Sandtray Therapy Credential Program
How does it work and what does this program include?
EARN THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF SANDTRAY THERAPY TRAINING AVAILABLE!
As part of this sandtray therapy training program, you can expect:
10 days of in-person experiential sandtray therapy trainings (Split in 2) along with a virtual consulting program lasting 16 weeks between our in-person sessions!
That is over 60+ hours of sandtray therapy training!
PLUS…
You will receive a chosen book for your learning needs.
You will get your own sandtray, many goodies including miniatures, some yummy food, fun experience and your own healing through the use of the sandtray!
AND... you’ll come away with the confidence needed to do sandtray therapy with all ages, including complex clients, trauma and gain a community of support needed to work with your clients for the long term.
Cost: $4399 (taxes incl.) Flexible Interest Free Payment Plans Available
Locations/Dates
PRINCE GEORGE, British Columbia
May 10-13th, 2025 Level 1 &2
Nov. 14-18th, 2025 Level 3&4
CALGARY, Alberta
June 28-July 1, 2025 Level 1 & 2
January 15-19, 2026 Level 3 & 4
SASKATOON, Saskatchewan
July 5-8th, 2025 Level 1 & 2
Feb 12-16th 2026 Level 3&4
Want to become a Credentialed Sandtray Therapist?
At the Canadian Sandtray Institute we offer the IAST- Credential. This program accepts mental health professionals and graduates of a specified mental health program to partake in a hybrid learning experience. The program consists of 4 levels taken in 2 Level Blocks of in-person sandtray therapy training with 15 hours of virtual case consultation with your learning group and instructor.
THE SANDTRAY THERAPY CREDENTIAL SUCCESS PLAN
Completed!
(You are here)
Enroll in the training
Become a confident,
connected sandtray therapist
Level 1
Foundations and Applications of Sandtray Play Therapy
This workshop comprehensively introduces sandtray play therapy, covering its
history, foundational principles, and practical applications. Participants will explore
the differences between sandtray and sand play therapy, learn about the materials
needed for effective sandtray work, and develop skills for working with children and
adults. The training emphasizes hands-on learning, including role-play scenarios,
group activities, and case study analysis to deepen understanding of therapeutic processes.
Special attention will be given to recognizing common themes in sandtray therapy,understanding developmental considerations for children and special populations, and exploring non-directive play therapy principles. The workshop also highlights thelatest sandtray research, focusing on how sandtray therapy promotes emotional regulation and trauma healing. By the end, participants will feel equipped to incorporate sandtray techniques into individual, group, and family therapy settings.
Day 1
Based on the content of this Level I am able to:
- Describe the history of sandtray work in play therapy.
Differentiate between sandtray therapy and sand play therapy.
- Identify the materials needed for sandtray work, including miniatures, sand, and sand trays.
- Demonstrate the skills required to process sandtray work with adults and children.
- List 20 directives for sandtray work in play therapy provided by the instructor and generate additional directives based on case examples.
- Analyze several case studies of adults and or children to understand the therapeutic sandtray play therapy processes involved in treatment.
- Recognize 10 common themes in sandtray play therapy, including those indicative of mental health concerns and pathways to healing.
- Discuss the Therapeutic Powers of Play Therapy and its treatment implications within the sand tray.
Day 2
- Summarize developmental issues that arise in sandtray work with children and other special populations.
- Explain the principles of non-directive play therapy and how they apply to work with children in sandtray therapy.
- Participate in and demonstrate role-play scenarios involving sandtray play therapy work, including interactions specific to children and adults.
- Analyze case studies of children and or adults to identify the therapeutic processes occurring in sandtray play therapy treatment.
Discuss and analyze the latest brain-informed research on the therapeutic benefits of sandtray in play therapy.
- Engage in a group sandtray activity and apply three methods for incorporating sandtray into group and family therapy settings.
Discuss the importance of cultural humility in sandtray play therapy and identify strategies to create a culturally responsive and inclusive
therapeutic environment
Level 2
The Neuroscience of Sandtray Therapy
within the play therapy setting. Participants will explore how engaging in sandtray
therapy activates neural pathways that support emotional regulation, trauma
processing, and brain integration. The training will examine the brain’s response to sensory-rich environments, symbolic play, and the relational aspects of sandtray
work, offering insights into its profound therapeutic impact. This workshop equips
therapists to apply sandtray therapy more effectively with clients across diverse age
groups and needs by connecting brain science to practical techniques.
Day 1
Based on the content of this Level I am able to:
- Describe the basics of brain structure and explain how these concepts relate to sandtray play therapy.
- Identify the key tenets of interpersonal neurobiology and apply them in a sandtray play therapy context.
Analyze case studies to illustrate the integration of neuroscience with sandtray play therapy.
Explain how different age groups engage in sandtray and play activities from a brain science perspective.
- Discuss the effects of trauma on the brain and examine how these effects influence sandtray play therapy.
- Demonstrate two or more new techniques for explaining brain structure in relation to play and sandtray therapy.
- Examine how cultural factors influence brain development and processing and discuss how these factors should be considered when working within the andtray play therapy setting.
Day 2
- Describe Polyvagal Theory and explain its relevance to play and sandtray therapy.
Interpret sand trays using brain science principles to identify therapeutic patterns and processes.
- Distinguish between implicit and explicit memories and explain their significance in therapy and play.
- Demonstrate key skills to enhance your effectiveness as a clinician/facilitator of sandtray play therapy.
- Apply brain science research principles to inform your practice in sandtray play therapy.
Explain how sandtray therapy functions as a form of play therapy from a brain-informed perspective, including the nine integration pathways.
Level 3
Advanced Sandtray Therapy:
Deepening the Therapeutic Process
This advanced workshop explores the transformative power of sandtray therapy within the play therapy setting. Participants will engage in personal sandtray experiences, which will deepen their understanding of how to process and work with clients in the sand. By reflecting on their own personal experiences in the tray, therapists will gain insights that enhance their ability to facilitate deeper, more meaningful work with clients. The workshop emphasizes the importance of personal engagement with the sandtray to deepen the therapeutic process, allowing therapists to better connect with clients and facilitate healing. This experiential approach will provide participants with practical tools to integrate sandtray work into their practice with greater depth and empathy.
Day 1
Based on the content of this Level I am able to:
Explain how the brain processes experience through the sandtray and play therapy framework.
- Analyze personal case studies and instructor-provided examples from the playroom to identify key therapeutic processes.
- Engage in case consultations provided by participants to discuss potential approaches in sandtray and play therapy.
- Demonstrate personal sandtray work with the trainer and fellow participants to enhance understanding of the therapeutic process.
- Evaluate 2-3 different theories regarding the use of specific methods in sandtray therapy.
Practice techniques in the sandtray from both the clients and therapist perspectives to build practical skills.
Develop and apply 5-6 processing prompts suitable for children and adults in sandtray play therapy.
- Discuss cultural and diversity considerations in sandtray play therapy and identify strategies to create inclusive and culturally responsive therapeutic interventions.
Day 2
Analyze live demonstrations of the sandtray play therapy process to deepen the therapeutic process with clients.
- Critique and discuss the demonstrations using clinical tools and sandtray play therapy techniques.
Design 1-2 sandtray therapy techniques grounded in a specific theoretical orientation.
- Evaluate and reflect on personal processing skills in sandtray therapy through group connection to deepen the therapeutic processing of client sand trays.
Explain the significance of personal engagement with the sandtray as a tool for becoming a more effective therapist, demonstrated through experiential exercises.
Discuss strategies for integrating sandtray and play therapy into other therapeutic models to enhance clinical practice.
Level 4
The Canadian Sandtray Institute offers:
Trauma in the Sandtray Across the Lifespan
