If you work with kids, you absolutely work with trauma.  Trauma comes in all forms and can have profound impacts on a child’s wellbeing, sense of self, connection with the world, and everyday functioning.  So, it’s no surprise that most therapists are looking for ways to heal trauma with the therapeutic powers of play!   And at the same time, you are likely asking yourself - is this too fast? Too much? Is the child ready for this kind of work? Am I pushing them too far?  There are some forms of trauma therapy for kids that are highly structured such as TF-CBPT and other fo ..read more

Are you having figure paralysis?  In this post here I offered 1,000+ ideas for miniatures you could use in your sandtray.    Sometimes when you are starting your collection it can feel like too much or like you’re never going to make it where you have “all the figures”.  And the good news?  You will never have everything!   ​ One of my good friends shared some wisdom after she participated in a sandtray intensive that the trainer stated you can have “everything and anything that was ever created” in a sandtray.  So…if that feels overwhelming - my hope i ..read more

How many sandtrays are too many?   From standard size trays, to smaller trays, virtual trays, person shaped, heart shaped, or circle PLUS with all different shades and varieties of sand the sky is the limit! And with playroom space being a priceless commodity, most play therapists don’t have a full room or endless space to dedicate to the sand tray setup. ​ So if you have one tray or are just thinking of starting sandtray - I want to encourage you to consider two trays in your practice.  I wanted to share the top three reasons you should consider two trays, and why two tra ..read more

Once all the figures are placed in the tray, what next? What do you say? How do you go deeper?   Whether the tray has three objects or feels like a crowded dance party with no empty space to fit anything else in the tray, deciding what to focus on and how to go deeper can feel overwhelming.  ​ So, first I want to make sure it’s clear that sandtray isn’t a theoretical model of play therapy but can be integrated with many existing theories such as Alerian, Gestalt, and Cognitive Behavioral Play Therapy. AND your specific theory will impact how you process the tray, if and what questio ..read more

Real talk?  My absolutely favorite sand tray prompt is vanilla.  The most basic of the basic.    What is it?  Well, it’s…   “Create a world”. ​ Now as basic as this is, it is also very intentional.  I prefer this prompt over “create your world” because swapping out a for your allows a greater level of distance and metaphor for the clients I see.  And the result? Deeper more meaningful trays for my clients who tend to have high levels of trauma, dysregulation, and avoidance.    But what about for the kids and teens that are stuck?  What ab ..read more

Have you ever been curious about the world of sandtray?    You know, where clients create worlds in the sand with little miniatures.  BUT let's back it up a minute.  Sand tray is so much more than the creation of worlds.  It is the projection of the subconscious and unconscious into the world of the tray.  It is the safety of metaphor that allows clients to do deeper processing.  It is the story that unfolds when defenses are lowered. It is the ability to access both the right hemisphere (with pictures and emotions) and create integration with the left ..read more

If you were in one of my consultation groups you would have likely heard me ask “Are you trained in Sandtray” a billion times.    Why?   It is one of my hands down favorite modalities for young kids up through adults.  AND it was one of the earliest play therapy modalities I was trained in.   If you are curious about what exactly Sandtray is (or often referred to as Sand Therapy), it is a therapeutic modality where the client uses a tray filled with sand (or depending on your modality, sensory needs of your client, and practice it could be filled with other thing ..read more

Ahhh if you  have never seen Mean Girls you need to head right over to Amazon, Netflix, or wherever you get your movies and hit play.  This is definitely an iconic movie about what it is like to be a teen. Oh, AND for the 20th anniversary Mean Girls has re-launched with a new twist!    Okay - so what does Mean Girls have to do with teen therapy? To answer that question let’s dive into this moment HERE where Regina George tells Gretchen Wieners “Stop trying to make fetch happen, it’s not going to happen.” Now, what exactly is fetch?  Well ..read more

Therapy is a safe space where teens can talk about anything.    The things that make them frustrated, that new guy that ghosted them, their friend that is totally being a jerk, the teacher that ALWAYS gives pop quizzes and yes even parents!    And I have had my share of parents that feel all sorts of ways about what their teen may or may not say about them in my office. And this fear? I totally get it!  ​ Parents are worried about being judged by their child’s therapist, being told they're wrong, and all sorts of other things that can lead to stress.  And real ta ..read more

How often do you work with teens that are less than motivated?   Things in their everyday life seem monotonous and in some ways that’s really true! Same routine, same school day, same homework.  And for teens and tweens it is easy to feel stuck. Like it’s going to be the same thing day after day with no end in sight.   Why try? For these teens and tweens, to get some movement you’ll likely need some creativity.  If an inspirational Pinterest board, a parent on their case, or just talking about it was enough - they likely wouldn't be here now.   ..read more