Sandplay is a method which is valuable for going into the unconscious and clearing our past conditioning. I call it a "projective technique". We project our inner images into the sandtray through the use of sand and small figures, much like creating a dream while we are awake, and then we move into the imagery in order to experience ourselves more deeply and fully. Through experiencing these aspects of ourselves consciously, they lose their power over us and our definition of ourselves changes. Our identity expands to include our total self instead of only including the parts that were acceptable to our parents and to society. In this way, we become who we truly are, and healing takes place. We become whole and for me, holiness is wholeness. When we are allowed to be fully who we are holiness and bliss arise naturally of their own accord.

The method is suitable for both children and adults, and is helpful because the clients can express themselves even though they may not know what the problem is or be too shy to speak openly to the counselor. There are 2,000 or more small figures on the shelves around the room, people, cars, wild animals, domestic animals, houses, airplanes, shells, stones, and everything imaginable for the client to choose from.

This process sometimes involves suffering since we have to die to our self (to who we thought we were) in order to accept the rejected aspects of our self. So in Buddha's teachings, He emphasized that the path to liberation begins with the recognition of suffering. Many people don't even know they are suffering since they have found so many ways of covering it up. This is why we often see people with chaotic and destructive dreams and they don't even fell that this is happening in their own personality, their unconscious.

The use of the Breath in Sandplay therapy

While working with people in sandplay we will often need to remind the client to breathe deeply. The breath is the basic method for connecting to our body sensations and to our emotions. If we only connect to the intellect then no real change happens in the personality. The client needs to feel things deeply, their fears, their hurts, their anger, in order for these past experiences to be released. The role of the counselor is to create an accepting, loving environment that allows the person to feel safe enough to feel these things. Sometimes we even need to encourage them gently that it is okay to experience these things, since the original cause of the suffering is not present right now. But we should never push or force the client, since this was often the cause of their original pain.

When the client says they are feeling something, we ask them to close their eyes and tell us "Where is the feeling in the body?" Then we encourage them to "breathe into that part of your body", and tell them, "Let the feeling be as big as it really is. Simply allow your sadness, anger, fear (or whatever it is) and surrender to the feeling so there us no more holding back". If the person surrenders totally, their emotion always begins to transform into a more positive feeling very quickly. The person often feels a release of energy in the form of heat, or a feeling of relief and relaxation. This is the indication that they have experienced that particular feeling totally. When the person works in this way, the emotions will gradually (over a few weeks or months) take them deeply into their unconscious so that a major change in the personality can take place. This work is very rewarding and satisfying for the counselor.

Theory: Sandplay has been used as a method of healing in many ancient cultures. In Tibet and with the American Indians, sand mandala drawings were created in order to bring a person or a group back into harmony with their original wholeness. To create an image of wholeness and totality helps to experience that deep place within ourselves and healing then takes place. Sandplay is healing because the sand contains the same chemical elements as the physical body, so when we put our hands into the sand there is a harmonious resonance and it feels good to the client or to the child.

The container for the sandplay is constructed from wood and is glued and painted carefully so that no water leaks through. The bottom is painted blue to symbolize water and the dimensions are 75 centimetres wide by 55 centimetres broad by 12 centimetres deep. Then it is half to 2/3 filled with sand and water is available to the client so they can make the sand wet if they want. In ideal conditions where the counselor has a large therapy room, it is good to have 2 sand trays, one with wet sand and one with dry sand. The dimensions are chosen because they are the size that can be easily viewed with one glance, without having to move the head from side to side.

The sandtray is a FREE & PROTECTED space. This means that the person is free to express anything they want, not what the therapist or anyone might tell them to do. This allows them to explore and discover the unknown in themselves, in a safe , protected, non-judgmental atmosphere. It is protected, because the tray offers a defined area where only as much of the unconscious can be expressed as it is possible for the client to deal with at that time. If too much of the unconscious comes up, the client feels overwhelmed and no healing can take place. It is also protected because the counselor is non-intrusive. They don't come in and make suggestions unless the child asks for help; and then the "help" should be to encourage the child to find their own creative solutions. This allows the self-healing to take place from within.

When the therapy is progressing successfully, we will see various images of change and movement until finally the client expresses and image of totality, a circular shape sometimes combined with the square- a mandala. The session where this takes place is usually accompanied by a powerful feeling of awe and joy, a feeling of freedom and celebration. The real proof that healing has taken place is when the child and the parent or teacher report to us that the outer life problem is no longer taking place. "Pi Ling is no longer fighting with her school mates" or "My son is now able to accept a hug from me and is not fighting with his little sister when I show her my attention and love".

After this healing session it is usually necessary to have one or a few more sessions to complete the therapy. In the final one or two sessions it is important to sit with the parent and child and go through all the photos, explaining the journey as a whole. Viewing and talking about all the photos and the entire journey, gives everyone, including the counselor, a sense of completion and fulfillment.

The Importance of the First Session

The first session is very important since it sets the feeling of everything that will follow. When the adult phones to arrange the first session, you can ask them about the nature of the problems. When they give the description, they are already deciding whether or not you could be helpful to them and their child (or if a teacher is referring the child, then the student). They feel it in your tone of voice, in the kinds of questions you ask, and how much you are charging, unless it is a free service.

Once the time is decided for the appointment then you can ask, "What will you tell the child the reason for them coming to see me?" Many parents feel their child is naughty, even if they don't say it directly. This makes the child feel that they are going to see someone who wants to punish them. Often the parent doesn't really know what to say to the child, so you can help them form a simple explanation," I am taking you to the counselor so that you will feel happier; so that we won't make each other sad with our arguments: so you can find new friends easily." The explanation can fix the problem.

When the parent and child arrive it is good to see them together initially and speak to the parent first so that the child can have a few moments to adjust to meeting a stranger. I sometimes ask, "Have you told your son/daughter why they are coming to see me?" and if the parent says "yes", then you ask the child," Why are you coming to see me?" Some children might be too young to answer this question so you have to use your own intuition. This helps to clarify the present problem and helps to get it "out in the open".

Next you can explain how sandplay works. Here is a typical explanation: "This is the sand tray and the bottom is painted blue to indicate water (scoop aside some sand to show them the bottom, but then smooth the sand back). Have a look at all the figures on the shelves and you can either play with the sand itself or you can choose any of the figures and put them into the box, making a picture. If you want to pit more water into the sand tray I have a pitcher here with water in it. If there is something you want that you don't see, ask me and I'll see what we can do."

"When you're finished with your picture I will take 2 photos and I will give one to you when I get them developed and I will keep one for myself." This makes the child aware of the importance of their picture and they also feel important- they are going to be given a photo as well. It also tells them that there is a finishing process- the taking of the photo "when you are finished". At the end of the session I often ask the child if they would like to be in the picture.

Next, while the child begins to play, you can ask the parent to describe in detail what the problem is. This is often an awkward moment for the parent because many times they have not been fully honest with the child. So you are inviting them to bring the problem out in the open with a stranger, someone who will not take sides and make the child fell that they are wrong. Many parents are already ambivalent-they feel like the child has been misbehaving, that they are causing "the problem", but at times they also feel that they are failing their child, that they are not loving the child properly. As the parent describes the problem, you can ask the child if this sounds right.

Now the counselor begins to decide whether it is best to see the child alone while the parent waits outside or whether it is best to see them together for the entire session. This partly depends on the child and you need to ask the child if they feel okay for the mom (or the teacher) to stay in the room. If you feel that it's best for the adult to leave, you need to ask the child if this is okay (but if the child is too young, you can decide yourself).

So the stage of the therapy begins to unfold and you may continue to see the adult and child together fir all the sessions, or you may judge that the child will feel more free to talk honestly if the adult is not present. And sometimes you can have phone contact briefly with the parent after certain key sessions to ask how things are going. You may also suggest that the parent come in to have a session concerning his or her own issues. Sometimes you can share what has happened in the child's session over the phone, but for the older children, 7,8,9 and older, it is important to ask if you can share with the parent what happened. The confidentiality is sacred.

When the child is finished with their picture they usually say so, but if the time is going on, the counselor needs to indicate that it's time to finish the picture. You need to leave enough time for processing. You can ask the child to tell you the story of what's happening and/or get them to play out the various figures and ask the appropriate questions: " What's it feel like to be that little rabbit standing next to the very big dinosaur?" or "You are and airplane that has crashed. What are you made of? What colour are you? Can you lie on the floor and make your body into the shape of the crashed airplane. What are you feeling? Is anyone coming to help you?" And so the questions can continue in order to take the child deeper into the situation.

At the end of the session you can do some brief interpretation, especially for older children, helping to link the picture to the real life situation and to the presenting problem. Then take the photo and tell the child that you will put the figures away, since it is good that they can see the picture complete before they leave. Some children are reluctant to finish the picture and don't want to leave. I usually say," It is sad when something nice comes to and end." And very often the child then knows that I am aware of what they are feeling and they feel okay to leave. Or I might say," Would you like to come again? You can play again the next time." With an adult say," Our time is coming to a close, do you feel okay to finish the session now?"

After the session, it is important to do a brief sketch of the sandplay and male some ntoes on what was shared. The date should be recorded with you notes and the photos numbered as they appear of the role of the film. So the heading at the top of the page might read:

Yao Ling Tieu 13 May, 2003, age 8, photos 3 & 4. (Mom's name and phone number).