Clinical Work with Sandtrays: Suggestions for Deepening the Sand Therapist’s Understanding of Client Metaphors in the Sand

This article discusses the importance of active and consistent clinical exploration of client sandtrays. This exploration increases the use of the person of the sandtray therapist, exhibiting therapeutic curiosity, and deepening the connection to clients, their trays, and their impact on the therapist. The author provides seven steps to understand how to drop down into client work. A case example with sample dialogue is included to deepen the readers’ understanding. Art experiences, to be used by the sandtray therapist, are explained and demonstrated to offer methods to explore the sandtray experience.