Sand Tray Exploration
A creative, tactile way to ground yourself
Sand Tray Exploration is a one-on-one mindfulness and wellbeing activity to ground yourself and de-stress and can lead to relaxation and learning something new about yourself.
Sand Tray Exploration may be therapeutic but it is not a substitute for counseling and doesn’t constitute mental health treatment.
You may consider sand tray exploration if you:
- Want to learn something new about yourself
- Need to de-stress and practice self-care
- Enjoy exercising your creativity
- Are struggling to adjust to college
- Are graduating and/or thinking about your future steps
Ready to explore?
Located at 333 East Campus Mall, Room 7001
Sometimes words aren’t the way we can express ourselves. These dimensional objects are an easy, safe option.
How it works
1. Acclimate to the space
Your sand tray experience starts by taking a moment to settle in and notice what feels comfortable. This helps create space to slow down and help you feel more grounded, present, and open to the process ahead.
2. Choose your objects
Then, you’ll select objects, noticing which objects draw your attention and feel meaningful in the moment.
3. Place your objects in the tray
Then, you’ll build your tray, by placing the objects however feels and looks right to you. This is driven by your curiosity and exploration—you don’t need to prepare or plan anything in advance.
4. Reflect
You’ll end with looking back on your tray. This can help deepen self-awareness and uncover new perspectives. You may leave with a greater sense of understanding, clarity, or compassion for yourself.
Meet the facilitator
Gabrielle has been facilitating art and sand tray exploration as therapeutic tools for over 25 years. She holds an MA in expressive arts therapy/mental health counseling and has additional training in sand tray therapy. She is also the author of Art Journal Your Archetypes.
To Gabrielle, a sand tray exploration session is like a 3D collage. You never know which figurines will speak to you that day or what messages they may hold until you begin. It is this experimental element that makes the process so effective.
Gabrielle believes in, and has witnessed, the transformative power of art-making, both individually and in community. She provides college students opportunities to exercise their creative selves for stress relief, personal growth, and the chance to experience something new. Through sand tray exploration, students are invited to trust the process, discover meaningful insights, and connect with themselves in unexpected ways.
Frequently asked questions
A typical session takes anywhere between 30 – 60 minutes.
Sand Tray Exploration focuses on wellbeing while sand tray therapy focuses on clinical concerns or diganosis.
The sand tray measures 19.5 inches by 28.5 inches and is 3 inches deep.