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Become a play therapist.

Course Description

This course builds on the Introduction to Sandtray Therapy course and revisits the fundamentals of sand tray play therapy. Participants will also learn about the basics of Adlerian theory, and a variety of methods for combining both
Adlerian theory and sand tray play therapy.

Participants will explore how to use sand trays to (a) build a relationship with clients; (b) explore clients’ lifestyle patterns; (c) help clients gain insight into their patterns; and (d) make changes in their thoughts, feelings, attitudes, behaviours, and relationships. They will learn how to use Adlerian concepts to help them develop an understanding of clients and build treatment plans for those clients. Sand tray strategies for consulting with parents and teachers will also be covered.

Built into this course is the opportunity to do a personal sand tray every day, serve as a witness and facilitator with a partner’s sand trays, and do sand trays with volunteer "clients.".

Required reading before class: Partners in Play: An Adlerian Approach to Play Therapy , 3rd ed. (Kottman & Meany-Walen, 2016)

Course Objectives

At the end of the course, participants would be able to:

Set up a sand tray room with a wide variety of figures representing the key categories of sand tray miniatures
Describe the rationale for sand tray play therapy
Describe the different types of sand trays used in Adlerian sand tray play therapy
Give examples of each of the different types of sand trays used in Adlerian sand tray play therapy
Explain the distinction between sand play therapy, sand tray therapy, and sand tray play therapy
Explain the steps in a sand tray play therapy process
Demonstrate the steps in a sand tray play therapy process by leading a client through the creation of a sand tray
Describe the Four-Fold Way and explain how the principles relate to sand tray play therapy
Describe 3 core concepts of Individual Psychology
Explain how those 3 core concepts of Individual Psychology are applied to the Adlerian applications of sand tray play therapy
Describe how the sand tray play therapy process can be used to build relationships with play therapy clients
Give at least 2 examples of the types of trays that could be used to build relationships with play therapy clients
Describe how the sand tray play therapy process can be used to explore clients’ lifestyle patterns
Give at least 2 examples of sand trays that the play therapist could use to explore clients'; lifestyle patterns
List and describe the Crucial Cs and explain how understanding a play therapy client's Crucial Cs can be used in Adlerian sand tray play therapy
List and describe at least 2 directed sand trays that can be used to explore a play therapy client's Crucial Cs
List and describe the personality priorities and explain how understanding play therapy client's personality priorities can be used in Adlerian sand tray play therapy
List and describe at least 2 directed sand trays that can be used to explore a play therapy client's personality priorities
List and describe the goals of misbehaviour and explain how understanding the client's goals of misbehaviour can be used in Adlerian sand tray play therapy
List and describe at least 2 directed sand trays that can be used to explore a play therapy client's goals of misbehaviour
List and describe at least 2 directed trays that can be used to explore a play therapy client's assets/strengths
List and describe at least 2 directed sand trays that can be used to explore a play therapy client's lifestyle convictions
List and describe at least 2 directed sand trays that can be used to identify a play therapy client's mistaken beliefs about self, others, and the world
Describe at least 2 directed sand trays that can be used to explore a play therapy client's family atmosphere
Describe at least 2 directed sand trays that can be used to explore a play therapy client's psychological birth order position
Explain how the Adlerian sand tray play therapy process can be used to help clients gain insight into their lifestyle patterns
Explain the skill of metacommunication and describe how an Adlerian therapist can use it to help clients gain insight into their lifestyle patterns
Describe and give examples of how doing a sand tray for a client can help that client gain insight into his/her/their lifestyle
Describe the process of designing a metaphor to be told to clients through the medium of sand tray play therapy
Describe how the therapist could do the mutual storytelling process through the medium of sand tray play therapy
Describe of how sand tray play therapy can help clients make changes in their thoughts, feelings, attitudes, behaviors, and relationships
List and describe at least 3 examples of directed sand trays that could help play therapy clients make changes in their behaviour
List and describe at least 2 examples of directed sand trays that could help play therapy clients make changes in their feelings
List and describe at least 2 examples of directed sand trays that could help play therapy client make changes in their relationships
Explain how to use sand tray play therapy strategies for consulting with parents and teachers
Describe at least 2 directed sand tray play therapy activities that can be used to help parents better understand their children
Describe at least 2 directed sand tray play therapy activities that can be used to help parents better understand their attitudes and behaviours in their parenting roles
Describe at least 2 direct sand tray play therapy activities that can be used to reframe children's behaviour for teachers
Describe at least 2 direct sand tray play therapy activities that can be used to help teachers make shifts in their interactions with students

Pre-requisites and Course Requirements

Completion of the Healing Hearts Centre Beginning Adlerian Play Therapy or its equivalent
Completion of the Healing Hearts Centre Introduction to Sandtray Therapy course or its equivalent
Have access to a sandtray and figurines for after-class sessions with volunteer
Find a child non-client between the ages of 7 to 10 (or pre-teen/teenager no older than 16 years old) to work with after class for 3 consecutive days, and be able to photograph the trays for feedback and review in class. Please note that the non-client should be psychologically healthy and not requiring therapy. The purpose of these sessions is for the participant to apply the skills learnt during the day.

**Note: For participants looking at doing these sessions with an adult non-client, please ensure permission is granted by the trainer before proceeding

Eligibility

The course is open to professionals of the mental health fields, including psychologists, counsellors, and social workers.
Professionals should have at least a Bachelor’s Degree in a related mental health discipline with demonstrated coursework in Child Development, Theories of Personality, Principles of Psychotherapy or Counselling Theories
and Skills, and Ethics.

Methodology

The methods for delivery of this course will include lecture, small and large group discussion of assigned readings, individual or group presentations, videos and/or demonstrations of skills, individual and/or group supervision,
journaling and skill-building.

Purpose

The goal of this training program is to help mental health professionals expand their knowledge and attain clinical skills in Adlerian Sand Tray Play Therapy.

Program Recognition and Accreditation
A Certificate of Attendance will be presented to the participant at the end of the course. The training hours for this course is recognized both by the