Jungian Sandplay in Carrickfergus near Belfast
Jungian Sandplay Therapy offers a way of exploring material which is difficult - or impossible - to express in words.
It is a gentle yet powerful therapeutic approach that allows images, symbols, and inner experiences to emerge in a safe and contained space.
Many areas of our brains where memories and pain get stuck are not accessible by thinking or talking, no matter how articulate we are.
Likewise, we often need to access areas beyond the conscious and cognitive level to get in touch with our "truest self". In Jungian terminology this is sometimes called the "gold" within the "shadow". These parts are - actually - unharmed by our experiences but they can become shut off and inaccessible. They hold our deepest values, our life's purpose, our wisdom and our healing.
Those areas come unstuck with images, symbols and other creative means. This is also how dreams work to access unconscious and unprocessed material that needs to move along or to become visible.
What is Jungian Sandplay Therapy?
Jungian Sandplay therapy is a form of depth psychotherapy influenced by the work of Carl Jung and developed by Dora Kalff in the 1920s.
In a Sandplay session, you are invited to create a scene in a tray of sand using a collection of miniature objects. These images often reflect experiences, emotions, memories, or inner patterns that may not yet have clear language.
The process is not about artistic ability or creating something “correct.” Instead, it allows the unconscious mind to express and process material through imagery and symbolism.
I am a registered professional member of the Association of Sandplay Therapists. My membership of AST means that I subscribe to an ethical charter and I receive specialised consultation for this work. There is further information and links about Jungian Sandplay in this post
An Integrative Approach to Jungian Sandplay
The pace and timing of using sandplay therapy are important. This avoids overwhelm and supports long term healing and reconsolidation of deep neural pathways which may have been shut down or wired intor habitual activated or traumatised loops.
I bring 25 years of experience as a psychotherapist to this work which means I offer careful ongoing holding of the process. The therapy is never solely about the method and always includes elements of:
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psychotherapy
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safer practice based on relational neuroscience
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trauma-aware practice
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nervous system awareness
Starting Jungian Sandplay Therapy
If you’re curious about Jungian Sandplay therapy, the first step is simply a conversation. We can talk about what you’re hoping for from therapy, whether Sandplay might be helpful, and whether working together feels like a good fit. My practice is based in Carrickfergus, approximately 12 miles from Belfast in Northern Ireland.
This is a picture of sand under a microscope by Dr Gary Greenberg