Play & Sandplay Therapy | The Edinburgh Practice

Play Therapy

Play therapy utilises play and creative activities as a means for the young person to express their thoughts, feelings and emotions. In a safe and supportive environment, a trained play therapist observes and interacts with the young person during play sessions, using toys, games and art materials to help them work through difficulties or emotional challenges. Play therapy can be particularly effective in helping young people communicate and cope with difficult experiences or emotional struggles.

An initial consultation with the parent or caregiver will be offered to explore the young person’s strengths and difficulties. This information will be captured through discussion and a standardised questionnaire.

A block of six play therapy sessions will be offered to the young person with a period of review after the final session to determine if further sessions would be beneficial.

therapy can provide several benefits to young people who may be experiencing emotional, behavioral or psychological challenges. Play therapy can support:

Communication skills
Emotional expression
Emotional regulation
Insight and awareness
Parent and child relationships
Problem solving
Relationship building
Self-esteem
Stress reduction
Trauma processing

Sandplay Therapy

Sandplay therapy (sometimes called sandtray therapy) is a psychotherapeutic method used worldwide with growing awareness of its benefits in the UK. Sandplay therapy can help people of all ages to heal at the deepest level of the psyche (your mind, soul or spirit) using a sand tray, miniatures, and symbols. It is a gentle but powerful form of therapy that allows clients to portray feelings, experiences and internal states that may be inaccessible and/or difficult to verbalise. Thus, non-verbal, unconscious, and symbolic expressions are made visible for reflection in a three-dimensional form.

How Sandplay Therapy Works

As physical wounds naturally heal under the right conditions, our psyches have a natural drive to heal when given the right space and environment. The sandplay therapist offers a safe and contained space for each client to relax and allow their internal state to be accessed and expressed using the sand and symbols available to create a picture in the sand. This part is usually nonverbal, allowing the client to tap into their instinct and intuition. Upon completion of a sandplay picture, the client may wish to reflect on their tray. The therapist does not interpret the tray but may invite the client to share any thoughts or feelings that come up in the process.

Tailored to individual’s needs – Every client is accepted as a unique individual; sandplay therapy is accessible to all (unless you really don’t like the feel of sand!). Likewise, with other creative therapies, there is no ‘right/wrong’ or ‘good/bad’ sandtray, so clients need not worry about being judged. Sessions are designed to fit an individual’s specific needs and therapy goals, all of which can be discussed at point of referral.

Sandplay Therapy as a Holistic Approach

Sandtray therapy works well as a standalone intervention and particularly well for those who may find traditional talk therapy difficult or overwhelming. Based on a theoretical framework of psychodynamic theories in play therapy and analytical psychology, the therapist has extensive training in integrative approaches, bringing a wealth of knowledge and rich experience to the practice.

The science part: research tells us that sandplay therapy heals by facilitating brain integration and restoring balance in our neural networks. When integration is impaired or we experience trauma, we may struggle with emotional regulation, anxiety or difficulties in relationships. When our brain is well integrated, we experience a sense of calmness, balance, and can adapt to stress more easily.

Who can Benefit from Sandplay Therapy?

Children, young people and adults who may be experiencing emotional or behavioural difficulties, including for example, anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress or attachment difficulties.
Neurodivergent children, young people and adults.
Children, young people and adults with physical and/or learning disabilities.
Adults with dementia.
Children, young people and adults who have experienced life events including for example, bereavement, divorce or natural disasters.
As sandplay therapy is not dependent on verbal dialogue or cognitive insight, this makes it an accessible and non-confrontational psychotherapeutic option for many individuals.

Sandplay therapy can provide several benefits to individuals who may be experiencing emotional, behavioural or psychological difficulties. The benefits can include:

Reduction of anxiety and traumatic stress symptoms
Increased resilience and self-esteem
Expression of feelings without the need for words
Boost in creativity
Sensory, calming experience
Grief and loss processing
Anger management

Our Fees

£100

Play Therapy Session

£100

Sandplay Therapy Session

🤔 In today’s #FridayFAQ our Founder and Clinical Director Dr Fiona Wilson answers:

What are our Sports Services❓

Watch the reel and read the Our Services page on our website for more information:
https://edinburghpractice.com/service/sports-performance-psychology/

Check out our YouTube Channel for more videos about our services, therapies, and mental health issues:
https://www.youtube.com/@TheEdinburghPractice1

#sportspyschology #selfcare #mentalhealthawareness
#edinburghtherapy #edinburghtherapist #TheEdinburghPractice

4 0