Expression in a Sandstory

How disturbed can a child be when he placed the little figurine of a naked baby ontop of a heap of 'dead people' in the sand tray? Could he be expressing the feeling of utter despair? How can one contemplate even an adult expressing such sadness, not to mention a little child. Yes, this is one sand tray I just witnessed.

I find some similarities between sandplay therapy and mindfulness psychotherapy. Mindfulness helps us turn towards our fear, anger, guilt, sadness or whatever feelings we are experiencing and be aware of the pain such emotion is causing in our body. We accept these emotions without aversion and stay with it till it fades away, thus noticing its impermanence.Over time we pick up the confidence to endure pain (having lived through it) and adopt a willingness to face unpleasantness.

In sandplay therapy the client is able to see his fears or other hidden emotions played out in the sand tray. They are able to face and hold the pain or fear within the safe and protected space created by the presence of the therapist.Sandplay allows the client to describe a personal problem metaphorically and “thus keep a safe distance from it”. Likewise in mindfulness psychotherapy a person seems to be observing himself from a distance, noticing his own thought patterns and habitual emotional response. The calm and stable mind begins to contemplate and investigate the causes and conditions of the inner issues and like a third person viewing the problem sees new approaches and alternatives. Similarly in Sandplay the client having played out his inner issues over and over again begins to draw on his inner resources to see new perspectives and insights in resolution.

No wonder at one session, my little client heaved a sigh of relief after a very intense and focused one hour. "Tired?" I asked. He broke out into a smile and nodded.

(Incidentally, unlike at the school, I can now spend as much time as needed with my little clients Phew!)