Shifting Sands: Sandtray Group

This 10-week group aims to provide a safe, supportive, and engaging environment for youth facing challenges at home or school. Through the use of sandtray therapy, participants will have the opportunity to explore their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors in a nonverbal and expressive way. The group aims to facilitate personal growth, develop coping strategies, improve communication skills, and promote positive behavioral changes.

This group provides a nurturing and creative space where children can explore their emotions, develop self-awareness, and build important coping skills. Using miniature figures and a tray of sand, kids can create their own worlds, which allows them to express their feelings in a way that’s natural and non-threatening. This method is especially effective in helping young children regulate their emotions, reduce anxiety, and increase their ability to tolerate stress.

In this group setting, children not only gain insight into their own feelings but also learn to manage difficult emotions more effectively. Through this process, they build resilience, improve social skills, and feel more confident in handling life’s challenges. Guided by experienced facilitators, this group offers a safe, fun, and therapeutic environment where children can connect with others, explore their creativity, and develop the tools they need to navigate their emotions and experiences.  

This 10-week group provides a nurturing and creative space where children can explore their emotions, develop self-awareness, and build important coping skills. Using miniature figures and a tray of sand, kids can create their own worlds, which allows them to express their feelings in a way that’s natural and non-threatening. This method is especially effective in helping young children regulate their emotions, reduce anxiety, and increase their ability to tolerate stress.

In this group setting, children not only gain insight into their own feelings but also learn to manage difficult emotions more effectively. Through this process, they build resilience, improve social skills, and feel more confident in handling life’s challenges. Guided by experienced facilitators, this group offers a safe, fun, and therapeutic environment where children can connect with others, explore their creativity, and develop the tools they need to navigate their emotions and experiences.  

Sessions will consist of the following:

  • Brief check-in
  • Warm-up activity (stretching, mindfulness, breathing technique, etc.)
  • Discussion of prompt
  • Time for participants to make their sand trays
  • Group discussion about their trays
  • Journaling/drawing to continue processing of tray
  • Quick relaxation activity
  • Take-home assignment related to the current group session prompt
The group meets at the Maine Township Town Hall is open to children in grades K-2 or grades 6-8, depending on the session. The fee for the entire ten-week group is only $20 for residents and $60 for non-residents (space permitting) and includes all materials. Advance registration is required.

upcoming dates and online Registration

For more information, please contact Summer Zumbrock at szumbrock@mainetown.com or 224-257-4863.