Sandplay Therapy with Young Refugees

Sandplay is nonverbal form of therapy that allows the person to connect with the preverbal level of the psyche. In this modality, children or young people are asked to create scenes or abstract designs in tray of a specific... [ view full abstract ]

Sandplay is nonverbal form of therapy that allows the person to connect with the preverbal level of the psyche. In this modality, children or young people are asked to create scenes or abstract designs in tray of a specific size, using sand, water and miniatures. The therapist holds the space and allows for the creation to happen in a safe location.

Sandplay springs from Jungian theories and the principle that given the proper conditions, there is a tendency for the psyche to heal itself.
The use of this therapeutic modality has been particularly effective with refugee children and young people. Its nonverbal principle allows the therapist to work with limited language skills and verbalisation as well as reach the traumatic experiences that are often stored in the body and may not be accessed through verbalised memories.

In this presentation, we will briefly touch on the theoretical framework behind this model will be discussed and case vignettes that illustrate the benefits of sandplay in working in the trauma field with young people of refugee background will be presented.