Sandplay Therapists in Calgary, AB

What is sandplay therapy?

Sandplay therapy (also called sandtray therapy) is a form of expressive psychotherapy in which clients create miniature scenes in a tray of sand using small figurines and objects — people, animals, buildings, natural elements, fantasy figures, and symbols. Developed by Dora Kalff from the work of Margaret Lowenfeld and drawing on Jungian psychology, sandplay provides a nonverbal, symbolic space for the psyche to express what may not be accessible through words. The sand tray is understood as a "free and protected space" where unconscious material can emerge safely.

Who uses sandplay therapy?

Sandplay is used with children, adolescents, and adults. With children, it is a natural extension of play and provides access to emotional and psychological material that they cannot yet express verbally. With adults, it offers access to unconscious, pre-verbal, and symbolic material — particularly useful when verbal processing has limitations, when trauma is stored in image and sensory form, or when deeper layers of the psyche are being explored in Jungian-oriented therapy. It is used for trauma, grief, anxiety, relationship difficulties, developmental work, and personal growth.

What happens in a sandplay therapy session?

In a sandplay session, the client is invited to create a scene in the sand tray using whatever figures and objects draw them, without a specific directive. The therapist witnesses the creation silently or with minimal comment — the doing is the work, not the talking about it. After the creation, the therapist may invite reflection: "What do you notice? What is happening here? What is it like to look at this?" Sessions are typically photographed to create a visual record of the process over time. No interpretation is imposed; the meaning emerges from the client's own reflection.

Is sandplay evidence-based?

Sandplay/sandtray therapy has a growing evidence base, including studies showing positive outcomes for trauma, anxiety, and emotional regulation in children and adults. The evidence base is less extensive than CBT, partly because the approach does not lend itself easily to standardization. Sandplay works best within a broader therapeutic relationship rather than as an isolated technique. It is often integrated within Jungian analysis, play therapy, or eclectic approaches rather than practiced as a standalone modality.

How do I find a sandplay therapist in Canada?

Sandplay therapists are trained through the International Society for Sandplay Therapy (ISST) or the Sandplay Therapists of America (STA); certified sandplay therapists (CST) have completed specific training and supervision requirements. Many therapists incorporate sandtray work within their broader practice without formal sandplay certification. Theralist's directory allows filtering for therapists who list sandplay among their approaches.