Training Courses
Introduction to Sand Tray Therapy
This one-day training is a trauma-informed, inclusive approach with a focus on experiential hands-on learning.
Course Description
Sand Tray Therapy stands as a creative and highly effective intervention, offering a unique space to work through a wide range of challenges, from anxiety to trauma. While traditionally seen as a play therapy, Sand Tray Therapy has the versatility to be used with people of all ages and cultural backgrounds. This introductory training provides an in-depth review of various Sand Tray Therapy approaches, including an exploration of the foundational principles of neuroscience and attachment theory. Participants will engage in experiential practice, within triads, stepping into the roles of therapist, client, and observer. Training is in-person, hands-on learning integrated with interactive lectures.
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Practice and Experience: Engage in Sand Tray practice to gain insight into the client's experience.
Historical and Theoretical Knowledge: Explore the history and key approaches of Sand Tray Therapy, including Sandplay/Jungian, Neuroscience and Satir in the Sand Tray, and Synergetic Sand Tray.
Neuroscience Insights: Delve into the neuroscience behind Sand Tray work, including the polyvagal system, right brain to right brain attunement, and co-regulation.
Interventions and Tools:
Learn specific interventions and tools that can be seamlessly integrated into other therapeutic approaches.
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Transformation Through Metaphor: Facilitate client transformation by helping them release the binding reactivity of their defenses, using metaphor and somatic awareness.
Integration and Perspective: Support clients in becoming more integrated, exploring different perspectives, and experiencing bottom-up somatic shifts.
Strengthening Sense of Self:
Assist clients in strengthening their sense of self and achieving greater congruence.
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Gain a comprehensive understanding of the history and major schools of Sand Tray Therapy and their influences.
Discover the science behind Sand Tray Therapy's effectiveness, particularly the role of neuroscience and the polyvagal system.
Learn to utilize metaphor in therapy through parts work, identifying different themes, hotspots, and stages of Sand Tray work.
Facilitate somatic anchoring and awareness by leveraging co-regulation, immediacy, and right brain to right brain connectivity.
Build safety and therapeutic rapport through the use of the sand tray.
Master techniques such as:
Bilateral movement in the sand tray,
Creating a vagal break,
Utilizing the safety game,
Effectively using and teaching metaphor,
Facilitating a family map.
Advanced Topics: Chronic Complex Shame and Relational Trauma in the Sand Tray
This one-day training is a trauma-informed, inclusive approach with a focus on experiential hands-on learning.
Course Description
Sand tray therapy is a powerful and versatile therapeutic intervention that fosters a creative and safe environment for addressing a wide range of challenges, including anxiety, trauma, and relational dynamics. This modality is particularly effective for individual clients as well as for working with multiple clients simultaneously, such as siblings, couples, parents, or multi-generational groups.
Our Advanced Topics training is designed to enhance existing sandtray skills, deepen therapeutic efficacy, and expand practitioners’ capacity to apply sandtray therapy across diverse clinical contexts. Each Advanced Topics seminar will focus on a specific theme, offering in-depth exploration with practical, clinically grounded strategies.
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Practice sand tray techniques to gain client perspective and supervised triad experience.
Review and deepen understanding of the neuroscience of sand tray, including the polyvagal system, attunement, and co-regulation.
Learn the science and theory behind Chronic Shame and Relational Trauma.
Apply sand tray therapy to Chronic Shame and Relational Trauma within their theoretical approach.
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Gain a comprehensive understanding of the history and major schools of Sand Tray Therapy and their influences.
Discover the science behind Sand Tray Therapy's effectiveness, particularly the role of neuroscience and the polyvagal system.
Learn to utilize metaphor in therapy through parts work, identifying different themes, hotspots, and stages of Sand Tray work.
Facilitate somatic anchoring and awareness by leveraging co-regulation, immediacy, and right brain to right brain connectivity.
Build safety and therapeutic rapport through the use of the sand tray.
Master techniques such as:
Bilateral movement in the sand tray,
Creating a vagal break,
Utilizing the safety game,
Effectively using and teaching metaphor,
Facilitating a family map.
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Group Training
Training for the whole team!
Duration: One-day workshop at your location
8 hours (3 breaks)
Group Size Details: Min. of 9 max. of 21
Fees: $3,000 +(tax)
50% (non-refundable deposit) due at time of registration
remainder due 30 days prior to training date
All participants must be part of the host organization team, as per the original request, unless approved by trainers.
Cancellation policy:
Up to 30 days before the training:
non-refundable deposit
Transferable date (one time is possible upon discussion) if outside of the 30 days
Within 30 days of the training: no refunds, no changes
Meet Your Trainers
Beth Scholes
MACP, R.C.C.
As a family systems therapist, I specialize in developmental relational trauma that includes symptoms consistent with anxiety and complex chronic shame. In my private practice, I work with families, children, and individual adults. I have been using Sand Tray Since 2017; and am now excited to share this powerful tool with others. My training includes both Jungian and Neuro-Science Satir and the Sandtray, and adult education. I discovered Sand Tray in graduate school and have used it with clients of all ages ever since. I use Sand Tray for trauma intervention, play therapy, families, and so much more. I bring 20+ years of facilitating and teaching experience to this training and love this aspect of my career. For more information refer to Meet Beth
Patricia Felzien
MACP, C.C.C., R.C.C.
As a registered clinical counselor, I specialize in working with children, youth, and their caregivers, focusing on trauma through somatic and experiential therapies, including Neuro-Science Satir Sand Tray Therapy (NSST) and more. I have facilitated numerous educational and therapeutic groups over the past 15 years. I discovered Sand Tray Therapy in 2017, became certified in NSST in 2022, and am pursuing a Level 1 NSST Trainer certification. I actively participate in NSST “Fishbowls” and international training. For more information refer to Patricia Felzien