Southern Sandtray Institute

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Jonesboro, AR
Southern Sandtray Institute

A place to gain quality trainings with the sandtray method. Each training is based in neuroscience a

02/18/2026

That moment when you finish a powerful sandtray session…

and then just stare at the documentation screen.

The tray was rich. The regulation was there. Something clearly shifted.

And yet — suddenly you’re wondering how to put all of that into words that feel clinical, defensible, and accurate.

It’s a funny thing we like to lean on — the shared pause, the blank screen, the internal “okay… how do I write this?” moment that so many sandtray therapists know well.

Not because the work wasn’t solid — but because translating sensory, nonverbal, right-brain processing into left-brain documentation can feel like a complete gear change.

Documentation shouldn’t steal your confidence or make you question the work you just did. When you understand how to anchor your notes to the sandtray process, the client’s response, and the clinical rationale, that frozen screen moment gets a lot shorter.

That’s exactly why we teach documentation that actually reflects the depth of sandtray work — without overthinking or overexplaining.

👉 Comment GUIDE to learn more inside The Sandtray Experience.

02/16/2026

If you’ve ever sat in a sandtray session thinking “Am I supposed to say something right now?” — you’re not alone.

What to Say When You’re Unsure, Stuck, or Second-Guessing is about having language you can trust when sessions feel quiet, unclear, or like nothing is happening.

Because most of the time, the work is happening — it just isn’t loud.

Knowing how to stay grounded, offer simple anchors, and choose your words intentionally can be the difference between feeling confident and feeling lost.

This isn’t about saying the “perfect” thing. It’s about having practical prompts and steady language you can return to when your own nervous system starts to question the process.

👉 Comment GUIDE to learn more inside The Sandtray Experience.

02/14/2026

Because this foundation changes everything.

Sandtray works because it engages the right brain — the part responsible for sensory input, emotion, imagery, and implicit memory.

Trauma is often stored here, outside of words, which is why talk therapy alone can hit a wall.

When clients build in the sand, they’re accessing material that doesn’t need to be explained or organized first.

The brain processes before the language shows up, and that’s where deep regulation and integration begin.

Once you understand this, sandtray stops feeling random or “interpretive” and starts making clinical sense.

That’s why I always start my trainings with learning how sandtray engages the brain, accesses implicit material, and supports trauma processing in ways talk therapy alone often can’t.

When you understand what’s actually happening neurologically, your confidence in session shifts and so does the way you guide the work.

This isn’t just theory. It becomes the reference point for what you say in session, how you explain sandtray to others, and how you document the work that follows.

👉 Comment GUIDE to get access to this free training session on The Brain on Sandtray, part one of our four-part experience.

02/12/2026

One of the biggest benefits of sandtray actually starts before the first tray is ever built, during the intake.

When you can clearly communicate why you use sandtray, what it does in the brain, and how it supports trauma processing, clients feel safer, more bought in, and more willing to engage.

It shifts sandtray from “play” to purposeful clinical work in their minds.

Clear intake language also sets expectations. Clients understand that sandtray isn’t about doing it “right” or explaining everything. It’s about letting the brain process first, with words coming later.

When you communicate sandtray well on the front end, sessions flow more smoothly, resistance drops, and confidence rises — for both you and the client.

👉 Comment GUIDE to get more info on how to sell sandtray to both clients and referral sources during The Sandtray Experience.

02/04/2026

If you’re on the fence, here’s why you can’t miss this and what to expect going in 👇

The Sandtray Experience is a free, four-part, live Zoom training designed to help sandtray feel clearer, more grounded, and easier to use in real clinical work. Each session is just 20–30 minutes, intentionally built to fit into real therapist schedules.

Here’s why it matters:

1️⃣ You get the full 360° view of sandtray
Each live training builds on the one before it from what’s happening in the brain, to what to say in session, to how to document the work. By the end, sandtray feels connected, cohesive, and usable from start to finish.

2️⃣ You’ll know exactly what to buy (and what not to)
You’ll receive a must-have miniature guide, broken down by demographic, so you can stop guessing, overbuying, or wasting money and start choosing tools that actually support clinical work.

3️⃣ You walk away ready to use sandtray — not just think about it
This isn’t just insight. You’ll leave with clearer language, stronger session flow, and documentation that reflects the depth of your work without taking over your time.

Four live trainings. Follow-along workbooks. Real-world application.

👉 Comment GUIDE and we’ll send you everything you need to join.

01/30/2026

✨ The next round of The Sandtray Experience is almost here — and this one is packed with practical, confidence-building training you can apply immediately.

If you’re new here, The Sandtray Experience is our free 4-part series designed to help you strengthen your clinical instincts and understand what’s really happening in the tray across ages and diagnoses.

Each round has a slightly different focus, and this upcoming lineup is all about giving you the tools you’ve been craving.
It’s clear, it’s bite-sized, and it’s built for real-world therapy rooms — not theory you’ll never use.

We’re revealing every session topic next Monday.

01/28/2026

We’re one week out from announcing details to a brand-new round of The Sandtray Experience — our free 4-part training series created to help therapists feel more grounded, confident, and supported in the tray.

Each round, we rotate the topics to meet the needs we’re seeing in the community… and this set is one we know so many of you have been asking for.

More clarity.
More examples.
More direction in the tray.

More of the “I wish someone would just show me how to do this” kind of training.

We’re sharing the full lineup Monday, and trust us — you’re going to want these on your calendar.

Set your reminders. 👀

01/27/2026

When you realize your entire “nutritional intake” for the day has been…
  ☕️ coffee  ☕️ more coffee  ☕️ and the cold sip you found on your desk at 4pm.

Therapist life, right? 
Back-to-back sessions, crisis calls, documentation, reschedules, emails — and suddenly you’re running on caffeine and adrenaline instead of anything resembling a meal.

If today was one of those days, you’re not alone. 
You’re human. You’re doing your best. And no, it’s not a moral failure to eat lunch at 3:47pm.

Here’s your gentle reminder: your clients deserve a grounded, nourished therapist — and so do you.

Go drink some water. Grab a snack. Eat something real. 
Your nervous system will thank you later.

01/24/2026

A little daily reset never hurts nobody. 🤭

01/21/2026

POV: you’re getting heated in session… then remember you’re a therapist 😅

Address

2605 Southwest Square
Jonesboro, AR
72401

Telephone

+18707614673

Website

http://www.southernsandtray.com/

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