Trang

Nhãn

Thứ Tư, 31 tháng 1, 2018

Sand Tray Therapy Helps In Understanding Feelings

By Donna Graham


Young children and teenagers often have a very difficult time verbalizing the things they are struggling with inside. There are a lot of pressures that kids today have to deal with so finding an effective outlet for them to express their needs and concerns is especially important. Many therapists have found sand tray therapy to be an innovative and useful way for their clients to find their voice.

The name of this therapeutic approach is pretty self descriptive. It employs the use of a sandbox, miniature figurines, and in some circumstances, water might also be included. The individual uses these items in order to create settings and scenes from the world inside their mind as a means to reflect and express their thoughts, feelings, struggles, and concerns.

The concept is based on the very simplified idea that play is something which comes naturally to children, and that by allowing them to do this freely without direction or interruption, a lot can be learned. It gives them a free space in which they can safely display symbols of the world that is inside their mind. This is a low pressure setting which helps them feel safe and comfortable.

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.

In most cases, the therapist does not suggest any scenarios, because the point of this practice is to permit the child to process their thoughts on their own in order to seek a solution. The client may require only a single session, or they may need multiple weeks, months, or years, based upon their own unique situation. Patience and observation are the key are essential to success.

Although playing in the sandbox may not seem like a traditional approach to helping a child cope with something that is bothering them, it has shown great promise and effectiveness, especially for those who are verbally challenged. It is a simple concept with a passive nature that promotes safety and comfort. Each therapist may make adjustments as dictated by the individual situation.




About the Author:



Không có nhận xét nào:

Đăng nhận xét

Tổng số lượt xem trang