+ Sand Play Therapy Taylor Wyatt

+ Tools for Sand Play A 57 x 72 x 7 cm. Blue Tray Why Blue? Sand Dry or Wet Why Sand? Structure and Psychological Development Objects or Props Human or Imaginary Figures, Animals, Trees, Vehicles, Houses, Stones Offers Representational System to Draw On

+ - Mode of Play Therapy - Uses Objects & Props - Allows emotional expression without as much verbal interaction - Creative freedom and expression What Is Sand Play Therapy?

+ Interpreting the Sand Play The process of creating a scene in the sand can derive from any of these points: Gesture Expression of Emotion Visual Portrayal Verbal Communication (Chiesa, 2012) Gesture Body Movement (touch, movement, and rhythm of the body) Formal Resolution (order and structure) Symbolic Narration Visual Portrayal Scenes created Ridges in the sand Use of water

+ Why Sand Play Therapy? “In constructing their world in the sand, children gained the ability to observe and transform certain aspects of their emotional world, thoughts, and memories.” (Chiesa, 2009) Can be used with children or adolescents Allows for the client to be actively engaged and involved Client creates the terms of the session Offers an opportunity for self-expression if the child has difficulty talking about their issues

+ Benefits for the Facilitator Observes the way that the client constructs their own world Allows for them to see emotional quality of the objects used Helps demonstrate expression for younger clients Efficient mode of therapy based on developmental factors Examine the beginning, working, and end products of the process

+ Developmental Effectiveness for Sand Play Therapy IN CHILDREN Permission and Protection Tray offers a protected space to create reality with the permission of the therapist or counselor Erikson’s Stage Three Initiative vs. Guilt Encouraging imagination and time for play Piaget’s Cognitive Stages Exercises and demonstrates cognitive location within stages Experiment with new behaviors Express his or own emotional world

+ Developmental Effectiveness in Sand Therapy Drastic developmental changes Reconstruction Zone Don’t understand the adolescent experience It activates the limbic region of the brain Sends sensory input and processes it into “emotionally meaningfulcontext” (Roaten, 2011) Gives them a way to express themselves without that“forced conversation” Activates the prefrontal cortex Engages their brains in a way that talk therapy cannot (Roaten, 2011) Creates an alliance between you and the client Identity formation is captured through creativeprocesses WITH ADOLESCENTS

+ How It Can Be Used with Adolescent Clients & Why It Works Theories can be integrated into the process Helps ease resistance Metaphorical and symbolic meaning Concrete representations of symbolic meaning (Piaget) They have a sense of control May gain insight to the meaning of their world through the symbols Engages them in meaningful therapy

+ Sand Play Therapy & Secure Attachments In Adolescents Allows for secure, safe environment with empathetic relationship Assists in expression when adolescents are incapable of describing their relationship dynamics Less ashamed and afraid of their feelings through self-expression Positive client-counselor relationship enforces client’s sense of secure self Provides creative outlet for emotions Through the use of self-expression in sand play, client developed alliance with their therapist that created a secure environment

+ SAND PLAY THERAPY VIDEO START 1:05 END 3:50

+ REFERENCES Chiesa, C. (2012). Scripts in the Sand: Sandplay in Transactional Analysis Psychotherapy with Children. Transactional Analysis Journal, 42(4), Green, E. J., Myrick, A. C., & Crenshaw, D. A. (2013). Toward secure attachment in adolescent relational development: Advancements from sandplay and expressive play-based interventions. International Journal Of Play Therapy, 22(2), doi: /a Roaten, G. K. (2011). Innovative and Brain-Friendly Strategies for Building a Therapeutic Alliance With Adolescents. Journal Of Creativity In Mental Health, 6(4), doi: /