Yellow Stream
Certificate in Sand Therapy
Special Interest & Advanced Practitioner
This certificate program can be taken as a stand-alone specialized training for Masters degree level mental health practitioners (or those in a Masters degree program). The program focuses on sand therapy techniques as applied to special population/referral issues, as well as a developmental approach (understanding developmental stages as represented in the sand tray). Previous training in play therapy is recommended (such as completion of the Foundations of Play Therapy: Green Stream).
The Certificate in Sand Therapy with Special Populations using Play Therapy Skills and Techniques program is 21 hours (In Room or Live-On-line) and 5.5 hours non-contact hours (reading and mastery test) (Total 26.5 hours). A minimum number of participants are required for In Room attendance. *APT recognizes “live -on-line as non-contact hours
This certificate program is part of RMPTI’s fully integrated training program continuum, as it builds on the integrative approach to play therapy introduced in the Green Stream, with an emphasis on theory, techniques and applications to special populations.
Taking a developmental approach (understanding developmental stages as represented in the sand tray), the program focuses on sand therapy techniques as applied to special population/referral issues (e.g., children of divorce, traumatized clients, giftedness, anxiety/phobias, depression, etc.). Participants will have the opportunity to engage in experiential sand therapy activities that range from interactive to static use of the sand tray and will be exposed to various theoretical orientations of sand therapy.
Program Goals
The primary goals of this program are to deepen participants’ understanding and experience with using symbols and metaphors in sand therapy, expand inquiry skills, and abilities to track the process when working with sand. The program also strengthens participants’ substantive knowledge base of special population/referral issues, including:
- Trauma / Medical traumas/Complex grief & loss
- Anxiety/Phobias
- Bullying
- Eating disorders
- Working with families
- Working with twins
To access program dates see the training calendar.
For full details please refer to the application form.
Who Should Attend?
It is recommended that students enrolled in the APT, CAPT or BCPTA Route of Certification/Registration take this program after completing the Green Stream. Like other Yellow Stream programs, this program is designed for Masters degree level (or currently enrolled in a Masters degree program) mental health practitioners who wish to add to their play therapy training resume.
Entrance Requirements
Attending or completed graduate mental health degree program. Completion of Foundations of Play Therapy (Green Stream) – or equivalent.
Required Readings
Homeyer, L. E., & Sweeney, D. S. (2023). Sandtray therapy: A practical manual. Routledge.
Carey, L. (1999). Sandplay Therapy with Children and Families. New Jersey: Book-mart Press.
Program Outline
Historical & theoretical constructs
- Development of the Ego & Psyche
- Symbolization process
- Archetypes
- Conscious processing
- Transcendent function
- Progression & regression
- Stages of development (e.g., R. Bowyer)
- Compensation & Adaptation
- Cased study
- Personal exercises
Day 1
During Day 1 participants will explore theory and practice issues and begin to identify ways to understand and interpret the therapeutic use of sand and sand therapy. The day will focus on entering the process personally, inviting a client to enter the process and observing, tracking and recording while remaining aware of the context of the presenting issues. The importance of self-reflection and “use of self” will be emphasized.
Day 2
During Day 2, participants will explore developmental differences when working in sand and study three different age bands 4-7 year olds and 8-11 year olds. This day will focus on conceptualization and how to understand the use of sand therapy when working with special issues such as high conflict divorce, child abuse and loss. Participants will review the role of the therapist and compare and contrast moving versus static sand tray examples. Practice opportunities using story stems and other directive activities will be provided. Those in attendance will follow a few case studies where levels of consciousness and directiveness and degree of interpretation will be discussed.
Day 3
During Day 3, participants will study the use of sand therapy with adolescents (which leads into adult work). Parent involvement and parent feedback will be considered. When to include a parent or family will be discussed. A case example that spans the 8-11 year old group and inclusion of a parent will be demonstrated. Participants will practice inquiry skills and have chances to practice in dyads. Special topics will be discussed such as working with eating disorders and phobias. Participants will study special ethics and practice guidelines when working in sand therapy.
Learning Objectives
To provide an overview of the use of sand therapy in various counselling settings, with special populations, and to provide participants with experiential learning opportunities
Upon successful completion of the course each participant will be able to:
- Explain the history and theoretical perspective guiding sand therapy in the play therapy setting
- Describe the sand therapy process & stages of sand therapy in play therapy
- Design sand therapy activities with a variety of presenting problems/populations in play therapy
- Demonstrate an understanding when working with symbols and metaphors in sand therapy with children in play therapy
- Describe how to working with various ages and stages of development when working in sand in play therapy
- Describe ethics and guidelines related to sand therapy in play therapy
- Describe working with sand therapy and families in play therapy
- Demonstrate ways to provide feedback to parents and third parties in the play therapy process
- Discuss when to be directive or non-directive in sand therapy and play therapy
- Demonstrate increased skills in inquiry and tracking when using sand therapy in play therapy
- Demonstrate use of tracking/recording tools in sand therapy during play therapy
Methods
- Experiential activities
- Videos & case examples
- Reading assignments
Award
Participants will receive a Certificate in Sand Therapy with Special Populations from Rocky Mountain Play Therapy Institute. This certificate confirms the completion of 26.5 hours; 21 direct contact hours plus 5.5 non-contact hours (mastery quiz, readings, Twin Study) Training hours may be used toward certification/registration as a Play Therapist.
NOTE: APT, CAPT, & BCPTA Continuing Education Credits will only be awarded to Mental Health Professionals. All credits must be approved by the appropriate governing body and cannot be guaranteed by RMPTI. This training meets the definition of APT’s Live-Webinar.
The certificate will be awarded based on:
- Satisfactory attendance (no whole module may be missed unless there are extenuating circumstances. A makeup assignment may be requested depending on time missed).
- Completion of Mastery Quiz
Please refer to our policies page for information on cancellations and missed classes.
Play Therapist
APT, CAPT or BCPTA Certification Route
Three possible routes!
Aspiring play therapists have three clear paths to certification/Registration (APT, CAPT or BCPTA), each requiring foundational Green Stream and Advanced Red Stream training followed by another specialized program to meet the 150 hour (APT) or 180-hour (CAPT and BCPTA) play therapy training requirement.
APT requires you to be face-to-face for 75 hours of training. If you attend both Green and Red stream face-to-face you will have achieved all of your hours. If you opt to attend one course on-line and one in-room you will have to add another program to reach your face-to-face hour requirement. This program or another Yellow-stream program will assist you to fulfill your Play Therapy training hours requirement.
If you are a master’s-level mental health professional, you can directly immerse yourself in the advanced “Yellow Stream” to gain expertise in sand therapy techniques for a range of special populations. This certificate program builds upon integrative play therapy approaches, offering both theoretical knowledge and experiential practice with symbols, metaphors, and the sand therapy process.
APT Route
For those seeking to become Registered by the Association for Play Therapy (APT), you may need to take an additional course to the Green Stream Foundations in Play Therapy and the Red Stream Advanced Theories and Techniques. An additional course will only be necessary if you choose to attend one of the above courses on-line and one course in person. If you attend both of the above programs in-room, you will have completed all of your play therapy training hours for APT.
APT requires 75 hours face-to-face training and the GS and RS provide 67.5 direct teaching hours in each program. If you attend one of the 9-day programs on-line and then attend the Sand Therapy Program (or another Yellow-stream program) face-to face you will have accumulated the training hours necessary for Registration with APT.
Note Yellow Stream Courses may be taken prior to the Red Stream.
CAPT Route
For those seeking to become Certified by the Canadian Association for Play Therapy (CAPT) Therapy Association the Sand Therapy Course is the recommended program to take in addition to the Green & Red Stream programs, to fulfill the requirement of 180 hours of play therapy training by CAPT. Registrants en route toward Certification by CAPT or BCPTA should first complete the Green Stream (or an equivalent), prior to taking this yellow stream program
Note: The Yellow Stream Courses may be taken prior to the Red Stream: Advanced Theories and Techniques in Play Therapy.
BCPTA Route
For those seeking to become Certified by the British Columbia Play Therapy Association the Sand Therapy Course is the recommended program to take in addition to the Green & Red Stream programs, to fulfill the requirement of 180 hours of play therapy training for BCPTA.
Registrants en route toward Certification by CAPT or BCPTA are recommended to first complete the Green Stream (or an equivalent), prior to taking this yellow stream program
Note: The Yellow Stream Courses may be taken prior to the Red Stream: Advanced Theories and Techniques in Play Therapy.