Sand Play Therapy

The Origins of Marie José Dhaese’s Sand Play Therapy

Marie José Dhaese began her career as a therapist in 1974 working as a counsellor in a treatment centre for severely traumatized adolescents. It was there that she recognized the limitations of verbal counselling with the youth she was trying to help. In her search for more effective modes of treatment she discovered the power of imagery as a healing tool and subsequently became an art therapist. 

Marie Jose went on to run a therapeutic day program in the attic of an old mansion where she offered group and later individual therapy for severely hurt children and adolescents in foster care. However, when most of them showed little interest in drawing or other art-making, she began exploring other activities and materials that might engage them. She took her young clients to the beautiful beaches in Vancouver and noticed the soothing and grounding effect the sand had on them as they ran and played along with her and Monseigneur (her standard poodle companion and co-therapist). During their outings they gathered seashells, feathers, and driftwood and brought them back to the playroom. Eventually, she had an outdoor sandbox built in the garden which she used as an extension of the playroom. There, the gathered materials found new life (pinecones became trees and acorns and chestnuts turned into food and bombs) as images and stories emerged. More items were needed, and soon Marie José was finding new pieces for her collection wherever she went.

When the winter rains arrived and it got too cold under the umbrella, one of the children asked, “Why can’t we have a sandbox indoors?” So, after contemplating such a possibility, Marie Jose bought a small photography tray and cooked some sand from the beach to sanitize it. The children approved and went on with their image making and storytelling with enthusiasm. They were so pleased with their creations that they wanted the images to be kept intact until their next weekly session. Since it wasn’t possible, Marie Jose offered to take a picture which she would put in an album for them to keep. Once again, they approved and a new process was born.

Marie José went on to successfully use this form of self-expression (she later called Sand Play Therapy) with individuals of all ages, for long-term, in-depth psychotherapy as well as short-term counselling. She has continued to use this method within the context of Expressive Play Therapy, the holistic and integrative approach she has developed and taught for over forty years.

The seminars offered by the Centre for Expressive therapy, which detail this approach, build on each other sequentially; it is recommended that they be taken in order.

Children’s processes and imagery will be addressed through viewing and discussing pictures of images and/or videotaped sessions. Adult imagery and processes will also be addressed through viewing images and debriefing of participant’s imagery created during the experiential component.

These seminars take place in Marie José’s well-equipped playroom; participants will thus have the opportunity to experience and use her collection of sand play therapy figurines as well as the sand trays and storage units she has designed.