Sandtray Therapy Checklist for Therapists: What You Need To Start

Last Updated: March 4, 2026

How to Start Sandtray Therapy: Complete Checklist for Therapists

If you’re wondering about what you really need to start sandtray therapy, and if it’s worth the investment, this sandtray therapy checklist covers everything—from training and essential supplies to consultation tips and setup must-haves.

Because once you start learning about sandtray you realize it isn’t just about playing with sand and miniatures—it’s the… 

• Projection of the subconscious and unconscious into the world of the tray. 
• Safety of the metaphor that allows clients to do deeper processing. 
• Story that unfolds when defenses are lowered. 
• Ability to integrate the right hemisphere (where pictures and emotions are stored) and the left hemisphere (where words and logic are stored).
• Ability to open up a deeper pathway to healing through the tactile connection with the sand. 

​Research in expressive and play-based modalities consistently shows that the symbolic processing in sandtray therapy enhances emotional integration in children and adolescents.

Woah - that’s pretty powerful right?
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EXPLORE MORE: Read the complete guide to sandtray therapy foundations.
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By creating worlds in the tray, clients can express emotions, explore stories, and process experiences that might be hard to verbalize. It is one of the most powerful tools a therapist can have in their toolbox - and it’s backed by powerful clinical research too. 

FREE RESOURCE: If you’re a therapist curious about starting sandtray, this free checklist will guide you through the essentials: training, consultation, supplies, and miniatures you actually need. It’s the step-by-step shortcut to confidently bringing sandtray into your practice that supports real transformation. 

What Do You Need to Start Sandtray Therapy? Essential Sandtray Checklist for Child and Teen Therapists ​

Sandtray therapy can transform your practice—but it requires preparation. Let’s break it down!

1. Sandtray Training

Before you buy 2,348 miniatures or set up your tray, you need to start with sandtray training.
Sandtray therapy is powerful — but ethically requires a solid understanding of theory, symbolism, and application before using it with clients.

Tips:

• If you’re ready for step-by-step guidance, my training Creating Worlds: An Introduction to Sandtray Play Therapy walks you through everything from foundations to implementation.
• Check the World Association of Sand Therapy Professionals.
• Add essential sandtray texts to your library.

EXPLORE MORE: For a deeper overview of sandtray therapy foundations, read this complete sandtray therapy guide.

2. Consultation Support

Whether it’s formal supervision/consultation or peer consultation, having someone to discuss cases and troubleshoot challenges is critical.

Why it matters:

• Ensures ethical, safe integration of sandtray
• Provides real-time guidance on client dynamics
• Enhances your confidence in facilitating sessions
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And honestly? A real human who has sat with hundreds if not thousands of sandtrays will be able to give you the specific support you need to take your skills to the next level. 

3. Essential Sandtray Supplies

After you have the training and foundation, now you need the gear.  

Your must-haves:

• Sand tray: Different types and sizes of trays may be selected to fit the needs of your practice. Overall you need containment. 
• Sand: The type of sand matters in your tray. You need to select the sand that is going to work best for your office and the populations you work with. 
• Miniatures: It is essential that miniatures represent diverse categories (people, animals, houses, natural elements, fantasy figures) so each client can see themselves in the world
• Storage: Storage will vary depending on your office, setup, and playroom needs. Miniatures should be organized and clients should be able to find the categories and miniatures they need. 
• Display: Whatever display works for your office, miniatures should be easily visible and accessible. 
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RELATED RESOURCE: Check out my recommended sandtray therapy supplies for a curated list.

4. Miniature Categories Every Therapist Needs

You don’t need every miniature available to be an effective sandtray therapist. However, you do need a wide enough variety of miniatures and objects to help clients tell their stories effectively. 
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FREE RESOURCE: Your free sandtray materials checklist includes a full master list of miniatures you should have available for your sandtrays.

Download the FREE Complete Sandtray Therapy Checklist

Stop second-guessing your setup. Download your free printable checklist and ensure your sandtray practice is ready for clients. Let this be the start of massive transformation in your practice. ​

Ready To Go Deeper?

If you want a step-by-step guide—from tray selection to case conceptualization that’s exactly why I created Creating Worlds: An Introduction to Sandtray Play Therapy.
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Inside this training, you’ll learn:

• The foundational theory behind sandtray
• How to ethically introduce sandtray to clients
• How to select and organize miniatures
• What to document (and how)
• How to conceptualize sandtray work clinically
• Step-by-step implementation from tray setup to session flow

Instead of piecing together information, this course walks you through everything in one cohesive framework.

If you’re serious about integrating sandtray into your practice, start here:
Explore Creating Worlds: An Introduction to Sandtray Play Therapy

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