Sand Tray and Symbol Work with Children and Adolescents

A Practical, Integrative Manual

Dr Anna Cohen

Foreword by Dr Helen Wilson and Dr Mark Pearson

Children do not always have the words for fear, anger, loss, or upheaval. Given sand, miniature figures, and a safe therapeutic relationship, they can show what they cannot yet say.

Sand Tray and Symbol Work with Children and Adolescents is a practical, evidence-informed guide to using this expressive medium with skill, care, and clinical purpose. Dr Anna Cohen brings together the non-directive traditions of sandplay, structured symbol work, and contemporary child therapy in an integrative approach that keeps the child as the author of meaning.

Moving from foundations and setting up the work through to the flow of a session, the book shows how to select and organise materials, witness without intruding, process without imposing interpretation, and move judiciously between non-directive and directive approaches. Detailed chapters apply the work to anxiety, emotional regulation, anger, bullying, family separation and shared care, trauma, and group and family work. Further chapters explore its integration with cognitive behavioural, acceptance and commitment, and narrative approaches.

Clinical examples, 66 colour photographs of client sand trays, practical appendices, and clear guidance on consent, safeguarding, supervision, self-care, and competence keep the focus firmly on safe professional practice.

For psychologists, counsellors, social workers, creative arts therapists, occupational therapists, and students, this is a grounded manual for helping young people externalise difficult experiences, discover their own meanings, and move towards change — without asking words to do all the work.

Foreword by Dr Helen Wilson and Dr Mark Pearson

"This is a book that shares insights, principles, and practical activities developed and successfully applied clinically. Anna has drawn on extensive experience with expressive therapies and child and adolescent counselling and crafted a book that provides an integrative theoretical framework yet remains grounded in the practicalities of counselling work by offering ‘how-to’ details."

About the Author

Dr Anna Cohen is a clinical psychologist, author and educator with more than 30 years’ experience working with children, adolescents and families. She is a Psychology Board of Australia approved supervisor and co-founder of Kids & Co and the Clinical Psychology Resource Centre. Anna’s clinical work draws on a broad range of evidence-based and experiential approaches, including play therapy and sand-tray work, with a particular interest in finding ways to engage children and young people for whom conventional talking therapies may not be enough. She is also the author of parenting books including Skilful Parent–Happy Child, Parenting Made Easy and Taming Teens.

Extend your learning

Dr Anna Cohen also teaches the practical application of sand tray, symbol work, and other expressive approaches through the Clinical Psychology Resource Centre. Explore her professional training for clinicians working with children and adolescents.

ISBN 9781923114272

Softcover, full colour, 194 pages

Due out September 2026