For a lot of people - particularly children and teens - verbalizing internal struggles can be difficult. Today's world comes with more pressures and concern for young people than ever before, so it is important to find a way for them to express the things that are bothering them so that they can get the help they need. Some innovative therapists are using sand tray therapy as a means of providing clients such an outlet.
This therapeutic approach is basically exactly what its name implies. It consist of combining items such as a sandbox, little houses, people and animal figurines, and even water, as tools for the client's use. With these things, the individual is encouraged to create various scenes that depict what is in their mind and represent their concerns, struggles, feelings, or thoughts, without the pressure.
This concept is centered around the base ideal that children are naturally drawn to play and that when allowed to do so without interference or direction, adults can learn a lot. Sandbox sessions provides a safe outlet through which they may feel at ease enough to demonstrate a bit of what is happening in their young minds. Without pressure, a child can be comfortable and secure.
The belief is that given this freedom of expression, children are able to work through their problems and begin their own healing process. Once the child feels comfortable enough, the therapist will initiate a discussion about what is happening in their symbolic world. The things that they are unable to express verbally, they can demonstrate through these figurines.
Younger children who are not yet verbally efficient or mature enough to fully express their feelings are prime candidates for this approach. Playing is something every child understands without instruction, and therapist who observe them in this activity have often been able to learn quite a bit about the child. Play time is quite frequently used as a child's method of acting out real life scenarios.
Many autistic children - regardless of age - also tend to respond well to this treatment. It helps them process the sensory input in a non-disturbing way and allows them to communicate better. The demonstrations which they exhibit during play can help a therapist understand them and decide what other methods might be effective in helping that specific client.
Because the idea is to allow the child to process their own situation and seek for a solution on their own, the therapist will not lead them into a scenario. Treatment could simply be a single session, it may last several weeks, or even years, depending on the client and their particular situation. The main thing is observation and patience.
As a therapeutic coping mechanism, sandbox play may seem completely nontraditional, though it is quite effective, particularly with children who have problems verbalizing. This is a passive and simple concept that centers around the client feeling safe and comfortable. Adjustments to the approach may be made by the therapist as individual situations dictate.
This therapeutic approach is basically exactly what its name implies. It consist of combining items such as a sandbox, little houses, people and animal figurines, and even water, as tools for the client's use. With these things, the individual is encouraged to create various scenes that depict what is in their mind and represent their concerns, struggles, feelings, or thoughts, without the pressure.
This concept is centered around the base ideal that children are naturally drawn to play and that when allowed to do so without interference or direction, adults can learn a lot. Sandbox sessions provides a safe outlet through which they may feel at ease enough to demonstrate a bit of what is happening in their young minds. Without pressure, a child can be comfortable and secure.
The belief is that given this freedom of expression, children are able to work through their problems and begin their own healing process. Once the child feels comfortable enough, the therapist will initiate a discussion about what is happening in their symbolic world. The things that they are unable to express verbally, they can demonstrate through these figurines.
Younger children who are not yet verbally efficient or mature enough to fully express their feelings are prime candidates for this approach. Playing is something every child understands without instruction, and therapist who observe them in this activity have often been able to learn quite a bit about the child. Play time is quite frequently used as a child's method of acting out real life scenarios.
Many autistic children - regardless of age - also tend to respond well to this treatment. It helps them process the sensory input in a non-disturbing way and allows them to communicate better. The demonstrations which they exhibit during play can help a therapist understand them and decide what other methods might be effective in helping that specific client.
Because the idea is to allow the child to process their own situation and seek for a solution on their own, the therapist will not lead them into a scenario. Treatment could simply be a single session, it may last several weeks, or even years, depending on the client and their particular situation. The main thing is observation and patience.
As a therapeutic coping mechanism, sandbox play may seem completely nontraditional, though it is quite effective, particularly with children who have problems verbalizing. This is a passive and simple concept that centers around the client feeling safe and comfortable. Adjustments to the approach may be made by the therapist as individual situations dictate.
About the Author:
You can find a summary of the benefits you get when you use sand tray therapy services at http://www.juliecast.net/Aboutme.html right now.
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