Author Guidelines

Please be sure all communication contains your full name, affiliation, contact information, telephone number (just in case), and ORCID account number. Only original manuscripts are accepted and may not be under consideration in any other venue. The submission must also indicate if the manuscript is or has been posted on any website, and if so, provide the website address. If such a posting is indicated, that post must indicate that the manuscript has not previously been peer-reviewed and should not be cited or copied without the author’s permission.

Manuscripts should be prepared according to the APA Publication Manual, 7th Edition.

• 14-24 double-spaced pages, including abstract and references (contact editor directly for any desired variation). Manuscripts should be written using bias-free language. If needed, manuscripts may be copyedited for bias-free language (see APA Publication Manual, Chapter 5).
• Figures, tables, and photographs should be submitted in the place desired in the manuscript. 
• Authors of all accepted manuscripts must obtain and provide the editor with all necessary copyright permissions to reproduce long quotes (400 words or more per APA); and photographs and other graphic images which are not original by the author for this publication.
• WASTP requires authors to reveal all conflicts of interest (financial interest in a test, procedure, or funding by a company or other entity).

For clarity in sand therapy literature, we recommend the use of the following:

• sand tray: Use two words when referring to the tray only, of various sizes and shapes, typically (but not necessarily) blue inside.
• sandtray: The therapeutic use of the tray during a session. It comprises the client’s work/creation in the tray, refers to a completed or to be completed scene or experience and the sand.
• miniature figures/toys/images/symbols: The small items used to create a scene in the tray. This may be theory/approach specific. Please use consistently.
• World Technique: Lowenfeld’s original approach, capitalized.
• Sand Therapy, sand therapy: The broadest umbrella term that encompasses and is inclusive of all therapeutic interventions using a tray, sand, and small toys/miniatures/images/figures and materials.
• Sandtray Therapy, sandtray therapy: A generic term inclusive of all non-Kalffian approaches to sand therapy; the collective use of all the typical materials for a session: tray, sand, water, miniature figures for therapeutic purposes; initially developed by Margaret Lowenfeld.
• Jungian-Kalffian Sandplay Therapy: Refers specifically to Dora Kalff’s method.
• Sandplay Therapy, sandplay therapy, Sandplay, sandplay: Also refers specifically to Dora Kalff’s work; The Journal of Sandplay Therapy and STA also uses lower case (L. Freedle, personal communication, February 18, 2021).
• Sandtray Counseling: Refers to sandtray therapy when in settings where the term ‘therapy’ is inappropriate or discouraged, such as schools.
• Sandtray Play Therapy: Refers to the use of sandtray therapy within the play therapy process.

Additionally, indicate clearly in the manuscript the applicable clinical theory or approach. If you are using a unique approach, please identify it and use terms consistent with that specific approach.

Book Review Guidelines

       Specifications & Submission

1. Reviews are for sand therapy-specific publications only and are 250-400 words in length. Each review is concise, critical, objective, and balanced.
2. Reviews are submitted in APA style (Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, 7th Edition). Carefully review and edit your manuscript before submission. The Journal editor will additionally review it before copyediting and typesetting. Please be certain any references cited within the review are also listed in a Reference section.

Manuscript Review Process

All manuscripts will be initially reviewed by one or more of the editors. Acceptable manuscripts will be sent to at least two additional reviewers of the Editorial Review Board for author-deidentified review. Reviewers’ comments, suggestions, and disposition recommendations will be sent to the authors. Authors and reviewers remain anonymous throughout the review process.

Areas to consider might include:

• Overall: Organization, clarity, use of language, thought process. Is there a sufficient literature review?
• Case studies identify the theory or approach used; significantly articulate the method implemented so the reader can assess and/or replicate; the client is deidentified, etc.
• Research article: clear and appropriate design, method, analysis, results, limitations, and discussion. Tables and figures are clear and useful and are discussed appropriately in the text.