When we think of trauma therapy, we also have to think about trauma therapy modalities. It is then when approaches like Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR), Somatic Experiencing, and Narrative Therapy often come to mind. These evidence-based trauma therapy modalities have proven results in helping clients process, reframe, and integrate traumatic experiences.

Yet, each of these relies—at least in part—on verbal expression and the client’s capacity to recall, name, and process experiences consciously. This can be challenging for individuals whose trauma occurred before language developed, or who struggle to articulate emotions due to dissociation, shame, or sensory overwhelm.

This is where Sandplay Therapy brings a unique and profound contribution to trauma therapy modalities. It provides a non-verbal, sensory-based pathway to healing, allowing clients to symbolically express their inner world through miniature objects in sand. Within this contained and compassionate space, unconscious material emerges naturally and safely.

Sandplay Therapy bypasses cognitive defences, integrating body, psyche, and symbolic imagination. It activates both hemispheres of the brain, encouraging deep psychological reorganisation. For many clients, transformation happens not through talking, but through the creative process itself.

As mental health professionals, it’s time to expand our understanding of Sandplay Therapy when it comes to the various trauma therapy modalities – healing beyond words.

Contact me, Dr Celia van Wyk to explore Sandplay Therapy training opportunities and discover how this creative, evidence-aligned approach can enhance your trauma work and add CPD points to your 2026 professional development plan.