For several hundred thousand years human beings have shared stories to transmit knowledge, preserve culture, and to draw meaning from their life experiences. Cultural stories emerge in times of community crisis and can play an important role in reducing traumatic distress and improving resilience. Used effectively around the world in disaster response, Sandplay Therapy provides a unique, culturally-sensitive and trauma-informed platform for storytelling that does not depend on verbal language. The enriched sensory, relational, and symbolic nature of sandplay safely and organically brings forth healing stories from the deepest level of our psyche, soul and nervous system.
This recording explores advances in research and practical applications of Sandplay Therapy in the treatment of trauma for children, adults, and communities in crisis. Sand images from field research during the 2018 Kilauea volcanic eruption on Hawai’i Island and the Covid-19 pandemic will elucidate concepts. Participants will also view an award-winning documentary film, Fire and Sand to further explore how cultural stories provide a critical resource for healing from trauma.