Suggested Sand Tray Activities

• "Create your own world" or “Tell me a story in this tray"
• Client constructs representation of real-life experience, interaction or problem situation.
• Can provide reassuring distancing for client by keeping in third person.  For example, suggest a scene about "a girl who feels betrayed by her best friend"instead of the client.
• Client builds tray portraying particular issue requiring solution.  Client then selects miniature to act as a Helper or Wise One to answer questions or aid in needed actions.
• Client builds tray illustrating particular feeling and circumstances (or miniatures) that evoke that feeling.
• Client constructs a scene representing own family.
• Therapist selects clinically significant group of miniatures (to focus upon particular situation) and then asks client to create a world for the miniatures.
• Client may play out situation in tray
• Client and therapist do a Joint Tray (similar to Oaklander’s joint picture technique).
• Therapist and client create story in tray together where client selects miniature and supplies first sentence. Therapist follows suit for next sentence and miniature, etc.
• Therapist suggests that client build an Amplification Tray for certain part of constructed world that is confusing or difficult to experience.
• Miniatures involved are moved to second empty tray where they dialogue or play out situation.
• Client adopts physical stance of particular figure in constructed tray, (Therapist may mirror client’s stance.) Client focuses on feelings/thoughts the stance evokes.
• For small group: Members construct individual trays, then select figures symbolizing their own journey to form a group tray.