The Neuropsychology of Trauma and Sandplay Therapy

Dr. Freedle will be in Santa Fe, NM teaching an intensive sandplay course at Southwestern College.  More info on CE Class at SWC

COURSE DESCRIPTION: This course provides an overview of the neuropsychology of trauma and sandplay therapy. Students will explore the impact of trauma on the brain, body, and psyche/soul and discover how sandplay heals trauma from a neuropsychological perspective. Leading theories on trauma treatment are reviewed and applied to case studies in sandplay with an emphasis on theories rooted in neurodevelopment, depth psychology, affective neuroscience and body-centered therapies. Through participation in lecture/discussion, interaction with myth and symbol, compelling case studies, and personal artwork, journaling and other experiential activities you will have the opportunity to connect on a deep level to this work and to integrate concepts.

STUDENT LEARNING OBJECTIVES:  Through engagement in the didactic, interactive and experiential aspects of this course you will be able to:

1. Review the key tenets of Jungian sandplay therapy as founded by Dora Kalff.
2. Define trauma and its effect on the brain, body, and psyche/soul.
3. Apply theories on trauma treatment (e.g., Perry, Levine, Siegel, Kalsched and others) to sandplay therapy.
4. Explore the myth of La Llorona and its cultural implications through story-telling, music, art and sandplay case study.
5. Explore relational safety, “generous attunement” and co-transference in sandplay.
6. Describe how play, somatosensory processing, symbolic language, and mindfulness stimulate neurodevelopment.
7. Explore how the trauma narrative is expressed and re-processed in sandplay.
8. Define four essential components of sandplay therapy that promote neural integration and healing of trauma (Freedle, 2017).
9. Identify the “Seven Phases of Sandplay Therapy” (Freedle, 2007) and the process of psychological development in a series of sandplay images.
10. Gain knowledge about the neurobiology of empathy and stress, and the implications of secondary traumatic stress for sandplay therapists.
11. Develop a self-care plan to prevent vicarious trauma.
12. Describe guidelines for ethical practice in sandplay and your range and limitations in use of the methods with clients.
13. Explore the sandplay journeys of children and adults with a variety of traumatic disorders such as complex developmental trauma, PTSD, traumatic grief, and traumatic brain injury.
14. Utilize Martin Kalff’s experience-based sandplay consultation, myth and symbols, along with personal artwork, poetry and sandplay activities to reflect on course content and integrate concepts.

REQUIRED READING:

Gil, E. (Ed.) (2010). Working with children to heal interpersonal trauma: The power of play, NY: Guilford Press.

Freedle, L. R. (2017). Healing trauma through sandplay therapy: A neuropsychological perspective. In Turner, (Ed.), The Routledge international handbook of sandplay therapy, (pp. 190-206). NY: Routledge.

Freedle, L.R. (2007).* Sandplay therapy with brain injured adults: An exploratory qualitative study. Journal  of Sandplay Therapy, XVI (2), 115-133.

Kalff, D.M. (1980). Sandplay: A psychotherapeutic approach to the psyche. Boston, MA: Sigo Press.  (Re-published 2003 through Temenos Press.)

RELATED READING:

Perry, B. D. (2006). *Applying principles of neurodevelopment to clinical work with maltreated andtraumatized children. In N.B. Webb (Ed.), Working with traumatized youth in child welfare (pp.27-52). New York, NY: Guilford.

Steele, W. and Malchiodi, C. A. (2012). Trauma-informed practices with children and adolescents, NY:  Routledge. (Available as e-book for $20 at www.crater.com.)

Turner, B. (Ed.). (2017). The Routledge International Handbook of Sandplay Therapy, NY: Routledge.  New York:  Routledge.