Expressive Art and Sand Tray
Through images, symbols and metaphor people begin to experience a connectedness to themselves, others and their world. The process of change begins with the first movement, in drawing the first line, by making the first sound, by raising head and hands in the dance or in writing the first word. People begin to act from a place of no self-judgment, from a place of letting go, of trust, and of love.
Their art becomes a visible or audible message of transformation, growth and healing.3
Self Portrait Non-Dominant Hand Self Portait Dominant Hand Self Portrait
8 year old female Mandala Mandala
14 year old female
"Bird Just Sitting" 10 year old female "Bird with a Flower"
Self Portrait Mandala "I AM" Collage
14 year old female 36 year old female
"Show me what anger feels like to you".
12 year old male
Self"forgiveness is like when God looks down at you
and kind of winks as if to say, 'it's forgotten',
like it never happened." 15 year old female.
Sand play offers an experiential opportunity to externalize internal issues and to work through problems and life issues.
Examples of Therapeutic Sand Trays:
"My Family" "My Family"
9 year old female 5 year old male
"My Family" "My Family"
7 year old male 8 year old male
See: Counseling Approaches