This is a therapeutic tool which has been used in Britain since the 1930's when Margaret Lowenfeld first introduced small figures and trays of sand to her child patients in her London clinic.  Dora Kalf, who studied with Lowenfeld developed the technique within the Jungian analytic tradition, but it is now widely used by therapists of other modalities as a creative way of relating beyond language with both child and adult clients.

As a  Gestalt therapist, I have found this a powerful way of exploring the client's relational field.  I love the way it enables both client and therapist to access the rich resources of the creative imagination which is often limited by language, but freed up by play