The Center for Culture and Sandplay: About the Center

The Center for Culture and Sandplay provides workshops, groups, and seminars for professionals seeking theoretical understanding and practical approaches to incorporate culture and the creative arts into clinical practice, especially sandplay therapy. Seasoned professionals in the field, practitioners new to sand therapy, and graduate students come together to study and immerse themselves in the powerful experience of sandplay therapy, sand tray counseling, and the creative arts in play therapy.

The purpose of this web site is to present educational and training information for those interested in sandplay and sand tray therapy. Our focus is on Jungian sandplay therapy developed by Jungian Analyst Frau Dora Kalff. Other theoretical and methodological frameworks we favor include humanistic-existential theories, Zen philosophy, and social constructionist approaches to sandplay, especially Narrative therapy to enhance culturally conscious sand therapy.

We at the Center for Culture and Sandplay make the distinction between Jungian sandplay therapy and sand tray therapy. Jungian sandplay therapy relies on the process of Individuation, a theoretical perspective developed by Carl Jung. Of considerable significance, sandplay therapy is done silently without interference from the clinician. Sandplay is a projective technique. Hence, great care is taken in professional training, the selection and study of symbolic objects, and specific interpretive analysis such as amplification. Similar to other projective techniques such as the Rorschach, sandplay practice is a unique balance in theoretical acumen, intuitive insight, and the ability to tap psychic resources.

Psychotherapists who use sandplay have undergone their own sandplay process with a trained sandplay therapist. These clinicians are aware of the power and presence of the unconscious and the potential enactment of Jungian constructs such as complexes, anima/animus, shadow and the Self. Having the experience of sandplay is essential to grasp the dynamics of sandplay process and to reduce one's own projections and damaging interpretations during clinical practice. In addition to training in Jungian theory and Kalffian sandplay process, psychotherapists and counselors bring their own philosophical perspectives, which may include a range of psychological theories and Western, Non-Western, and Indigenous philosophies.

Kalffian sandplay is quite compatible with Eastern philosophies such as Zen Buddhist practices as well as the socio-cultural disciplines of feminist theory, social constructionism, Indigenous psychologies, and cross-cultural theories. Culturally conscious approaches help bridge sociopolitical realities with Jungian sandplay therapy. Bounded within the sand box, yet reaching the depths of the soul and the expanse of the Heavens, the primary goal of a sandplay therapist is to create a safe and protective space for emotional healing.

Sand tray therapy, on the other hand, is a generic use of sand and toys for play therapy and often includes the client's engagement with the psychotherapist in the sand scene. Therapists who use sand tray work from a wide range of theoretical perspectives to understand the client's sand play. For example the therapist might favor a developmental framework, a humanistic perspective, or a cognitive-behavioral framework including new developments in family therapy. The clinician using sand tray will most likely have some training in play or art therapy. They may have been introduced to the use of sand tray through a workshop, through work colleagues, or even in graduate internships. However, these clinicians may not have committed the amount of time to personal psychotherapy and lengthy in-depth training offered for Jungian oriented sandplay therapists.

One of the most effective non-Jungian theoretical approaches for use with sand tray that Dr. Preston-Dillon has observed is the Child-Centered approach of Drs. Louise Guerney and William Nordling applied at College Park Youth and Family Services in College Park, Maryland. A true application of Carl Rogers' work is probably one of the most efficacious approaches for play therapy, including sand tray and sandplay therapy.

The Center for Culture and Sandplay
(301) 345-9571

email: sandplayvoices@cultureplay.com

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