My Angry Santray: Sand Tray Therapy Anger Management Assignment

by A. J.
(Mercer University: Sand Tray Therapy Class)

My Angry Santray: Sand Tray Therapy Anger Management

My Angry Santray: Sand Tray Therapy Anger Management

This is my angry sand tray for anger management sand tray therapy. This sand tray more than any other has been really eye-opening for me. The first few miniatures I knew why they stood out to me and who/what they represented. But then I started putting miniatures in and I did not really know why I picked them. It wasn’t until I put them all in and looked at the complete picture that I realized what each one stood for. Once I identified each miniature, it really made sense why I picked each one. The most surprising thing was how angry I am and what all still makes me angry. I do not think of myself as an angry or bitter person, but some of the miniatures represent things I have been angry about for years!
While this was done in a smaller sand tray, it is also the busiest sand tray I have done. Each miniature represents something different and I haven’t discovered everything that they represent. This is also a sand tray I would like to do an extended sand tray on. I think this is an area that I have not been really self aware of and I need to be more aware of, explore, and work through. I can recognize when I am angry and usually what I am angry about. But it is a really uncomfortable emotion for me and I like to get rid of it as soon as possible. I think the first step for me is to allow myself to be angry and then work through the issue. I learned from the sand tray that I have neglected these steps and certainly have not worked through my anger. I believe the discomfort with anger and avoidance of it largely came from the social conditioning that it is not ‘lady-like’ for a southern girl to be angry.
The tank and Army men in the tray represent my brother. I have really been angry with him lately and I was not surprised that he showed up and took up a lot of space in my angry sand tray. In the front is my dad. This really surprised me because I do not think of myself as being angry with my dad, but I think it appeared because of some long unresolved issues I need to work through. Ursula represents the greed and selfishness of people. I think she probably represents more, but I haven’t quite figured it out yet. Behind Ursula in the back right hand corner is a monk-like figure. This for some reason represents anger and religion. This one really surprised me. I did not think I had any anger towards religion, but I think I have an idea of why it is there. To the left of the tank is a wedding couple. I chose this because of my anger of my wedding plans not going according to plan and all the strife that has caused me in my life and relationship. Lastly in the back left hand corner is an ugly miniature. This represents how uncomfortable being angry makes me and the ugliness of it.

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Disclaimer: This website and its content is intended for trained licensed mental health professionals and school certified mental health professionals to use for their clients / students at their own discretion.

*If you ignore the disclaimer above are using these techniques on yourself and you feel any discomfort or upset it is highly suggested that you seek out a licensed  mental health professional immediately.

"Beyond Art Therapy" is the concept from Dr. Stangline that combines all creative fields in therapy. It is not the traditional "art therapy" but goes beyond to include sand tray therapy, play therapy, mindfulness, meditation, color therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, and a vast majority of other therapies.

For any other type of mental health emergency call your local 911 / Police Number immediately.

Dr. Stangline does not offer advice / suggestions to anyone who is not a professional mental health provider, or a student who is studying this field and has questions about mental health programs of study.

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