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SAND TRAY WORKSHOPS

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Sand Tray Trainings through the Sand Tray Training Institute of New Mexico

Instructor: Aimee Jennings

Location: 853 SR 436 Casselberry, FL 32707

 

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To join my Sand Tray email list:

Download my full list of trainings: 

LEVEL ONE

BASIC TOOLS AND METHODS

2 Day Workshop 12 CEs

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DESCRIPTION: This workshop introduces the basic tools and methods of sandtray play therapy for both children and adults. Participants will explore various elements of the sandtray process in the context of clinical applications for treating trauma, depression, anxiety, and other issues. This training interweaves didactic discussions with hands-on exercises using miniature figurines and sandtrays. The purpose of the exercises is to demonstrate how relational play may be used as a neural exercise to address the stress that arises in the nervous system during traumatic or other problematic experiences. From these exercises, workshop participants will explore and discuss how sandtray play helps to develop flexibility in the nervous system supporting a more joyful and fulfilled life. Therapists will have opportunities to practice and refine basic skills and to ask questions in an interactive small group setting.

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This training will help participants to:

  1. Identify beginning skills for facilitating sandtray play therapy in clinical practice.

  2. Create a sandtray play therapy clinical space.

  3. Describe the importance of the nonverbal aspect of sandtray play therapy for healing trauma.

  4. Utilize experiential exercises to anchor the basic theoretical tenets of sandtray play therapy.

  5. List the three branches of the nervous system that are observable during the sandtray play therapy process.

  6. Describe the beginning history of sandtray play therapy with Margaret Lowenfeld and Dora Kalff.

  7. Explain how play activities help to develop a flexible nervous system.

  8. Discuss training recommendations for sandtray play therapy clinicians. 

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TO REGISTER:

1. CLICK THE LINK BELOW

2. GO TO "MY ACCOUNT" ON THE TOP RIGHT

3. CREATE A FREE ACCOUNT

4. YOU WILL THEN BE ABLE TO VIEW FLORIDA TRAININGS

5. REGISTER FOR YOUR CHOSEN DATE

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LEVEL 1 TRAINING DATES:

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February 21-22, 2026

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LEVEL TWO

SYMBOLIC INTEGRATION AND THEORY

2 Day Workshop 12 CEs

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DESCRIPTION: In this workshop, participants discuss and work with symbolic meaning and basic theoretical ideas related to healing trauma and other clinical issues with sandtray therapy. The purpose of the didactic information in conjunction with hands-on experiences is to demonstrate why it is important to help clients experience the sandtray materials in a way that allows them to collaborate with their embodied brains, not just their cognitive processes. A focus for this training is on trauma as it is embedded throughout the body rather than in the cognitive layers of the brain only. In Level 2, participants continue to build on the concepts of “play as a neural exercise” for developing a nervous system that is flexible and resilient. There will be opportunities to explore core issues in play therapy. Participants also will have opportunities to practice skills using symbolic language with a workshop partner.                                                    

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This training will help participants to:

  1. Identify skills for facilitating sandtray play therapy for trauma.

  2. Describe culturally responsive sandtray play therapy techniques for clinical applications.

  3. Compare universal and idiosyncratic symbolic material that emerges during sandtray play therapy.

  4. Recite language that helps client experience their sandtray creations.

  5. Describe the evolving meaning of symbolic material during sandtray play therapy (from unconscious to the conscious).

  6. Identify the risks associated with interpretation in sandtray play therapy.

  7. Describe the importance of Panksepp’s play circuitry in the brain for developing a science-informed explanation for sandtray play therapy.

  8. Demonstrate the facilitation of sandtray play therapy with peers.

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TO REGISTER:

1. CLICK THE LINK BELOW

2. GO TO "MY ACCOUNT" ON THE TOP RIGHT

3. ENSURE YOU ARE SIGNED IN TO YOUR ACCOUNT

4. YOU WILL THEN BE ABLE TO VIEW FLORIDA TRAININGS

5. REGISTER FOR YOUR CHOSEN DATE

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LEVEL 2 TRAINING DATES:

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March 14-15, 2026

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LEVEL THREE

BASIC CLINICAL SKILLS AND THEORY

2 Day Workshop 12 CEs

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DESCRIPTION: Participants in this workshop will have numerous opportunities to develop and practice specific skills in working with the language of sandtray play therapy. Therapists will use exercises to learn when and how to translate play language into verbal language, and they will also explore the multidimensionality of sandtray play therapy as an expressive art. In addition, therapists will learn how to use the polyvagal theory of play to articulate how play helps to create a resilient nervous system.

 

This training will help participants to:

  1. Identify advanced skills for facilitating sandtray play therapy in clinical practice.

  2. Describe images and behaviors that portray feelings of shame in the nervous system during sandtray play therapy.

  3. Discuss the multidimensional nature of the sandtray play therapy process.

  4. Demonstrate the ability to provide kind but accurate feedback to peers who are practicing the therapist/client roles.

  5. Use a recording form designed for sandtray play therapy.

  6. Explain the sandtray play therapy process from a science-informed perspective.

  7. Describe the relationship of mindfulness and the witnessing role during sandtray play therapy.

  8. Explain how play helps to build a resilient nervous system during sandtray play therapy. 

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TO REGISTER:

1. CLICK THE LINK BELOW

2. GO TO "MY ACCOUNT" ON THE TOP RIGHT

3. ENSURE YOU ARE SIGNED IN TO YOUR ACCOUNT

4. YOU WILL THEN BE ABLE TO VIEW FLORIDA TRAININGS

5. REGISTER FOR YOUR CHOSEN DATE

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LEVEL 3 TRAINING DATES:

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November 15-16, 2025

April 11-12, 2026

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LEVEL FOUR

BASIC TOOLS AND METHODS

2 Day Workshop 12 CEs

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DESCRIPTION: Building on the previous three foundational levels, participants in this workshop continue to develop facilitation skills for sandtray play therapy. The training includes discussion of professional and ethical issues related to diagnosis, treatment planning, transference, and the clinical relationship. An amplification technique, countertransference and co-tranference are given particular focus in this level. Participants will have opportunities to refine and integrate therapeutic skills through hands-on practice with workshop partners. Each participant will have an individual sand tray for practice exercises and for creating individual sand tray words.

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This training will help participants to:

  1. Identify advanced skills for facilitating sandtray play therapy in clinical practice.

  2. Discuss issues related to countertransference and co-transference in sandtray play therapy.

  3. Apply skills in using the amplification technique in sandtray play therapy.

  4. Explain the concept of right brain-to-right brain processing in sandtray play therapy.

  5. Describe the first two fields of archetypal relational fields in Linda Cunningham’s concept of sandplay therapy.

  6. Assess witnessing skills of peers during sandtray play therapy practice.

  7. Explain how self-regulation is built on the platform of co-regulation during sandtray play therapy.

  8. Identify ethical concerns related to practicing sandtray play therapy.

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TO REGISTER:

1. CLICK THE LINK BELOW

2. GO TO "MY ACCOUNT" ON THE TOP RIGHT

3. ENSURE YOU ARE SIGNED IN TO YOUR ACCOUNT

4. YOU WILL THEN BE ABLE TO VIEW FLORIDA TRAININGS

5. REGISTER FOR YOUR CHOSEN DATE

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LEVEL 4 TRAINING DATES:

 

May 2-3, 2026

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LEVEL FIVE

COUPLES, FAMILIES, & GROUP

2 Day Workshop 12 CEs

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DESCRIPTION: Applying methods of group play therapy, participants in this workshop will learn how to facilitate sand tray play therapy with couples, families, and larger focus groups. Using various sizes of trays, including miniature trays, individual trays, and a large 5- foot circular tray, participants will be able to explore a range of possibilities for group facilitation. They will also experience both formal and informal processes for using sand tray play with groups. Integrating skills learned in previous training levels, therapists will learn how to balance individual and community needs within the group space. There will be a particular focus on how clinicians may utilize the polyvagal concept of connection versus protection for group facilitation.

 

This training will help participants to:

  1. Identify advanced skills for facilitating group sand tray play therapy in clinical practice.

  2. Discuss complementarity of individual and community group work in sand tray play therapy.

  3. Describe group techniques for couples, families, and focus groups for sand tray play therapy.

  4. List guiding principles for facilitating sand tray play therapy groups.

  5. Explain how to balance individual and group methods for sand tray play therapy.

  6. Discuss strategies for containing dysregulation during group sand tray play therapy.

  7. Apply current principles of IPNB to group sand tray play therapy.

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TO REGISTER:

1. CLICK THE LINK BELOW

2. GO TO "MY ACCOUNT" ON THE TOP RIGHT

3. ENSURE YOU ARE SIGNED IN TO YOUR ACCOUNT

4. YOU WILL THEN BE ABLE TO VIEW FLORIDA TRAININGS

5. REGISTER FOR YOUR CHOSEN DATE

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LEVEL 5 TRAINING DATES:​​

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May 30-31, 2026

 

LEVEL SIX

EXPRESSIVE ARTS AND PLAY THERAPY INTEGRATION

4 Day Workshop 24 CEs

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DESCRIPTION: The focus of this workshop is on the integration of various play modalities in therapeutic settings, including sandtray play, puppets, games, art, and storytelling play. Through didactic and experiential methods, therapists will have opportunities to learn how and when to use various modalities with both child and adult play. There is special emphasis on integrating the sandtray with play therapy and verbal therapy. In addition, participants will have opportunities to practice nervous system attunement during play therapy exercises.

 

This training will help participants to:

  1. Identify facilitation skills for integrating sandtray play with other play therapy modalities.

  2. Utilize puppet play to enhance play therapy.

  3. Describe mosaic play as it relates to sandtray play therapy.

  4. Utilize sandtray miniatures to create a genogram.

  5. Explain how the use of clay (or masks) reinforces the image thinking that is also a core idea in sandtray play therapy.

  6. Describe play therapy benefits of using parallel play such as coloring and doodling.

  7. Explain how games may or may not enhance sandtray play therapy.

  8. Discuss directive versus nondirective methods for utilizing collage making in play therapy.

  9. Discuss how the polyvagal theory provides a science-informed perspective on using a variety of play therapy methods in conjunction with sandtray play therapy.

  10. Identify the role of Panksepp’s innate primary motivational circuits in sandtray play therapy.

  11. Explain how self-regulation is built on the platform of co-regulation during sandtray play therapy.

  12. Explain how play helps to build a resilient nervous system during sand trayplay therapy.

  13. Demonstrate skills in working online with supervisees and clients.

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TO REGISTER:

1. CLICK THE LINK BELOW

2. GO TO "MY ACCOUNT" ON THE TOP RIGHT

3. ENSURE YOU ARE SIGNED IN TO YOUR ACCOUNT

4. YOU WILL THEN BE ABLE TO VIEW FLORIDA TRAININGS

5. REGISTER FOR YOUR CHOSEN DATE

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LEVEL 6 TRAINING DATES:

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June 11-14, 2026

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