Presentation Type
Poster Presentation
Category
Social Sciences/Humanities
Abstract/Artist Statement
Sand Tray Therapy as an intervention method in School Counseling
Sand tray therapy can be defined as a type of play therapy which has roots in various counseling approaches including Jungian and Humanistic orientations. It has been identified as a dynamic form of expressive psychotherapy where the client can express their intra and interpersonal world and issues using the creative process to communicate them (Homeyer and Sweeny, 2011).
As expressive art therapy has expanded from the therapeutic setting into other environments sand tray has become more accepted and more utilized as a school counseling intervention, particularly in the areas of trauma, recovering from natural disasters and career awareness. School counselors may benefit from having a sand tray available for students in their office and should therefore have basic skills training on how to implement this intervention. In Expressive Arts Interventions for School Counselors (2014), Suneetha B. Manyam writes about a developed sand tray activity for special needs groups within the school setting which aligns with the ASCA (American School Counseling Association) professional standards. Students may increase prosocial behavior through both the creation and the sharing of the sand tray they create.
This poster presentation will include an overview and introduction to the benefits of sand tray therapy as an expressive arts tool in a school setting. This presentation will build on developed interventions and prepare school counselors to understand sand tray, including a historical overview of the approach. Additionally, resources will be provided for counselors who want to implement sand tray as part of their school counseling programming.
As expressive approaches to counseling continue to gain traction in the field, counseling training programs should offer exposure to these approaches, including Sand tray. Foundational concepts will help establish best practices for counselors who are interested in this approach and may seek out further training.
Mentor Name
Roni Johnson
Personal Statement
Sand tray therapy is an experiential counseling approach which allows clients to explore their inner world using an artistic approach beyond words. It creates space to create a story in the sand and can be used for both children and adults. This poster detailing sand tray serves as an introduction to a less well-known approach to counseling and can be a framework for understanding the history, benefits, and process of sand tray therapy. This approach is particularly important during a time when introspection and personal expression through experiential means is in constant competition with technology. The use of sand tray when working with students can be a useful tool to help clients or students connect with their inner selves through a process of mindfulness or being in the present moment. Gambrela, Burgea, & Sudeb, (2020), found in their article titled Creativity, Acceptance, and the Pause: A Case Example of Mindfulness and Art in Therapy with an Adolescent that sand tray therapy is particularly useful for those who may not engage in traditional talk therapy alone. Increasing the use of mindfulness based, experiential counseling is of immense value to humanity as we continue to navigate the increased use of technology in our lives. It is also of value to the UM student population as they navigate how to stay connected to their own inner worlds while utilizing the benefits technology offers as students at UM. This increase in information and multitasking through technology can lead us away from our connection to ourselves and it is of value to explore ways to continue our own inner awareness. Sand tray therapy is an artistic therapeutic approach that can serve as tool for working with a variety of populations and deserves recognition to continue to develop particularly as mindfulness-based interventions continue to increase.
Sand Tray Therapy as an intervention method in School Counseling
UC North Ballroom
Sand Tray Therapy as an intervention method in School Counseling
Sand tray therapy can be defined as a type of play therapy which has roots in various counseling approaches including Jungian and Humanistic orientations. It has been identified as a dynamic form of expressive psychotherapy where the client can express their intra and interpersonal world and issues using the creative process to communicate them (Homeyer and Sweeny, 2011).
As expressive art therapy has expanded from the therapeutic setting into other environments sand tray has become more accepted and more utilized as a school counseling intervention, particularly in the areas of trauma, recovering from natural disasters and career awareness. School counselors may benefit from having a sand tray available for students in their office and should therefore have basic skills training on how to implement this intervention. In Expressive Arts Interventions for School Counselors (2014), Suneetha B. Manyam writes about a developed sand tray activity for special needs groups within the school setting which aligns with the ASCA (American School Counseling Association) professional standards. Students may increase prosocial behavior through both the creation and the sharing of the sand tray they create.
This poster presentation will include an overview and introduction to the benefits of sand tray therapy as an expressive arts tool in a school setting. This presentation will build on developed interventions and prepare school counselors to understand sand tray, including a historical overview of the approach. Additionally, resources will be provided for counselors who want to implement sand tray as part of their school counseling programming.
As expressive approaches to counseling continue to gain traction in the field, counseling training programs should offer exposure to these approaches, including Sand tray. Foundational concepts will help establish best practices for counselors who are interested in this approach and may seek out further training.