Sandtray Credential Program
Internationally Credentialed Sandtray Therapist (ICST)
The ICST program is thoughtful, hands-on, collaborative and taught in a small group setting.
Through the ICST program, you won’t have any guesswork, you’ll get the complete system where we walk you through your deep-dive in sandtray therapy work.
But how does this work you ask?
The ICST program is a HYBRID program, where you train both in-person and online.
The in-person training will consist of 4 levels.
Each level takes 2 days of training qualify for NBCC hours (ACEP #6650). The ICST training levels are for those who are working as mental health therapists or in a graduate program concentrating on a discipline within the mental health field.
Levels 1 and 2 are taken in the spring, which center around the Introduction to Sandtray Therapy and learning all about the neuroscience behind the power of sandtray therapy.
Next, we’ll complete the online portion of the program, where we meet weekly for the 15 hours of case consultation with your group.
Levels 3 and 4 take place in the Fall. Within the last two levels, we concentrate on cleaning off your own mirror through the sandtray and honing your therapy skills as well as learning about what sandtray looks like with special populations
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.
There are 13 CE’s available for this level.
Day 1
Based on the content of this workshop, I am able to:
- Describe the history of sandtray work in play therapy.
- Differentiate between sandtray therapy and sand play therapy.
- Identify the materials needed for sandtray work, including miniatures, sand, and sand trays.
- Demonstrate the skills required to process sandtray work with adults and children.
- List 20 directives for sandtray work in play therapy provided by the instructor and generate additional directives based on case examples.
- Analyze several case studies of adults and or children to understand the therapeutic sandtray play therapy processes involved in treatment.
- Recognize 10 common themes in sandtray play therapy, including those indicative of mental health concerns and pathways to healing.
Day 2
Based on the content of this workshop, I am able to:
- Summarize developmental issues that arise in sandtray work with children and other special populations.
- Explain the principles of non-directive play therapy and how they apply to work with children in sandtray therapy.
- Participate in and demonstrate role-play scenarios involving sandtray play therapy work, including interactions specific to children and adults.
- Analyze case studies of children and or adults to identify the therapeutic processes occurring in sandtray play therapy treatment.
- Discuss and analyze the latest brain-informed research on the therapeutic benefits of sandtray in play therapy.
- Engage in a group sandtray activity and apply three methods for incorporating sandtray into group and family therapy settings.
- Discuss the importance of cultural humility in sandtray play therapy and identify strategies to create a culturally responsive and inclusive therapeutic environment.
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.
There are 12 CE’s available for this level.
Day 1
Based on the content of this workshop, I am able to:
- Describe the basics of brain structure and explain how these concepts relate to sandtray play therapy.
- Identify the key tenets of interpersonal neurobiology and apply them in a sandtray play therapy context.
- Analyze case studies to illustrate the integration of neuroscience with sandtray play therapy.
- Explain how different age groups engage in sandtray and play activities from a brain science perspective.
- Discuss the effects of trauma on the brain and examine how these effects influence sandtray play therapy.
- Demonstrate two or more new techniques for explaining brain structure in relation to play and sandtray therapy.
- 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.
Day 2
Based on the content of this workshop, I am able to:
- Describe Polyvagal Theory and explain its relevance to play and sandtray therapy.
- Interpret sand trays using brain science principles to identify therapeutic patterns and processes.
- Distinguish between implicit and explicit memories and explain their significance in therapy and play.
- Demonstrate key skills to enhance your effectiveness as a clinician/facilitator of sandtray play therapy.
- Apply brain science research principles to inform your practice in sandtray play therapy.
- Explain how sandtray therapy functions as a form of play therapy from a brain-informed perspective, including the nine integration pathways.
This advanced workshop explores the transformative power of sandtray therapy within the play therapy setting. Participants will engage in personal sandtray experiences, which will deepen their understanding of how to process and work with clients in the sand. By reflecting on their own personal experiences in the tray, therapists will gain insights that enhance their ability to facilitate deeper, more meaningful work with clients. The workshop emphasizes the importance of personal engagement with the sandtray to deepen the therapeutic process, allowing therapists to better connect with clients and facilitate healing. This experiential approach will provide participants with practical tools to integrate sandtray work into their practice with greater depth and empathy.
There are 13 CE’s available for this level.
Day 1
Based on the content of this workshop, I am able to:
- Explain how the brain processes experience through the sandtray and play therapy framework.
- Analyze personal case studies and instructor-provided examples from the playroom to identify key therapeutic processes.
- Engage in case consultations provided by participants to discuss potential approaches in sandtray and play therapy.
- Demonstrate personal sandtray work with the trainer and fellow participants to enhance understanding of the therapeutic process.
- Evaluate 2-3 different theories regarding the use of specific methods in sandtray therapy.
- Practice techniques in the sandtray from both the client’s and therapist’s perspectives to build practical skills.
- Develop and apply 5-6 processing prompts suitable for children and adults in sandtray play therapy.
- Discuss cultural and diversity considerations in sandtray play therapy and identify strategies to create inclusive and culturally responsive therapeutic interventions.
Day 2
Based on the content of this workshop, I am able to:
- Explain the significance of personal engagement with the sandtray as a tool for becoming a more effective therapist, demonstrated through experiential exercises.
- Analyze live demonstrations of the sandtray play therapy process to deepen the therapeutic process with clients.
- Critique and discuss the demonstrations using clinical tools and sandtray play therapy techniques.
- Design 1-2 sandtray therapy techniques grounded in a specific theoretical orientation.
- Evaluate and reflect on personal processing skills in sandtray therapy through group connection to deepen the therapeutic processing of client sand trays.
- Discuss strategies for integrating sandtray and play therapy into other therapeutic models to enhance clinical practice.
After completing the first three levels, you and your cohort will choose one of the three classes offered below to fulfill your level 4 requirement.
Doing this allows you to “choose your own adventure” and get what YOU need most out of your ICST experience.
This class is a two-day advanced class for those seeking further training in sandtray methods used in play therapy. Solution focused and directive work will be the focus of the training. Participants are encouraged to bring favorite miniatures as well as a journal. Sand trays will be provided. There are 12 CE’s available for this level.
Day 1
Based on the content of this workshop, I am able to:
- Explain the basic tenants of solution-focused therapy used in play therapy room as well as general therapy.
- Discuss and review several personal case studies as well as those provided by the instructor within the play room.
- Practice several play-based, solution-focused techniques of discussing sandtray therapy.
- Demonstrate solution-focused therapy in the sandtray and play therapy.
- Explain how solution-focused theory play therapy can be used within the sandtray.
- Practice techniques in the sandtray from both the client and therapist’s perspective to build practical skills.
Day 2
- Apply further practice techniques in solution-focused in the play room, such as the miracle question.
- Develop a detailed outline of what the solution-focused module looks like in the play room and in therapy.
- Demonstrate how the 8-session module works with clients both in play room and in general therapy.
- Engage participants to work within the model as both the therapist and client.
- Discuss and analyze strengths/areas of improvement within processing of sandtray. with participants.
- Describe how to incorporate solution-focused play therapy into other models of working in the sandtray.
This workshop is an advanced sand tray therapy class within the play therapy setting. It will cover the how the brain changes in the adolescent years and how this relates to working with clients in the sand. By the end of the training, participants will gain the specific skills and knowledge listed below. There are 12 CE’s available for this level.
Day 1
Based on the content of this workshop, I am able to:
- Discuss the basics of the teenage brain structure, especially in how this relates to play therapy.
- Identify the developmental tasks appropriate for a teenage brain.
- Analyze several case studies with adolescents in the sandtray and play therapy.
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Explain how to best work with adolescents in the sand and play therapy from a brain science perspective.
- Identify the effect of trauma on the teenage brain and how this affects sandtray therapy.
- List 5 new techniques to facilitate sandtray and play therapy with adolescents.
Day 2
Based on the content of this workshop, I am able to:
- Describe the basis of how the adolescent works from an evolutionary perspective.
- Interpret adolescent sandtrays based within brain science.
- Discuss how to best create collaborations when working with adolescents in sandtray and play therapy.
- Practice skills to enhance your work as a facilitator of sandtray therapy, using what you have learned about how the adolescent brain works.
- Evaluate and reflect on your own adolescent experiences using sandtray and play therapy practices.
This class is a two-day advanced class for those seeking further training in sandtray methods used in play therapy. Nondirective play therapy methods will be discussed as well as how the sandtray is used with small children or non-verbal children. Participants are encouraged to bring favorite miniatures as well as a journal. Sand trays will be provided. There are 12 CE’s available for this level.
Day 1
Based on the content of this workshop, I am able to:
- Discuss the history of play therapy with a focus on non-directive play therapy.
- Summarize the research and evidenced based practices of non-directive play therapy.
- Analyze several videos of non-directive play therapy techniques.
- Demonstrate non-directive work in the sandtray and play therapy by instructor.
- Practice play-based techniques in the sandtray from both the client and therapist’s perspective.
- Explain how these play-based techniques can be used in the sandtray.
Day 2
- Critique and discuss the brain informed methods of why play and sandtray therapy is not “just playing in the sand”.
- Evaluate case studies from instructor and participants and identify the use of play therapy techniques in the sand.
- Demonstrate play-based techniques for participants, such as understanding without questions.
- Engage participants working within the model as both the therapist and client.
- Discuss and analyze strengths/areas of improvement within processing of sandtray.
- Explain how and when to interpret work of the child in the playroom and sandray.
- Discuss how to incorporate the research of play therapy and brain research into working with small children.
This program is WAY more than just 4 classes- it’s a well-designed, life-changing experience.
Take a look below at what is included in this life-changing experience
All of my grads say the same thing…
“Amy’s ICST program is amazing and even a little bit addicting.”
So many of my students can’t wait for their next training. I’ve had few describe my course as the carrot that keeps them going.
Guess what? Many of my grads were sitting where you are right now, a little bit skeptical and wondering if this program is worth the investment and also wondering if it’s really as good as it sounds.
The answer is a resounding YES
So what can I expect?
Each level is provided in a small workshop format at my beautiful facility in Jonesboro, Arkansas. You’ll get time to rest and get what you need with instruction while allowing you time to connect with the other therapists and work on yourself as well.
Are you the ideal ICST student?
Only those who are committed to being the best, who are willing to try new things, and are able to look at themselves honestly in an effort to grow and improve need apply.
2024 ICST Training Cohorts are Closed
Enrollment only happens once per year.
If you missed out, the next enrollment is January 2025!
2025 Dates and Information:
Cohort 1:
April 1 – 6 2025
October 15 – 19, 2025
Cohort 2:
May 7 – 12, 2025
November 5 – 9, 2025
Location: 2605 Southwest Square, Jonesboro, AR 72401
Time: 8:30 am. – 4:00 pm each day
Only 12 spots are available per cohort for the Southern Sandtray ICST training for the sandtray credential.
Registration is now closed.