Sandtray therapy for when words aren't enough

Find a path to healing that meets you exactly where you are.

Dr. Clarissa Salinas standing beside a sandtray therapy table surrounded by shelves of miniature figurines at Heartsease Counseling Center.

Welcoming therapy room at Heartsease Counseling Center with a cognac leather sofa, gallery wall of landscape paintings, and blue accent chair.

Aerial view of a sandtray therapy table with miniature figurines used in sandtray therapy sessions at Heartsease Counseling Center.

What is sandtray therapy?

Some experiences are simply too overwhelming to put into words. Through sandtray therapy, clients of all ages create scenes using miniature figures and sand, giving shape to what they're carrying inside.

With time and support, what once felt unreachable becomes a source of insight, healing, and forward movement.

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How sandtray therapy helps

Healing beyond language

Sandtray offers a hands-on way to explore emotions and experiences without the pressure of having to explain or verbalize them.

Insight through creation

The scenes clients build often surface patterns and feelings they weren't aware of, opening new ground that talk therapy may not reach.

Expertise you can trust

Our sandtray practice is grounded in Dr. Salinas's published research and specialized training, ensuring clients receive thoughtful, informed care.

A gentler way in

The symbolic nature of the tray creates safe distance, allowing clients to approach difficult experiences without confronting them head-on.

Common questions about sandtray therapy

During a sandtray session, clients are invited to use miniature figures and a tray of sand to create a scene. The process is open-ended and client-led, with the therapist offering gentle support and reflection along the way. Rather than focusing on talking, sandtray allows feelings and experiences to surface through the act of creating.
Sandtray therapy is for anyone who finds it difficult to express what they're experiencing through conversation alone. At Heartsease, we offer sandtray therapy to children, teens, and adults — making it one of the more versatile therapeutic approaches we provide.
Sandtray therapy can support clients navigating a wide range of concerns, including trauma, anxiety, depression, grief, and life transitions. Its non-verbal nature makes it particularly well-suited for those who struggle to articulate what they're experiencing.
Traditional talk therapy centers on conversation; sandtray therapy takes a different approach. Rather than speaking, clients express themselves by creating a scene with miniature figures and sand. This shift from verbal to non-verbal expression can open up material that is difficult to access through conversation alone, making sandtray a powerful complement or alternative for many clients.

Ready to take the first step?