Sand Tray Therapy and Sand Play Therapy are often used interchangeably, but they have distinct characteristics and origins:
- Sand Tray Therapy:
- Developed by Margaret Lowenfeld in the 1920s.
- It is a non-directive form of therapy. This means the therapist does not interpret or interfere with the client’s play process. Instead, they provide a safe and protected space where the client can express and explore their inner world.
- Used with children and adults.
- The focus is on the creation of a miniature world in the sand tray using various figures and objects. This world acts as a reflection of the client’s own life and allows them to resolve conflicts, remove obstacles, and gain acceptance of self.
- Sand Play Therapy:
- Developed by Dora Kalff in the 1950s, based on the principles of Jungian psychology.
- More directive than Sand Tray Therapy. The therapist may interpret the symbolic meaning of the sand pictures and often works to understand the client’s psyche through these symbols.
- Often used with children, but can be adapted for adults.
- Involves a free, creative play process within a “free and protected space” provided by the therapist. This method facilitates the psyche’s natural capacity for healing.
In essence, while both therapies involve the use of a sand tray and miniature figures, their approach and theoretical underpinnings differ. Sand Tray Therapy is non-directive and more focused on the process of creation in the sand, while Sand Play Therapy incorporates Jungian psychology and involves a more interpretive role by the therapist.
