The Emergence of Acceptance and Commitment Sandtray Therapy: A Novel Framework

Abstract

This paper introduces Acceptance and Commitment Sandtray Therapy (ACST) as a new branch of sand therapy theory. As a novel framework, it offers a fresh approach to conducting sandtray therapy and provides additional avenues for pursuing research. The creation and articulation of ACST is an evolution of my unique experience as an enthusiastic and dedicated student of both Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Sandtray Therapy (STT). Part of this article’s purpose is to introduce ACT’s foundational philosophy and theory. I achieve this by briefly describing radical behaviorism, functional contextualism, and relational frame theory. However, the primary focus of this paper is to highlight the six core psychological processes used in ACST and provide an example using a fictitious client’s tray with those processes in mind. Suggested protocols for implementing this framework, along with therapeutic interventional prompts appropriate for its application, are also offered. This work is significant in that it bridges two worlds: the contextual behavioral science realm of ACT and the interpersonal neurobiology domain of STT. With the emergence of this new model, new possibilities are on the horizon for both professional communities.