8th Edition
Choosing the Right Training...
In the last edition, we talked about finding your community and the importance of establishing a support system while on this crazy sandtray journey....
Now, more than ever, it's important to band together and support one another through these trying and uncertain times.
In this edition, we wanted to focus on the importance of finding the right training and education for your specific needs and practice.
As most of you already know, the second annual was intended to be held on April 4-5, in the beautiful Disney Springs area of Orlando...
This would have been an amazing opportunity to connect with other sandtray nerds from across the globe, to learn about the implementation and practice of sandtray therapy with diverse populations and special needs throughout the lifespan.
Even though we are super bummed about the postponement of this event (...yes, it is STILL happening, with a new date to be announced VERY soon!!), there are still ways to get amazing, cutting-edge training in the field of sandtray therapy!
Have you joined The Sandtray Movement?
This is a free group, dedicated to the promotion of sandtray therapy! We are always sharing techniques, tips, and sandtray hacks...and the best part, is that you can learn from other sandtray devotees, just like you!
Want to go deeper and get access to MORE in-depth knowledge and tools of the trade? The is for you! Member benefits include access to amazing online resources, including trainings on special topics from fellow members and experts in the field and discounted rates for events like the Summit. The IAST is a brand new organization (coming up on it's 1 year birthday, to be exact), and that means that the benefits just KEEP getting better as the organization grows...and there are LOTS of awesome surprises to be announced very soon...
And again, we are all bummed about having to move the Summit due to the current medical crisis, but the health and safety of attendees is our top priority. Bright side, we are hoping that even more of you can join us when we announce the dates for Sandtray Summit Take Two: Electric Boogaloo (just kidding, that's not what it's called...) in the Fall!
Featured Miniatures
So, when I initially selected our featured miniatures, I had in mind minis that could hold symbolic meaning for knowledge, seeking training and education, and what that journey may look or feel like for some. But with the recent escalation of COVID-19 in the US, and across the globe, these minis began to take on dual meanings for me.. join me in exploring the ever-changing metaphors that our miniatures can provide for ourselves, and for our clients. The brain really does what it needs to do if given the proper tools...pretty neat, huh?!
The Archer - This warrior could represent being bold and brave in seeking new experiences and growing your practice through education, training, and building your skills as a therapist. This mini could also symbolize our "fight" response to a crisis or threat...who all went into attack mode over toilet paper this week?! But for real, this could symbolize for clients their strength and ability to face crises head-on. Explore those strengths and build upon them!
Airplane - Maybe we have to travel and get out of our comfort zones to get some of the trainings we need to grow our sandtray practice. This mini could symbolize new beginnings, embarking upon a journey, or just plain old flying to get where we need to go (Disney in the Fall, anyone?!). When considering the current state of the world, this mini could also symbolize our clients' "flight" response to crises, feeling helpless to get to friends and loved ones who are quarantined elsewhere in the world, or fear of travel in general. You could use this mini to help explore flight-responses and build skills to manage anxiety in a healthy and functional manner.
Anxiety/Panic - Often when thinking about getting those extra certifications or credentials that aren't "mandatory" for minimum licensing, there can be fear of the unknown...will this benefit my practice? Is the risk or financial investment worth the reward? This miniature could also represent our clients "freeze" response, or heightened anxiety regarding the current state of the world. Use this mini to explore those specific worries, help gain bodily awareness, and work to take back control of that nervous system. The sandtray is such an amazing tool for regulation, don't be afraid to use the tray to dig into the panic!
Meditation/Self-Care - Obviously, self-care is vital, especially during high-stress events and periods of unrest... But did you know that getting experiential, brain-informed training can be a form of self-care? The more you know, the more confident you are in your skills, and the better you feel about your own brain-stuff. The more you understand about the implementation of sandtray therapy, the deeper you will be able to go with your clients for the most integrative and healing experiences.
The Lock - This bad boy literally says "unlock your potential". Every time you attend a training, watch a quick FB Live or webinar, or tune in to get new sandtray techniques or directives, you are investing in yourself and your sandtray practice. You could also use this mini to explore barriers to obtaining trainings or educational opportunities, or to help clients explore things that are holding them back from unlocking their potential.
With everything going on in the world right now, the focus of your sessions may be shifting just a smidge...especially if you are practicing in an area that has been significantly impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak. If you're looking for tips on how to help clients manage stress and anxiety specifically related to this event, the CDC has some resources that might help.
Some of these may seem like common sense, or basic practice techniques, but sometimes our clients need hard-and-fast guidelines and strategies to fall back on when it all hits the fan... so giving this resource to our clients could help them feel more settled and secure when they leave our offices and head back out into the world.
Speaking of amazing ways to feed your training needs...the Sandtray Suite has new topics every month, with guest experts from all over the world giving you actionable techniques and insights into their specialty areas within the sandtray therapy field!
This month is all about Positive Psychology and re-wiring the brain from negative, harmful patterns of thought through the neuroscience of sandtray therapy. Nidhi joins us from Trinidad to teach these amazing skills and techniques.
We hope you're signed up and enjoying the awesome weekly content...BUT if you're missing out and ready to take your sandtray game to the next level, to sign up for the waiting list to join this elite training program!
Upcoming Events
The Second Annual Sandtray Therapy Summit - April 4-5, 2020 hosted in Disney Springs in Orlando, Florida is now TBD!! In effort to preserve public health and safety amid this medical crisis, this training event has been postponed until Fall 2020. Dates for the Summit will be announced ASAP, and we hope that by extending our time-frame, we can better serve the entirety of the sandtray community. |
That's all we have for you today, folks! Please keep yourself and your loved ones healthy and safe during this difficult time. Your clients need you now, more than ever...and remember that you are truly healing and changing lives with the work that you do. I am so proud to be in this community with amazing practitioners like you, changing the world, one sandtray at a time! Til' next time, - The Southern Sandtray Team |
