Sand Tray Help & Resources

OnlineSand Tray Instructions

To get started, ask your client to browse through the collection of available figures (tabs 1-7) and explore the functionality.

Manipulating the Figures

To insert an image into the Sand Tray simply click on your desired picture. To resize an image, drag on any of the orange handles around your selection. The top center circular dot around your image allows you to rotate left and right.

Understanding Sand Tray Controls

On the top right you will find more buttons to enhance how you can use the sand tray:

Use copy to duplicate the image, you can copy as many times as you want to create your scene (i.e. many children in a classroom in the background).
Use flip to have your figure face the other direction (i.e. to have figures talking).
Use delete to remove a single image.
You can bring images forward and back by using the back and front buttons. Your newest image selection will always begin on top of the other figures, you can use these controls to adjust
When your image is complete you can save as a .jpg to your desktop. And once the session is over you can use the clear button to start again.

Tips for Using Alongside your Client

Once you are confident in using the platform, provide your client with a prompt and ask them to imagine a scene.
Ask them to make their scene by clicking on each image to add it to the sand tray.
Ask your client to describe their scene to you. Use projective exercises to ask the client to be some of the figures.
Follow up with the exercise: does the projection make sense for the client?
Leave the scene up and open until after your client's session is over.

Sand Tray Using the Oaklander Model Course

The Oaklander Model uses sand tray and miniatures for children to create scenes as projections of their inner experience, wishes, feelings, and/or past, present and future situations in their lives. Some therapists use sand trays to assess clients’ process, emotions, and functional age.

This course includes:

An introduction to using sand tray as a therapeutic tool
How to use the sand tray with the Oaklander Model
An interview with Violet Oaklander on the use of Sand Tray in Gestalt Play Therapy.
Clinical Applications of the Sand Tray.
A walkthrough of onlinesandtray.com, including how to screen share during teletherapy.
A demonstration of using an online sand tray virtually with a child
Three demonstrations using the Sand Tray with children featuring follow up questions & answers and reflections from Dr. Karen Fried.
A demonstration using the Sand Tray with a family with a follow up reflection from Dr. Karen Fried.
A demonstration using the Sand Tray with an adult with a reflection from Dr. Karen Fried.
Additional reflections on using the Sand Tray with the Oaklander Model.

After completing this course you will be able to use an actual or online sand tray using the Oaklander Model.