Essentials of Sand Therapy at Allegany College MD

 Essentials of Sand Therapy: Principles and Practice
Dee Preston Dillon, PhD 

Allegany College of Maryland
Monday, October 8 

Contact: Christa A. Snyder, Human Services Coordinator
casnyder [at] allegany.edu  301-784-5530


Six Hour Training

Course Description and Objectives
 Witnessing, Containment, Reflection and Responding, Amplification and Facilitation are core components for effective sand therapy – both sandplay and sand tray. This workshop presents the basic theoretical foundation for sand therapy, the difference between Jungian Sandplay and sand tray therapy, and  demonstrates the skill sets for each of these four areas.

Our goal is safe and competent sand therapy no matter the clinician’s theoretical orientation. This training presents both theory and experiential practice.
Purpose: Through a graduated process this training will help participants

* Conceptualize ways for using sand with diverse  populations.* Explore ways to understand and respond to sand scenes especially with a mindful presence.

*  Understand the role of the clinician to witness and contain activity in the sand.

*  Gain initial skills for creating a safe and protected space for client use of sand.

* Appreciate the rigor, depth, skills, and process that ground sand therapy and clinician efficacy.


Upon completion of this workshop participants will:

*  Describe the function of symbols to bridge intrapsychic  phenomena with a client’s life world, and externalize trauma and developmental injunctions.

*  Point out how sand is a projective process wherein the  role of the clinician and the client differ from other play therapy approaches.

*  Describe the ethics for professional training, the role of the clinician, and the four grounding components for clinical use of sand: Witnessing, Containment, Reflection and Responding, Amplification and Facilitation.

-- Please register with Christa (contact info above) by 26 September to insure your space!