Sandtray Therapy: A Practical Manual

by Linda E. Homeyer, Daniel S. Sweeney

This new edition of Sandtray Therapy is an essential read for professionals and students who wish to incorporate the use of sandtray therapy into their work with clients of all ages. All aspects of this therapeutic technique are explored engagingly and in detail. The authors describe how to select appropriate types of sand, put together a sandtray, and develop a collection of miniatures for their clients to use. Their six-step protocol guides beginners through a typical session, including room set-up, creation of the client’s sandtray and the therapist’s role, processing the sandtray, cleanup, and post-session documentation. New chapters discuss group sandtray therapy, working with couples and families, sandtray therapy and psychic trauma, integrating cognitive and structural techniques, and a review of the relevant research. Numerous photos of sandtrays and miniatures are provided, and case studies illustrate how to carry out an effective session. Appendices offer sample forms and handouts, as well as a detailed bibliography to help readers make the most of this innovative and creative therapy practice.

Genres: Psychology, Counselling, Childrens, Grad School, Social Work

122 pages, Paperback

First published December 22, 2010

Reviews

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I borrowed this book from a friend but it was so useful and well laid out that I think I will get my own copy. It is straightforward and helping me get my basic beginners sand tray collection started.. Loved it!

[Shana · Rating 4 out of 5]

FOUR AND A HALF STARS. This is a very clearly written and straight forward manual for therapists who want to know more about Sandtray and how to use it in their practice. It was a great foundation to read before I did an in person training on this subject and I will definitely be referring to it now that I'm using the technique with clients. A must have for any therapist interested in Sandtray.

[Miranda · Rating 5 out of 5]

It took me a while to get through cover to cover because it’s not exactly a thriller but it was so informative, helpful, and accessibly written. I’ve never read training material that has such a friendly and engaging “voice.” It was much less of a chore to read that some other things … (ahem the DBT manual)

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book for class. I love it. I have no background with sandtray therapy, so this was my first introduction. It made me excited to learn more about this type of therapy, and I feel it would be a really useful practical resource to keep as a student and eventually as a practitioner.

[Mary Anne Swart · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVE SANDTRAY THERAPY SO MUCH. I want to do this kind of therapy forever. Additionally, it fits best into the two categories of patients that I am most interested in – children, and trauma patients.

[Allison Gary · Rating 4 out of 5]

A required text for a course I took in sandtray, it was a good read, I really liked it. As it says there in the title, it's very practical and a good guide for using this intervention.

[Heidi Goehmann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Useful ideas for sandtray with all ages and in a variety of settings. This manual also contains a good body of research and clinical forms.

[Caroline Abbott · Rating 4 out of 5]

Practical and helpful ideas for a sandtray therapist

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great practical information on skills, prep, and the process of sandtray therapy.

[Kayla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very practical overview

This was an easy to read summary of sand tray therapy. This book has a lot of helpful information in it.

[Kait Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my first introduction to sand tray therapy. I didn’t know anything about it and this book is comprehensive and easy to read.
I like this book because it recognizes the somatic experience of trauma and how it impacts us from a neurobiological perspective. Many traditional talk therapies don’t access this somatic experience the same way sand tray therapy does. The book talks about how sand tray therapy can allow the trauma to heal from a neurobiological perspective first through the somatic experience of sand and control over the client’s miniature world. This can eventually lead to cognitive reprocessing in traditional talk therapy in the future.

[Stella · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was skeptical of this type of therapy before experiencing it myself. The way sandtray taps into the unconscious is pretty unreal - my first time experiencing it left me in tears. (no regrets) Dr. Homeyer teaches in the Professional Counseling program at Texas State University and she is absolutely a guru in the field of sandtray therapy. If you plan to utilize sandtray in your practice, this is a definite must-read.

[Kendra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thumbs up on a great technique and a lot of fun to do with little kids.

[Laurie · Rating 5 out of 5]

GREAT practical book!