Sandplay is a powerful nonverbal modality that was first developed by Dora Kalff, a Swiss Jungian analyst who was a friend and student of Carl G. Jung. Trays of wet and dry sand and shelves of miniatures that represent myriad aspects of the world and psyche are provided: people, animals, nature, houses, religious symbols and so on. The sandplayer is invited to use their hands to shape the sand and/or place miniatures in the tray, making a scene in the sand. The inside of the trays are painted blue, allowing for symbolic work with water and earth. Over time a series of sand pictures is made.
Like dreams, sand pictures come from the unconscious, but when they are created the therapist is present, witnessing and sharing in the experience at many levels; the tray is tangible and not filtered through the sandplayer’s memory as a dream would be. Sandplay is considered a form of active imagination, a process which helps facilitate communication between the conscious and the unconscious.
The making of a tray is in itself healing, a manifestation of the psyche’s natural tendency to move towards health and wholeness. The sandplayer can actively access deep levels of their psyche and creativity in making a sand picture. The transcendent function is activated, facilitating the bridging of opposites and resolution of inner conflict.
