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Become a play therapist.

Course Description

This experiential workshop introduces the foundations of Adlerian Sand Tray Play Therapy, and integrating Adlerian psychology with the therapeutic use of sand trays. Participants will learn how to use sand tray interventions to build therapeutic relationships, explore clients' lifestyle patterns, facilitate insight, as well as facilitate changes in thoughts, emotions, behaviours, and relationships. The workshop also explores the application of Adlerian play therapy concepts in understanding clients and using Adlerian sand tray play therapy strategies when consulting with parents and teachers.

Designed as a highly experiential training, participants will engage in personal sand tray work, partner practice as both facilitator and witness, as well as supervised practice sessions with volunteer child clients. Through guided reflection, live demonstrations, and skills practice, participants will develop confidence in applying Adlerian sand tray techniques in clinical practice.

Note: Participants will need to have access to a child volunteer between the ages of 4 to 9, a sandtray with some sandtray figures as well as have a way to photograph the children's trays and share the photographs with the rest of the class for 3 out of 5 training days

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 misbehavior and explain how understanding the client's goals of misbehavior 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 misbehavior.
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 behavior.
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 behaviors in their parenting roles.
Describe at least 2 direct sand tray play therapy activities that can be used to reframe children's behavior 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