Sandplay and Sandtray

Kay Bradway, PhD, JA, CST-T

Abstract

Unlike other depth therapies, sandplay therapy avoids interpretation of transference. The absence of interpretation does not mean an ignoring of transference and counter-transference. Vigilance regarding transference/counter-transference, or CO-transference, is necessary for empathy and resonance essential in sandplay therapy. There are many ways to use a sandtray and miniatures besides the way Dora Kalff developed and taught. It isn’t an issue of arguing the merits of different kinds of therapy. The article is a plea that sandplay be recognized as a specific kind of therapy which has characteristics that differentiate it from other forms of therapy using sandtrays and miniatures. Its suggests that the time has come to try to keep the term “sandtray” as a generic term and reserve “sandplay” for a specific method using sandtrays.

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