ABSTRACT
The world of the sand tray is a uniquely receptive container within which the emotions, ideas, dreams, and dearly held interests of the child on the autism spectrum can become visible. The holding environment of the sand tray, with its sensory allure, multiplicity of images, and infinite capacity for change and repair, offers a rich opportunity for symbolic and shared play in therapy. Sandtray Worldplay, as developed by Gisela De Domenico (2000) and practiced by the author, is a play therapy approach that builds on the strengths and addresses the challenges of the child and adolescent on the autism spectrum identified by Attwood (2006), Greenspan and Shanker (2004), Greenspan and Wieder (2006), and Wetherby and Prizant (2001); this approach is uniquely suited to meeting these strengths and challenges.
