Sandplay Therapy for Adults:  A Powerful Tool for Healing and Transformation

When people think of Sandplay Therapy, they may picture children building castles, digging moats and playing with toys in a sandtray. While it’s true that Sandplay is a powerful tool for helping children process emotions and experiences, this modality is not just for kids. In fact, Sandplay can be profoundly transformative for adults, offering a unique and non-verbal way to access and heal deep layers of the psyche that words alone can’t reach.

What is Sandplay?

Founded by Dora Kalff, Sandplay is a cross-cultural, evidence-based, trauma-informed and non-directive therapeutic method with roots in Lowenfeld's World Technique, Jungian psychology and Eastern philosophy and contemplative practices. It blends elements of active imagination, symbolic expression, mindfulness and creativity to help individuals access the hidden realms of the psyche. Sandplay offers a safe, embodied and deeply personal way for adults to work through emotional and psychological challenges.

Sandplay Therapy is a nonverbal, symbolic form of therapy that allows individuals to explore and express their inner world by creating scenes in a tray of sand. Using figurines, natural objects and miniature symbols, clients can give form to feelings, experiences and unconscious material that might otherwise remain hidden.

This modality is rooted in Jungian psychology, which emphasizes the importance of imagery, symbolism and the unconscious in personal growth and healing. Through the act of creating in the sand, individuals tap into their implicit memory and right brain — the part of us that processes emotions, creativity and intuitive understanding — allowing a natural integration and healing to occur.

What an Adult Sandplay Session Looks Like

In a Sandplay session, you’re invited to choose figurines, objects and symbols to create a scene in the sand. There’s no right or wrong way to do this — it’s entirely intuitive and personal.

As you create, the therapist holds a nonjudgmental, attuned presence, witnessing your process and supporting you as needed. Together, you might explore the meanings and emotions behind the scene, but often, the healing occurs through the act of creating itself, without the need for analysis.

For many adults, Sandplay feels grounding, meditative and even surprising, as the sand becomes a mirror for their inner world.

In a Sandplay session, you are provided with a tray of sand, water and a wide variety of figurines and natural objects (e.g., stones, animals, trees and miniature figures). These objects serve as symbols representing different aspects of the inner world. You are invited to create a scene or image in the tray, using the available materials in any way you feel drawn to.

The therapeutic magic of Sandplay happens through this creative process, where images and symbols from the unconscious emerge spontaneously. In the presence of a trained, attuned therapist, who witnesses the process without judgment or premature interpretation, your creations serve as a window into your inner world. Through this non-directive method, you can begin to access unresolved conflicts, suppressed emotions and latent potentialities within the psyche.

How Can Sandplay Help?

Adults may find Sandplay especially helpful in times of transition, work or relational stress, grief & loss, physical illness, complex trauma or when facing creativity blocks, or existential questions or a crisis of meaning. By engaging in this symbolic, non-verbal process, adults can bypass the limitations of language and cognitive processing, accessing deeper layers of the self.

The creativity and freedom inherent in the process allow individuals to express complex emotions, explore unconscious patterns and gain insight into areas of their life that may feel stuck or unresolved. For adults, Sandplay becomes a form of self-exploration, where images and metaphors can speak directly to the heart of emotional wounds or unresolved inner conflicts.

Sandplay is particularly powerful for adults navigating:

   •   Trauma or PTSD: Especially when verbal processing feels overwhelming or unsafe.

   •   Grief and Loss: Offering a gentle, symbolic way to process emotions.

   •   Physical Illness: When words are not enough.

   •   Life Transitions: Providing clarity and grounding during times of change.

   •   Creative Blocks: Helping to unlock new ideas and perspectives.

   •   Inner Child Healing: Reconnecting with the playful, intuitive parts of yourself.

   •   Spiritual or Existential Crisis: Reconnecting with unseen but deeply felt truths.

How Does Sandplay Work?

The process of creating a sand tray is rooted in active imagination — a practice developed by Carl Jung, where one allows unconscious images to surface freely without interference. These images are symbolic and carry deep meaning, often pointing to psychological patterns or emotions that the person may not be fully conscious of.

Here’s how a typical Sandplay session might unfold:

1. Set Up: The therapist provides the participant with a tray containing either wet or dry sand and a collection of figurines and natural objects.
2. Creation: The participant is encouraged to freely create a scene or image in the sand. They can use the figurines, stones and other objects to express whatever emerges. There are no rules or restrictions — only freedom to explore the inner world.
3. Witnessing: The therapist observes the process, simply as a witness, offering a non-judgmental and loving presence. This can allow the participant to feel safe enough to engage with their inner material without interference or direction. The therapist may ask reflective questions or offer gentle guidance if required, but the focus is on the participant’s experience and inner process.
4. Reflection: After creating the sand tray, the participant may like to reflect on their creation and its meaning. This reflection can be done verbally, or the therapist might simply encourage a silent witnessing of the scene. The images and symbols in the tray often hold a mirror to the participant’s current emotional state, unresolved issues or inner desires.

The Psychological Benefits of Sandplay for Adults

Sandplay therapy is a trauma-informed practice, making it especially helpful for adults who have experienced trauma or have difficulty expressing difficult or complex emotions through words. Some of the key psychological benefits include:

• Accessing the Unconscious: By creating a visual representation of inner conflicts, desires or emotional blocks, Sandplay helps individuals tap into their unconscious mind (also known as implicit memory). This provides a powerful way to access feelings and memories that might be difficult to articulate or even consciously recognise.

• Healing through Symbolism: The objects used in Sandplay — figurines, animals, bridges, natural items — serve as symbols of the unconscious. These symbols allow for non-verbal expression of deep emotions, conflicts and complexes. Through the process of creating and reflecting on their sand scenes, individuals can change neural pathways, work through unresolved issues, release emotional tension and gain clarity.

• Trauma Recovery: For adults with trauma histories, Sandplay provides a safe container for exploring painful memories or emotional states. Because the process doesn’t rely on verbal expression, it can bypass the defenses and resistance that often arise when discussing traumatic experiences. The act of creating in the 'free and protected' space of the sandtray can also foster a sense of empowerment and control over one's healing process.

• Increased Self-Awareness and Insight: The symbolic representations that emerge in the sand often reflect the sand player's internal state — both conscious and unconscious. Reflecting on these images can offer profound insights into one’s emotional state, relationships, life choices and even spiritual journey.

• Integration of Mind and Body: Sandplay allows for a somatic, embodied experience. The act of physically interacting with the sand and objects helps to ground the participant in the present moment, reducing anxiety and creating a feeling of wholeness through mind-body and lateral brain hemisphere integration. This embodied connection enhances the integration of the conscious (explicit) and unconscious (implicit) aspects of the psyche.

• Connection to the Self: A central premise of Sandplay is that healing and transformation are possible when a person encounters their essential self or core centre — sometimes referred to as the Buddha nature, the Self or the True Self. In Jungian terms, this centre is the organizing principle of the psyche, the source of inner wisdom and healing. Sandplay helps individuals reconnect with this sacred and directing center, facilitating psychological wholeness, growth and transformation.

Why Sandplay Belongs in Adult Therapy

At its core, Sandplay Therapy is about connection: connection to yourself, your emotions and the deeper, often unseen parts of your psyche. This kind of healing is universal — it transcends age and applies to anyone willing to explore the rich landscape of their inner world.

For adults, Sandplay offers a rare opportunity to slow down, step out of their busy, logical minds and reconnect with something deeper. It’s a reminder that healing doesn’t always have to be serious, intellectual or linear. Sometimes, it can look as simple as placing a figure in the sand and seeing what unfolds.

How Sandplay Can Complement Other Therapies

Sandplay is often used as part of a holistic therapeutic approach and can complement other modalities like talk therapy, mindfulness, eco-psychotherapy, therapeutic touchwork, somatic experiencing or trauma-informed yoga. For example:

• Yoga and Mindfulness: Just as mindfulness practices encourage awareness of the present moment, Sandplay offers a grounded, embodied way to attune to the present. Both practices emphasize non-judgmental awareness and self-compassion, which can enhance the healing process.

• Art Therapy: Like other forms of expressive therapy, Sandplay engages the creative, symbolic side of the psyche, offering a way for adults to externalize internal struggles and emotions. The act of creating in the sand parallels the use of art materials in therapy, both offering a direct, non-verbal pathway to emotional release and healing.

• Trauma Therapy: For adults dealing with trauma, Sandplay can provide a gentle, non-intrusive way of accessing and processing painful non-verbal memories. Unlike traditional talk therapy, which may require confronting traumatic events directly, Sandplay offers a symbolic expression of trauma, allowing for emotional release and mind-body integration without the need to verbalize the experience.

Conclusion

Sandplay therapy is a deeply transformative and healing practice that is not just for children. Adults, too, can benefit greatly from engaging with this non-verbal, creative process. Whether dealing with trauma, grief, illness, stress or simply seeking greater self-awareness, Sandplay offers a unique opportunity to explore the unconscious, process emotions and connect with the deeper aspects of the Self.

If you're an adult seeking a therapeutic method that combines creative expression, active imagination and symbolic healing, Sandplay could be the transformative tool you're looking for. Through this deeply embodied process, you can begin to access your inner wisdom, release emotional blocks and move toward a place of greater wholeness, clarity and meaning in your life.

Sandplay at Somatic Sovereignty 

At Somatic Sovereignty, we believe in the power of Sandplay to support adults in their healing journeys. Whether you’re working through trauma, seeking clarity or simply curious about this unique modality, we invite you to experience the transformative potential of Sandplay Therapy.

Want to experience the power of Sandplay? To engage in a Sandplay Process check out Monique's bundles here.

Healing doesn’t have to come from words alone. Sometimes, the sand and the symbols hold the answers.