Using Sand Tray to Harness “What If” in Play Therapy

Oftentimes, when working with clients, they will readily say what they don't want:

• "I don't want to feel depressed."
• "I don't want my child to act out." 
• "I want to stop fighting."  

Sometimes, with adult clients, we can readily explore what they want instead and form a basic therapeutic contract. We can do this by simply asking or using guided fantasy and other explorations based on words. Still, some people may have a hard time imagining something different from what they have always known. This is especially true for younger clients.

Sand tray is a powerful tool for exploring the "what ifs" as well as for inviting the exploration of what Michael White called the "absent but implicit." It's also a powerful tool for trying on aspects of projections.

In this play therapy workshop, we will explore ways to use sand tray as a tool for exploring aspects of the self and other possibilities that might be harder to otherwise imagine, explore, and discover. This skill can be potent in working with families in play therapy because it helps family members imagine roles and possibilities beyond those that feel entrenched. Furthermore, it levels the playing field and invites children's voices to be just as present as those of the adults when it comes to describing the world they want to co-create. We will explore projections, imagination, role-playing, and alternatives to "double-chair" work through a gestalt play therapy lens.

Presenter: Emily Keller, Ph.D., LCMHC-S, LPCC, RPT-S™

Date:  December 3, 2022

Time: 9 to 12 AM, PST

Registration: $90 (EARLY BIRD: $75 Before Oct. 29 )

Non-Contact CE Hours: 3 (APT; NBCC)  

Audience: Play therapists, school counselors, and other mental health workers working with children

Level: All

For APT Training: Play Therapy Skills and Methods (1.5 Hours); Special Topic: Sand Tray (.5); Theories: Gestalt (1).

Learning Objectives:

• Discuss the benefits of exploring the "what if" in play therapy

• List three benefits of using sand tray to explore "what if" with families in play therapy

• Discuss projection through a Gestalt Play Therapy lens

Policies: For detailed information about the refund/cancellation policy; instructor credentials; CE credits; and information about any portion of the program that is not eligible for CE credits, click here.