Sand Tray Therapy 101
Learn How to Use Sand Tray Therapy for your Private Practice, or School Setting.

If you are a therapist, or a school counselor, you should offer your sand tray therapy clients the chance to try the sand tray in sand tray therapy.

Let Dr. Stangline help you learn how to utilize this valuable tool as I have hundreds of graduate school students. 


Sand tray therapy is an excellent therapeutic tool for people of all ages and cultures. It can be used in family therapy, couples therapy, group therapy, supervision, and even school counseling.

Every therapist should at least be trained in sand tray therapy for their client's benefit.

On the below links you will find some examples of graduate student's sand tray therapy work. Some students built their own trays, others used turkey tins, or plastic bins to try sand tray.

They all found the benefits of the sand tray to be amazing no matter what type of tray they used!

Sand tray therapy is similar to art counseling. Instead of drawing a picture, with sand tray therapy the client puts a picture of their psyche in the sand tray using miniatures.

Usually, the client does not realize why they are choosing the miniatures they choose, or creating the sand tray they choose until the therapist starts to process the tray with the client.

The Creative Counselor uses sand tray therapy in the tradition manner, however, other techniques are added to the sand tray process. 

When I do sand tray therapy with my clients I use directive and non-directive approaches. I allow the client to direct me with he way they need to do their therapy.

However, I have tools that can help them when they get stuck or need another outlet. With the sand tray subconscious mind comes into consciousness with the very act of creating a sand tray with sand tray therapy. This is why it is important to be a trained sand tray therapist if you use the sand tray on clients.


The Creative Sand Tray Therapy approach by Dr. Stangline is different from traditional sand tray and sand play approaches.

Of course, the traditional forms of the sand tray therapy / sand play therapy are understood and integrated in the creative sand tray therapy.


And yes, the Creative Sand Tray Therapy Counselor has learned the history and traditions of the sand tray starting with Margaret Lowenfield, Dora Kalff, and Gisela De Domenico's Sandtray - Worldplay practice. Read the link below on The History of Sand  Tray Therapy to get started on your training.

Pre-sand tray activities are used to ensure the client is ready to go and work in the sand tray. The Creative Counselor usually has a Zen Garden in the room.

If a client shows interest in the Zen Garden this might be a time to offer a session in the sand tray, and thus begins the sand tray therapy path. 

If you are ready to become a sand tray therapist then let me show you how. After reading the sand tray therapy information on this site you can learn the same thing I teach in my graduate school sand tray therapy class students.

Then, you might want to check out my eBook called: "The Creative Sand Tray ".

Although it is not an actual "sand tray therapy class" it is the same lessons on sand tray therapy I teach. You can follow at your own pace and even send me questions via email.


Dr. Stangline's eBook on Step by Step Sand Tray Therapy Training:

See The Creative Sand Tray Therapy eBook by Dr. Stanline
https://www.creativecounseling101.com/sand-tray-therapy-ebook.html
Learn Sand Tray Therapy History
Sand Tray Therapy Warm Up: The Zen Garden
Learn Reality Therapy Three Wishes Activity in Sand Tray Therapy
Learn Basic Step by Step Sand Tray Therapy
See Sand Tray Therapy Examples Page
See More Creative Counseling Ideas Here
See A First Time Sand Tray Therapy of Graduate Student
Learn How to Do Sand Tray Therapy at Home on Yourself

See More on Sand Tray Therapy Here:



Sand Tray Therapy to Graduate Student Sand Tray Therapy Examples 

Sand Tray Therapy to Beginning Sand Tray Therapy 

Self-Healing in the Sand Tray for Therapists 

Sand Tray Therapy to Sand Tray Genogram 


Sand Tray Therapy to Make Your Own Sand Tray 

Sand Tray to Different Sand Tray Examples 

Sand Tray Therapy to Make Your Own Moon Sand 


Sand Tray Therapy to Sand Tray Therapy Bridge 

Sand Tray Therapy to Labyrinth Sand Trays 

Sand Tray to Sand Tray Therapy Warm Up: Bon Bon Box 


Sand Tray Therapy Counseling Graduate School Student's Testimony to Sand Tray Therapy:

Learn what my graduate school students learned about Sand Tray Therapy. These testimonies and learning experiences came from my actual class that I taught at Mercer University in Atlanta, Georgia.


Learn How to Do Sand Tray Therapy with The Family Sand Tray Therapy Tray / Great for stressful times such as the Covid 19 Quarentine

Note Disclaimer: The free activities found in this website should be used by licensed mental health professionals who have the training, or are seeking supervision with a trained professional in the area of Sand Tray Therapy, Creative Counseling, and Psychotherapy.

See Sand Tray Therapy Graduate Therapy Class Examples Here:

See More Student Sand Tray Therapy Techniques Here
See Sand Tray Therapy Anger Management Here
A Mental Health Professional Tries Sand Tray Therapy

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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