Suggestions for Sandtray Figures to Include Ability Level Items: • People of all ages and abilities (including sight, auditory, and physical impairments)


• Oxygen tank, wheelchair, walker, cast, cane, bathroom/ toileting items, medication, pill bottles, hospital bed, doctors/nurses, syringes, band aids


Stages of Life Items: • Babies, families of animals or figures, bride and groom, trees, soldiers, old cars, tombstones, caskets, skeleton


Spiritual Items: • Angels, crosses, religious items, small mirrors, pastors, priests, rabbis, Star of David, patriotic items


Thematic Items: • Potential themes: distance from family, wishes, safety, independence, control, memory


• Hourglass, compass, clock, phones, automobiles, planes, emergency and rescue vehicles, safety cones, rocking chair, crossword puzzles, wishing well, treasure chest, fossils, fish


Barrier Items: • Fences, obstacles, traffic signs, flags, gates, rocks, stones


References Erikson, E. H. (1985). The life cycle completed. New York, NY: Norton.


Flemming, J. S. (2004). Psychological perspectives on human development. Retrieved from http://swppr.org/Textbook/ Contents.html


Kroger, J. (2007). Identity development: Adolescence through adulthood (2nd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.


Lee, Y. (2000). The predictive value of self assessed general, physical, and mental health on functional decline and mortality in older adults. Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, 54(2), 123-129. doi: 10.1136/ jech.54.2.123


Roetan, G. K. (2011). Innovative and brain-friendly strategies for building a therapeutic alliance with adolescents. Journal of Creativity in Mental Health, 6, 298-314. doi: 10.1080/15401383.2011.630306


Stephenson, R. C. (2006). Promoting self-expression through art therapy. Generations, 30(1), 24-26.


U.S. Census Bureau. (2012). Statistical abstract of the United States (131st Ed.). Washington, DC.


About the Authors Alyssa Swan, B.S. is a master’s candidate in Clinical Counseling at Eastern Illinois University in Charleston. She is interested in play therapy with clients of all ages. aswan@eiu.edu


Angela Yoder, Ph.D., RPT, HSPP is a licensed psychologist and an assistant professor in the Department of Counseling and Student Development at Eastern Illinois University in Charleston. She teaches play therapy and has practiced play therapy since 1994. amyoder@eiu.edu


www.a4pt.org September 2014 | PLAYTHERAPY 23


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