ICST Training

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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 the latest 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.

1) Describe the history of sandtray work in play therapy.

2) Differentiate between sandtray therapy and sand play therapy.

3) Identify the materials needed for sandtray work, including miniatures, sand, and sand trays.

4) Demonstrate the skills required to process sandtray work with adults and children.

5) List 20 directives for sandtray work in play therapy provided by the instructor and generate additional directives based on case examples.

6) Analyze several case studies of adults and or children to understand the therapeutic sandtray play therapy processes involved in treatment.

7) Recognize 10 common themes in sandtray play therapy, including those indicative of mental health concerns and pathways to healing.

8) Discuss the Therapeutic Powers of Play Therapy and its treatment implications within the sand tray.

1) Summarize developmental issues that arise in sandtray work with children and other special populations.

2) Explain the principles of non-directive play therapy and how they apply to work with children in sandtray therapy.

3) Participate in and demonstrate role-play scenarios involving sandtray play therapy work, including interactions specific to children and adults.

4) Analyze case studies of children and or adults to identify the therapeutic processes occurring in sandtray play therapy treatment.

5) Discuss and analyze the latest brain-informed research on the therapeutic benefits of sandtray in play therapy.

6) Engage in a group sandtray activity and apply three methods for incorporating sandtray into group and family therapy settings.

7) Discuss the importance of cultural humility in sandtray play therapy and identify strategies to create a culturally responsive and inclusive therapeutic environment 

The Neuroscience of Sandtray Therapy

This advanced workshop delves into the neuroscience underpinning 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.

1. Describe the basics of brain structure and explain how these concepts relate to sandtray play therapy.

2. Identify the key tenets of interpersonal neurobiology and apply them in a sandtray play therapy context.

3. Analyze case studies to illustrate the integration of neuroscience with sandtray play therapy.

4. Explain how different age groups engage in sandtray and play activities from a brain science perspective.

5. Discuss the effects of trauma on the brain and examine how these effects influence sandtray play therapy.

6. Demonstrate two or more new techniques for explaining brain structure in relation to play and sandtray therapy. 

7. Examine how cultural factors influence brain development and processing and discuss how these factors should be considered when working within the sandtray play therapy setting. 

1. Describe Polyvagal Theory and explain its relevance to play and sandtray therapy.

2. Interpret sand trays using brain science principles to identify therapeutic patterns and processes.

3. Distinguish between implicit and explicit memories and explain their significance in therapy and play.

4. Demonstrate key skills to enhance your effectiveness as a clinician/facilitator of sandtray play therapy.

5. Apply brain science research principles to inform your practice in sandtray play therapy.

6. Explain how sandtray therapy functions as a form of play therapy from a brain-informed perspective, including the nine integration pathways.