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Description of Workshops

Introduction to Sand Play Therapy
This introductory workshop provides an overview of sand tray play therapy. How to organize, what is required of the therapist, clinical and theoretical issues, and case vignettes are included. Participants will have opportunities for hands-on experiences and for building play therapy skills..

Prerequisite: None (12 contact hours/2 days) $250 (early fee)

Level I - Basic Tools and Methods
This workshop introduces the basic tools and methods of sand tray play therapy for both children and adults. Participants explore the various elements of the sand tray process through hands-on exercises with miniature figurines and sand trays. In the workshop, therapists use individual sand trays to practice and refine basic skills. Prerequisite: Prior knowledge or experience with the sand tray process is helpful but not necessary. (12 contact hours/2 days) $250 (early fee)

Level II - Symbolic Meaning and Theory
In this workshop, participants discuss and work with symbolic meaning and basic theoretical ideas. There are opportunities to create sand trays in the presence of an observer (workshop partner) and to practice skills using the symbolic language of play. Participants also explore the core issues of play in sand tray therapy. Prerequisites: Level I. (12 contact hours/2 days) $250 (early fee)

Level III - Basic Clinical Skills and Theory
In this workshop, participants have numerous opportunities to develop specific skills in working with the language of sand tray play. Therapists use exercises to learn when and how to translate play language into verbal language. Each participant has an individual sand tray for practice exercises and for creating individual sand tray worlds. Prerequisites: Levels I and II. (12 contact hours/2 days) $250 (early fee)

Level IV - Advanced Clinical Skills
This workshop includes discussion of professional issues related to diagnosis, treatment planning, transference, and ethical issues of sand tray play therapy. Participants refine and integrate therapeutic skills through hands-on practice with workshop partners. Each participant has an individual sand tray for practice exercises and for creating individual sand tray worlds. Prerequisites: Levels I, II, and III. (12 contact hours/2 days) $250 (early fee)

Level V - Couples, Family and Group Work
In this workshop, participants have opportunities for experiencing sand tray play with partners and with small groups and to integrate the therapeutic skills learned in the first four levels of experiential training. Participants use miniature trays as well as large round group trays to explore the sand tray group process. Prerequisites: Levels I, II, III, and IV. (12 contact hours/2 days) $250 (early fee)

Level VI - Play Therapy Intensive
The focus of this workshop is on integration of various play modalities in therapeutic settings, including sand tray play, costume play, puppets, games, art and storytelling. Through didactic and experiential methods, therapists have opportunities to learn how and when to use various modalities with both child and adult play. There is special emphasis on integrating the sand tray with play therapy and verbal therapy. Prerequisite: Level I. (24 contact hours/4 days) $500 (early fee)

Level VII -- Developmental Patterns: Early Childhood Sand Tray Therapy
Participants explore patterns of sand tray play in early childhood in this workshop through experiential exercises and didactic methods. Participants examine and discuss these patterns in terms of the developmental life span. They also learn how to identify and support the growing edge of young children and to recognize when, how and why early patterns of play appear in older children and even adults. Prerequisite: Level I. (12 contact hours/2 days) $250 (early fee)

Level VIII - - Developmental Patterns: Latency and Adolescent Sand Tray Therapy
Through experiential exercises and didactic methods, participants in this workshop explore patterns of play of adolescents and latency-age children. Participants identify and discuss these patterns in terms of the developmental life span. They also learn techniques that are useful for this age group and how to recognize these patterns when they occur in younger or older children and even adults . Prerequisite: Levels I, II and VII (12 contact hours/2 days) $250 (early fee)

Level IX - - Developmental Patterns: Adult Sand Tray Therapy
This workshop includes experiential exercise and didactic material relevant to sand tray therapy with adults. Participants discuss both practical and theoretical issues of adult sand tray therapy. The training also includes skill practice with workshop partners. Prerequisite: Levels I-VIII (12 contact hours/2 days) $250 (early fee)

Level X - - Grief and Trauma in Sand Tray Therapy
Through experiential exercises and didactic methods, participants in this workshop explore grief and trauma issues and how these issues manifest in sand trays. Participants explore and discuss case vignettes and theoretical issues. The training also includes skill practice with workshop partners. Prerequisite: Levels I-IV (12 contact hours/2 days) $250 (early fee)

TOPIC: Sandplay and Spirit
This workshop is two days of personal and professional growth through exploration of sand, play and ceremony. Participants use simple art materials and sand tray play to build bridges to the wisdom and guidance that is within. No previous knowledge or artistic skills are required. Co-Presenter: Wendy Thunderchief, MA. $250 (early fee)

TOPIC: Sand Tray Group Counseling in Schools and Clinics
The focus of this workshop is the use of sand tray play as a counseling technique in the public schools with groups of children. This workshop includes case vignettes, organizational principles for groups, use of individual sand tray counseling versus group sand tray play, application of sand tray counseling techniques and practical information. Co-Presenter: Ann Buck, MA, RPT. Prerequisite: Levels I and II (12 contact hours/2 days) $250 (early fee)

TOPIC: Sand, Play and Art: Healing Grief through Play and Creative Expression
This workshop is designed to tap the unique creative force within us. Through personal and group art making and sand tray play we will experiment with methods of deep listening. We will honor the sacred, relentless power within that invites us to be who we are. We will play, invent, express, support and nurture each other and remind ourselves that inspiration is always available if we speak from its source. Psychoanalyst Rollo May wrote in Courage to Create, "If you do not express your own original ideas, if you do not listen to your own being, you will have betrayed yourself." Co-Presenter: Donna Hanna-Chase, MA. Prerequisite: None (12 contact hours/2 days) $250 (early fee)

TOPIC: Sand, Play and Art: New Beginnings
Sand tray work offers us ways to help complete the past, be open to the present, and create the future in our imaginations, so that we have an image of our intentions, directions and desires. In this two-day workshop, we will use the creative process (art and sand tray) to courageously peer into the depths of our hearts and minds. We will ask ourselves if our lives are reflecting our hearts' desires - what are our hearts' desires? What truths do we need to know to live these desires? Does fear stop us from finding this truth? If fear did not stop us, what might we be doing differently? Where does the real meaning of our lives reside? Through art making and sand tray, we will invite new connections with our source - our hearts - our creativity and our spirituality. Co-Presenter: Donna Hanna-Chase, MA. Prerequisite: None (12 contact hours/2 days) $250 (early fee)

TOPIC: Sand, Play and Art: Nurturing Mindfulness
Being mindfully present when we sit as witness to our clients may be the most important thing we do in the therapeutic relationship. Research is clearly demonstrating the benefits of mindfulness practices for physical and emotional well-being. Dan Siegel, current neuroscientist, proposes that mindfulness may also be essential in interpersonal relationships and perhaps even in the intrapersonal relationship we have within ourselves. Siegel also suggests that the interpersonal and the intrapersonal may be inextricably linked in our socially-oriented brains. The implications for this inner-outer connection may be critical to successful therapeutic practice.

In this workshop we will explore the concept that mindfulness allows us to live our daily lives more fully as we awaken from “life on automatic” allowing ourselves to experience what is. We will learn methods of “letting go” and opening up” to strengthen our therapeutic witnessing skills. We will find new ways to relate to the inner critic so that we and our clients may open up to the inner realms of compassion and self acceptance. The workshop content, experiential exercises and interactive talks will help us clarify how the practice of mindfulness impacts what we do when we offer sand, play and art activities to our clients. Participants will have numerous opportunities to develop play therapy, art therapy and sandplay therapy skills.

Co-Presenter: Donna Hanna-Chase, MA. Prerequisite: None (12 contact hours/2 days) $250 (early fee)

TOPIC: Storytelling in Play Therapy, Sand Tray and All of Life
This workshop explores concepts of storytelling in play therapy and sand tray therapy as building blocks for mental integration. We will learn to use storytelling and image thinking to help clients resolve problems. Through lecture, case studies, hands-on experiences and journal writing, we will develop a conceptual framework for the central role of play and storytelling in therapeutic practice. Prerequisite: None (12 contact hours/2 days) $250 (early fee)

Consult: Sandplay Group Consultation for Therapists
Participants will present case material related to sandplay therapy for consultation purposes. Presentations will consist of videotapes, art work, sand tray photos, treatment plans, case notes and other relevant materials. Therapists also have opportunities to incorporate sand tray play as part of the consultation process. Groups are small to allow for individual attention. Limit: 8 participants.
Request individual brochure for schedule and cost. Fees vary according to the number of contact hours and the number of participants who register. Prerequisites: Level I and II of Sand Tray Training Workshops and Individual Interview

Workshop Goals

Core Workshops (Introductory and Level I through X):

To develop skills in facilitating sand tray play therapy.
To learn how to organize a sand tray therapy center.
To learn observational skills for sand tray play.
To develop skills in recording methods for sand tray play therapy.
To identify theoretical issues and standards of training.

TOPIC: Sandplay and Spirit:

To explore the healing aspect of sandplay from a Native American perspective.
To compare and contrast several Native American healing traditions with sandplay therapy.
To develop awareness of Native American philosophy for working with Native American clients in the therapeutic process.
To apply concepts of sandplay to the community building process.

TOPIC: Sand, Play and Art: Healing Grief through Creative Expression

To develop intervention skills for grief and loss.
To recognize symbolic patterns related to grief.
To articulate the role of play in healing grief.
To develop self awareness related to grief and loss.
To integrate the modalities of sandplay and art making to to address issues of grief and loss.
To identify general treatment goals that are important when treating clients with grief and loss issues.

TOPIC: Sand, Play and Art: New Beginnings

To recognize symbolic patterns of new life emerging.
To articulate the role of play in creating new ideas and new life stories.
To develop self-awareness related to fear and courage.
To identify neuroscience concepts of the autobiographical self that naturally weaves life stories from past-present-future experiences.
To integrate the modalities of sandplay and art making to create new life stories.

TOPIC: Sand, Play and Art: Nurturing Mindfulness

To experience the healing power of mindfulness.
Learn how to integrate mindfulness into clinical practice.
Explore sand, play and art therapy from a mindfulness perspective.
Use mindfulness techniques to enhance personal creativity.

TOPIC: Storytelling in Play Therapy, Sand Tray and All of Life

To enhance the natural tendency of storytelling in therapy sessions.
To articulate the role of play in creating new life stories.
To identify neuroscience concepts of the storytelling brain.
To become more comfortable with neuroscience vocabulary.
To integrate the modalities of play therapy and sand tray therapy.
To develop understanding of the therapist's role in co-constructing life stories with clients.

Sandplay Group Consultation for Therapists:

To develop treatment strategies for sandplay therapy.
To formulate treatment plans including goals, interventions and recommendations.
To identify issues in case management including ethcial issues.
To identify countertransference issues.

Individual Consultation Sessions:

Individual Sand Tray sessions are recommended prior to or concurrent with training workshops. Please inquire about special rates if you have completed or are registered for the Level I workshop.

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