Sandtray-Worldplay is a powerful form of expressive therapy that allows clients to create scenes using sand and miniature figures—offering a safe, symbolic space to explore thoughts, emotions, memories, and life experiences. These scenes often reflect both the inner and outer worlds and can communicate what may be difficult or impossible to put into words.

For trauma survivors, this approach is especially meaningful. Traumatic memories are often stored in the right hemisphere of the brain, where language and reasoning have limited access. Trauma can also disrupt the brain’s ability to process emotional, social, and bodily information—making traditional, talk-based therapies difficult or overwhelming. Many trauma memories are stored not as clear narratives, but as sensory impressions, images, and body-based experiences.

Because of this, non-verbal approaches like Sandtray-Worldplay can be essential for healing. The process gives trauma survivors a way to safely express and process experiences symbolically—without needing to recount or relive traumatic events. Healing can begin by gently accessing the deeper parts of the brain where trauma lives, all while staying grounded in the present.