Sand Tray

Sand tray therapy is a type of play therapy that uses a sand tray to help people, both children and adults, to communicate and express themselves. A therapist who specializes in sand tray therapy will be equipped with a tray filled with sand and, often, a large collection of small things (like toys or figurines) that can be arranged in the sand. The client is encouraged to organize the sand tray however they want, positioning objects or simply creating patterns in the sand. Sand tray therapy provides a safe space for individuals to act out their fantasies and express their feelings and thoughts, without having to rely on words.

Local experts in Sand Tray

Margaret King (She/her)

Licensed Professional Counselor

LPC, NCC

Sand Tray is offered in-person only (Mondays and Wednesdays) and can be very helpful for processing dreams, feelings, family issues, pre-verbal memories, and more.

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MereAnn Reid

Licensed Professional Counselor

Registered Play Therapist, Certified Adoption Therapist

Sand tray therapy offers a sensory experience, along with miniature figures from every category—wild animals to wizards, fairies to family members—inviting expression beyond words. Using play and the same parts of the brain that help us dream, we can use the tray to explore wishes, share worries, and try out new strategies for problem-solving. Sand tray is an accessible medium for all ages, offering an interactive, creative, open-ended approach beyond talk therapy.

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Danielle Davis (they/she)

Professional Counselor Associate

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Alicia Pasik (She/They)

Licensed Professional Counselor

MS, CRC, LPC

I am trained in the Sand Play method from the Sandplay Training Worldwide institute.

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Vedalia Zellers (she/they)

Clinical Social Work Associate

MSW, CSWA

Sand Tray is a creative, playful, tactile activity that allows you to depict something (like a memory or a worry, for instance) by selecting miniature objects and arranging them in a tray of sand. Some people find sand tray helpful for exploring aspects of their internal experience that feel hard to describe using language alone.

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Jamie Krahulec (she/they)

Professional Counselor Associate

MA, BA, #R7573

Incorporating sensory experiences into therapy is a great way to access and integrate languages that are not available with words.

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