Description:
OPD Points: 4
Twelve days of in-person experiential training and supervision and online case presentations, in the Expressive Therapies approach to Sandplay Therapy and Symbol Work. Â In addition, participants are strongly encouraged to experience three individual sessions with an approved sandplay therapist.
Sandplay Therapy is a hands-on, expressive counselling and psychotherapeutic technique that has been in use for over ninety years. Sandplay forms a bridge between verbal therapy and expressive, creative arts therapies; combining elements of each. The sandplay process is spontaneous and non-directed; Symbol Work is guided to focus on specific issues.
Sandplay allows both explicit and implicit processes to be explored and worked with naturally and safely. With an extensive research and literature base, Sandplay Therapy provides highly positive outcomes as a psychotherapeutic method for use by trained professionals. An effective therapeutic resource with children, adolescents and adults, in schools, hospitals, welfare agencies and private therapy practices, Sandplay Therapy has been found highly supportive of trauma recovery, and for personal and transpersonal development.
WORKSHOP 1   1 – 3 May, 2025  Foundation Skills One
·        Introduction to Sandplay Therapy and Symbol Work
·        Practical skills experience, history and theory
·        Overview of literature
·        Role-play techniques to support integration
·        Questioning styles for Sandplay
·        Collection and use of sandplay equipment
·        Contraindications for use of symbolic work and role-play
·        Illustrated case studies
Â
WORKSHOP 2  12 – 14 June, 2025 Skills Two: From Theory to Practice
·        Psychological mechanisms in sandplay
·        Jung’s Analytic Psychology in sandplay
·        Understanding spatial arrangements in the tray – Ammann’s quadrant theory
·        Lowenfeld’s theoretical framework – The World Technique
·        The power of play in therapy
·        Skills practice and case illustrations
Â
WORKSHOP 3  17 – 19 July, 2025 Symbolic Expression in Dreams, Trauma Care, Jung’s Typology – Individuation Process
·        Review of Kalff’s theoretical framework
·        Making sense of sandpictures
·        Exploring dream symbols
·        Sandplay in trauma-informed practice
·        Transference and co-transference in Sandplay
·        Supervision for Sandplay facilitation
·        Facilitation and observation skills
Â
WORKSHOP 4  4 – 6 September, 2025 Transpersonal Contexts, SupervisionÂ
·        Sandplay as a support in Transpersonal Psychotherapy
·        Transpersonal influences in the psyche
·        Case presentations by students (online) and group supervision
·        Beyond the Shadow – Kalff’s presentation of completion trays – DVD
·        Kalff’s view of spirituality within Sandplay
·        Skills development
This is a highly experiential, interactive program that will provide many skills to support your clients move into resilience and emotional confidence. Participants will have the experience of following their own personal growth journey using the processes at each training workshop, as well as through three individual sessions with trainers to gain experience in the client role.
There will be illustrated case studies and an extensive manual will be provided for each workshop. A Book of Readings will be supplied to support your wider reading.
Key Learning Objectives / Outcomes:
At the completion of the course, participants should be competent in:
·        Knowledge of how to conduct a sandplay session, setting up, facilitation, and documentation
·        Therapeutic application of Sandplay Therapy and Symbol Work
·        Understanding the theoretical base of non-directive Sandplay Therapy as originally developed by Kalff (1980/2003)
·        Understanding the theoretical base of Symbol Work, as developed by Pearson & Wilson (2001)
·        Use of experiential tools for effective client assessment and session planning
·        Application of a client-focused approach to working with a broad range of clients
·        Provision of unconditional witnessing as part of therapeutic presence
·        Use of symbols, symbolic representation, and symbol understanding, as well as recognising the use of metaphor and symbolic meaning to elicit insight and awareness
·        Accurate recording and reporting on sandplay and symbol work processes
·        Knowledge of how to develop and support co-regulation using expressive methods
·        Showing capacity to develop safety in the therapeutic relationship
·        Safely exploring creative and expressive methods for meaning making
·        Respect and knowledge of diversity
·        Providing peer support and peer supervision
·        Seeking ongoing professional consultation in using Sandplay Therapy and Symbol Work.
Assessment:
Presenter / Provider:
Dr Helen Wilson
Andrea Snow
Presenter Qualifications:
Helen: PhD., M. Couns.; B. Bus. (HRM); G. Dip. ERC.; Cert SP; Cert. HB & TP; Cert. ERC.
Helen has completed advanced studies in Transpersonal Psychotherapy with the Grof Transpersonal Training, has a degree in Human Resource Management, a Master of Counselling, and a PhD, researching self-compassion.
Andrea: M.Couns., B.Sc (Psychology), Dip. Counselling, Cert. SP&SW.
She holds a Masters in Counselling, a Bachelor of Science in Psychology, a Diploma in Counselling and has advanced training in Sandplay Therapy and Symbol Work.
Helen is co-founder of Expressive Therapies Australia, with Dr Mark Pearson, and is a senior trainer in Expressive Therapies and Sandplay Therapy, around Australia and internationally. She has conducted a counselling and supervision practice for over 32 years. She offers online and face-to-face supervision for therapists using sandplay therapy and expressive therapies.
Helen has completed all three levels of training in Emotional Release Counselling and Transpersonal Studies and holds a Post-Graduate Diploma. She has a Certificate in ERC with Children, a Certificate in Sandplay Therapy, as well as several qualifications in clinical supervision. Helen has completed advanced Sandplay Therapy training with Ruth Ammann, a close colleague of Dora Kalff, the founder of Sandplay.
Helen has been a Lecturer and Senior Lecturer in counselling with a number of Australia universities. She is a Level 4 member of ACA.
Helen is the co-author of Sandplay and Symbol Work – Emotional Healing & Personal Development (2001), and Using Expressive Arts to Work with Mind, Body and Emotion (2009).
Andrea has a private counselling and supervision practice based on the Sunshine Coast, Qld. An advocate of expressive therapies, Andrea has been assisting Dr Helen Wilson in training emerging Sandplay therapists for over 5 years.
Extensive experience at managing and training diverse cultural teams as well as coordinating and lecturing in counselling at a university level, means Andrea combines her passion for expressive therapies with her love of teaching. Raised in a military family and relocating often, she understands the impact of change and the importance of connection in relationships. Working with young people, adolescents and adults, Andrea supports individuals from a client-led, and feedback informed relational depth framework.
Car Parking:
Disabled Parking:
Yes
Start / End Date
Times:
Start:
End:
Course Duration:
12 day(s)
Course Hours:
87 hours
Registration Instructions:
Go to our website to download a detailed flyer, and to register and pay:
https://expressivetherapies.au/courses/cc_sandplay.php
