Certification in Sandplay Therapy

Course details

This course is providing best-practice Sandplay. Therapy training for professionals who have a passion for assisting individuals, regardless of age, gender, race and social class to achieve optimum mental health.

Sandplay is a wonderful way of exploring our inner world. A lot of transformation can happen at this level, as the figurines in the sand try are related to and arranged in relation to each other. It is very non-threatening. Inner changes are allowed which remain hidden in a traditional counseling session. Sandplay is a hands-on expressive counseling and psychotherapy modality that has been in use for over seventy five years. It forms a bridge between verbal therapy and the expressive therapies, combining both elements. Sandplay allows the deeper aspects of the psyche to be worked with naturally and with safety, and is highly effective in reducing the emotional causes of difficult behaviors. It can be used both as a support for stress management and emotional growth and as a means for providing a bridge to support the use of a variety emotional growth therapies.

What is included in the Sandplay Therapy

• Lecture
• Reading materials
• Group Clinical Supervision
• Case review and assessment
• on line support

Training Topics

Foundation Skills

• Introduction to Sandplay Therapy and Symbol Work
• practical experience, history and theory
• Brief review of literature
• Role-play techniques to support integration
• Input on sandplay equipment
• Contraindications for use of symbolic work and role-play
• Creating mythological stories for self-understanding
• Illustrated case studies

Advanced Skills, Psychological Frameworks

• Psychological mechanisms activated by sandplay
• Concepts from Jungian Psychology supporting sandplay
• Use of mandala artwork for integration
• Interpretation of spatial arrangements in the tray
• Dr Lowenfeld's theoretical framework
• Skills practice and case illustrations

Research, Theory & Development of Practice

• Use of Symbol Work in group programs
• Review of Dora Kalff's theoretical framework
• Indications for analysis of sand pictures
• Working with dream symbols
• Co-transference in the sandplay session

Transpersonal Aspects, Supervision

• Case presentations by students
• Transpersonal and perinatal influences on the psyche
• Beyond the Shadow - completion trays
• Skills development

Course Layout

• We use the mastery system of education. Besides lecturing, this course provides clinical experience such as: research, case study, group clinical supervision, reflections, discussions & presentation. Assessment includes case study oral and written presentations, group participation, research paper and assignments.
• The topics mentioned above are taught within 3 months. During this period, students will also be given clinical case assignments and presentations to do.
• Our course is structured as 2 intensive workshop with 6 group clinical supervision & oral / written case presentation for the assessment. Fulfilling the attendance and passing the criteria given will lead to towards the licensed practitioner membership of Adult Psychotherapy, Geriatric Psychotherapy, Family Therapy, Couple Therapy, Child Therapy, Art Therapy and/or Expressive Therapy Divisions of Malaysia Association of Psychotherapy.

Below are the equipment used:

• Psychometric Instruments
• Audio Resources
• White board
• Notes/ books
• Miniatures & shelves
• Sandtray & Toys
• Sandtray