken in Sand play would be far too hazardous for anyone to undertake alone. The trained therapist’s presence anchors the work in reality. Without this the client could easily fall into dangerous psychological territory. The therapist and client mutually experience the powerful symbolic images that move and change the client’s psyche. The shared experience of the images in Sand Play initiates changes in the client’s neurobiological makeup which lead to his or her healing and transformation. The therapist’s capacity to understand the images and to remain connected to the client’s felt experience of the process strengthens the work and re-orders very deep issues that words and analysis fail to touch.
Sand Play is extremely beneficial in assisting children, adolescents, and adults in processing the issues listed below.
The best way to predict your future is to create it.
Abraham Lincoln
What is AUTPLAY?
What is EMDR?
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is an effective therapy for treating post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other disorders such as depression, anxiety, mood disorders, sensory processing issues and other behavioral issues.
EMDR changes the way the brain responds to external stimuli. Therapy normally involves sensory input such as changing lights, gentle buzzing from handheld devices or sounds heard through headphones. As the sensory input switches back and forth from right to left, a patient tries to recall past trauma. Though the memories of the trauma remain, the chronic bodily and emotional reactions to the trauma dissolve.
EMDR is a powerful, effective and safe method for alleviating the long-term psychological impact of traumatic experiences. Much research and many studies have been done on this approach and it has been found to be safe and effective when administered by trained professionals.
Our staff’s expertise in administering EMDR has been particularly effective in the treatment of psychological trauma. For more information please visit www.emdria.org.
