Description
This workshop introduces sandtray play therapy for treating trauma, depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues. Participants learn about the sandtray process through dialogic discussions and hands-on exercises with figurines and sandtrays. These exercises demonstrate how relational play can be a neural exercise to address stress in the nervous system that arises as a result of traumatic or problematic experiences. These exercises also show how sandtray play can help the nervous system become more flexible, leading to a happier and more fulfilling life. Therapists will have opportunities to practice and refine their skills and to ask questions in an interactive small-group setting.
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Level 1 – Basic Tools & Methods with Aimee Jennings: February 21-22, 2026
In-Person (Florida)
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Level 1 – Basic Tools & Methods with Theresa Kestly: April 8-9, 2026
In-Person (New Mexico)
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Level 1 – Basic Tools & Methods with Theresa Kestly: October 28-29, 2026
In-Person (New Mexico)
Educational Goals
This training will help participants to:
- Identify beginning skills for facilitating sandtray play therapy in clinical practice.
- Create a sandtray play therapy clinical space.
- Describe the importance of the nonverbal aspect of sandtray play therapy for healing trauma.
- Utilize experiential exercises to anchor the basic theoretical tenets of sandtray play therapy.
- List the three branches of the nervous system that are observable during the sandtray play therapy process.
- Describe the beginning history of sandtray play therapy with Margaret Lowenfeld and Dora Kalff.
- Explain how play activities help to develop a flexible nervous system.
- Discuss training recommendations for sandtray play therapy clinicians.
Equipment
In-person training does not have any equipment requirement. For online course equipment requirements, please refer to the linked document below:
Prerequisites
Prior knowledge or experience with the sand tray process is helpful but not necessary; graduate degree in mental health or enrolled in a graduate degree program.
Continuing Education
This course is 12 contact hours. See exception for Association for Play Therapy in course description.