Healing & Wholeness

Children, Adolescents & Adults

SANDTRAY COUNSELLING PSYCHOTHERAPY

About Sand Tray Therapy

What is Sand Tray Therapy?

Sand Tray Therapy taps into the depths of the imagination, and offers a gentle yet powerful transformative experience for children, adolescents and adults.

Sand Tray makes use of multiple figures that reflect aspects of ourselves, known and unknown or conscious mind and unconscious mind. These figures are placed in the tray and they become a bridge between these two aspects.

Why Sand Tray Therapy?

Sand Tray Therapy brings to light the depths of one’s soul. Whether it be working on personal issues, or simply exploring oneself more fully and deeply. It serves as a powerful modality which both heals and develops the personality.

Over the years I've observed how a child's emotional being is affected by living in and navigating our modern and fast paced society, with digital media playing a major role in their overall well being.

I see how challenging it can be for a child to express, understand and regulate their emotions. I see quiet children who keep their feelings and emotions hidden and tend to "fly under the radar". More and more children and their families are living with issues including ASD, OCD, ADHD, ODD, SPD, Anxiety, Bullying.

For Children & Adolescents

Sand Tray Therapy is ideal for children as they naturally resonate towards play and the use of their imagination.

The contents of the sand tray becomes their story, allowing to see themselves through the chosen figures they have placed in the tray, and to work through that which needs to be seen and heard.

It is a very gentle, non-invasive and non-threatening way of working with children & adolescents.

It provides a tangible and safe container in which the child can fully express themselves. In time, as they realign with their true self, they develop a sense of inner peace, strength and confidence.

Benefits include:

Emotional Control - allows the child to gain a greater handle on those aspects of their being and in their life that may feel beyond their control.
Developmental Support - supports emotional, social and behavioural development.
Reflection - assists children on the ability to reflect upon themselves and process any challenges they may be facing.
Enhanced Learning - through creative and imaginative play which enhances the child's capacity to learn and assimilate.
Sensory - working with the figures and the sand, the session becomes a sensory experience where the brain and body are working simultaneously to promote awareness and feeling in the body; focus and presence.

For Adults

While Sand Tray Therapy began as way of working with children, given its ability to tap into the healing power of the imagination, it was soon found to be equally powerful in working with adults. The figures chosen serve as metaphors for the various aspects of one's being and life's challenges.

About Me

I have been an Early Childhood Teacher for over 30 years. This work has led me to Sand Tray Therapy, Counselling and Psychotherapy.

I have always had an interest in people with their feeling/emotional life. I resonated towards working with young children as a career as they show us what it means to be one's authentic self and to be in the present moment. As well as the fact they are extrordinary human beings, who bring so much love and laughter into our lives.

I am passionate about Sand Tray Therapy and what it offers to all ages, and particularly for children and adolescents.

I have an interest in Dream Work and Archetypal Psychology. They hold a lot of information and wisdom for us which can continue to guide us along our life path.

Certification & Training

I am a PACFA registered Counsellor & Psychotherapist.

3 year trained Early Childhood Teacher.

Services

Sand Tray Therapy

Counselling

Psychotherapy

FAQ

Who do you work with?
I work with children from the age of 5 through to adolescents and adults.

What happens in a Sand Tray session?
The room contains a wide variety of miniatures/figures on shelves. When ready you choose the figures that draws your attention and you place them in the sand tray in whatever way you like. We will then sit together with what's been created in the tray. You may want to talk about a certain figure or aspect in the tray, or you may tell me a story about what's in the tray. I may also ask you open ended questions relating to the contents of the tray.

What does a Sand Tray session look like for my child/teen?
The process is the same, however with children and teens they may choose not to talk much or at all with me. This is normal and their need for silence is respected. They may use the session to interact with the figures they have placed in the tray and a dialogue or role play will be entered into with these figures. My role is to hold this safe container for them as they go deep into their imagination and process whatever is needing to be voiced, seen or healed.

What can I expect my involvement to be when my child/teen is in therapy?
Prior to the first session, a time will be made for a 20 min free consultation with one or both parents to discuss the needs of your child and what you are wanting from your child entering into therapy with me.
Your child can meet with me weekly or fortnightly depending on their needs.
There is full confidentially between client and therapist. The same applies for children and teens. If they would like to show you what they've created in the tray, they can.
To nurture healing within the child means a family centred approach. Family or individual parent sessions are encouraged.

What's the difference between Sand Tray Therapy, Counselling & Psychotherapy?
SAND TRAY THERAPY comes under the modality of Psychotherapy.
PSYCHOTHERAPY aims to bring healing for the individual through mind, body & soul. It's a holistic approach to therapy work & does not medically pathologise.

I am trained in Process Orientated Psychology, also known as Process Orientated Psychotherapy. It is a holistic approach to psychology developed by Arnold Mindell. The main focus is to understand and facilitate personal growth, transformation, and conflict resolution by studying and working with both conscious and unconscious processes. These processes may manifest as body symptoms, emotions and relationship patterns.
My role is not to "fix" you but to walk beside you and hold up a mirror to allow deeper parts of yourself to come up and be expressed and realised.

COUNSELLING offers the individual an opportunity for an open discussion about issues which are currently troubling them. It maybe that this is all is needed to help put things into perspective. It can be a highly therapeutic process.

When will I see results in me, my child or teen?
This depends as we are all different. A difference in wellbeing maybe noticed after one session. However, a deeper process gathers momentum after six sessions.

What are the consultation fees?
$130 per hour session
Discounted fees for full time students (over 18's)
Please note: There is no medicare rebate. However, if your child has a NDIS support plan, they can access support from me.
Likewise, for parents who need help with their NDIS supported children, you maybe able to access support with me under the service of 'Counsellor" through the 'Training for Parents Care" budget.

What happens if I need to cancel or reschedule an appointment?
No fee applies for cancellations given 24 hours notice.
A 50% cancellation fee applies to cancellations with less than 24 hours notice.