Description
In this workshop, participants engage in discussions and practical exercises related to the symbolic meaning and fundamental theoretical concepts associated with sandtray therapy for healing trauma and other clinical issues. The didactic information and hands-on experiences aim to explain how facilitating clients’ engagement with sandtray materials helps their embodied brains and cognitive processes collaborate. This training emphasizes trauma as an integral part of the body, not just the cognitive layers of the brain. In Level 2, participants continue to learn about play as a neural exercise for fostering a flexible and resilient nervous system. This training explores core issues in play therapy and allows participants to practice using symbolic language with a workshop partner.
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Level 2 – Symbolic Integration & Therapy with Aimee Jennings: March 14-15, 2026
In-Person (Florida)
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Level 2 – Symbolic Integration & Therapy with Theresa Kestly: April 11-12, 2026
In-Person (New Mexico)
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Level 2 – Symbolic Integration & Therapy with Theresa Kestly: October 31-November 1, 2026
In-Person (New Mexico)
Educational Goals
This training will help participants to:
- Identify skills for facilitating sandtray play therapy for trauma.
- Describe culturally responsive sandtray play therapy techniques for clinical applications.
- Compare universal and idiosyncratic symbolic material that emerges during sandtray play therapy.
- Recite language that helps client experience their sandtray creations.
- Describe the evolving meaning of symbolic material during sandtray play therapy (from unconscious to the conscious).
- Identify the risks associated with interpretation in sandtray play therapy.
- Describe the importance of Panksepp’s play circuitry in the brain for developing a science-informed explanation for sandtray play therapy.
- Demonstrate the facilitation of sandtray play therapy with peers.
Equipment
In-person training does not have any equipment requirement. For online course equipment requirements, please refer to the linked document below:
Prerequisites
Level 1; 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.