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Sand Play Therapy, A Healing Journey for All Ages (Part 1)

Overview

Date: May 23-25, 2025

Time: 9:00am – 4:30pm PST

Participants: Max of 8

Cost: CAD$950 + GST

CEU Credits: 18

This course is part one of a two-part series. Part one must be completed before participating in part two.

Recommended Prerequisite: Expressive Play Therapy, A Holistic and Integrative Approach or equivalent

Based on a holistic and integrative approach to the self-healing process (Expressive Play Therapy), this three-day course will focus on using the healing power of imagery through the medium of Sand Play Therapy to safely facilitate symbolic expression and transformation of painful experiences, and provide ways of creating healing images in order to help children, youth, and adults face the challenges of their daily lives. 

Topics of discussion will include the therapeutic properties unique to Sand Play Therapy, setting up a Sand Play area, the many ways Sand Play Therapy (dry sand, wet sand, and water play) can be used to help children, youth, and adults heal themselves (illustrated by slides).

Each afternoon, participants will be given the opportunity to make and witness sand play images as related to the information discussed in the morning.

Sand-Play-img-1

Content

Learning Objectives:

At the end of this seminar, participants will be able to:

  1. Describe the theoretical principles of Expressive Play Therapy® as related to Sand Play Therapy.
  2. Describe the history and development of Sand Play Therapy within the context of Holistic Expressive Play Therapy.
  3. Describe Sand Play Therapy’s place in the larger context of the major components of Holistic Expressive Therapy and the other Expressive Play Therapy methods which may support it.
  4. Apply Sand Play Therapy methodology in structuring and conducting a session through beginning, middle, and end stages.
  5. Identify the unique and specific gifts of Sand Play Therapy as one of the many expressive therapies available in play sessions.
  6. Integrate Sand Play Therapy practices while considering setting, accessibility, age groups, and demographics.
  7. Prepare a Sand Play Therapy area while taking into consideration various materials and symbols and the multimedia character of dry sand, wet sand, and water tables.
  8. Assess the appropriate and most beneficial media – water, dry sand, or wet sand – for children to process their trauma in a safe way during a play therapy session.

Fee includes use of materials and certificate of attendance for the purposes of continuing education programs. Meals and accommodations are not provided.

For participants wishing to count credits towards certification with CAPT, a successful student evaluation by Marie Jose in the form of an essay will be required. There will be an additional charge of $75 for this service.

* For those seeking certification with CAPT – this course will go towards 12 hours of theory / approach and 12 hours techniques.

Sand Play Therapy

The approach to sand play therapy in these seminars was developed by Marie José Dhaese, as one of the many expressive play therapy methods used in the context of Expressive Play Therapy®. It has now been shared and taught for 40 years. The content of each Sand Play Therapy seminar builds on the other; it is recommended they be taken in order.

Children’s process and imagery will be addressed through viewing and discussing slides and/or video taped sessions in the mornings. Adult imagery and process will be addressed through viewing slides but mostly through demonstrations and/or debriefing of participant’s imagery during the experiential in the afternoons. These seminars take place in Marie José’s well equipped playroom; participants will thus have the opportunity to experience and use her collection of sand play therapy figurines as well as the sand trays and storage units she has designed.

The Centre for Expressive Therapy is an APT Approved Provider #95-010, a BC Play Therapy Association Approved Provider #18-01, and a Canadian Association for Play Therapy Approved Provider #09-102. Please visit their websites to learn more about their specific requirements.

Please visit their websites to learn more about their specific requirements.

Questions about Holistic Expressive Therapy?

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