What is Sand Therapy?

Sand therapy is a form of expressive therapy that uses sand and figurines, also referred to as miniatures or images, to create and express ourselves nonverbally. It is relational, experiential, mindful, and multi-sensory, engaging multiple brain systems, connecting both mind and body. Sand therapy can be helpful to facilitate self-exploration and healing. The use of the sand and miniatures activates our nonverbal experiences, allowing an individual to express images, emotions, perceptions, and conflicts about which they may not have the words for, may not wish to verbally share about, or may even not be aware of yet. This is helpful to work through any painful conscious or unconscious memories.

Sand therapy is appropriate for all ages and is considered an integrative form of therapy, as it can be used in conjunction with other therapy approaches, some of which are also offered at Meadow Grove Counseling, including Somatic Experiencing, EMDR Therapy, IFS Therapy, and play therapy.