Virtual Sand Therapy at Home: Creating a “Free and Protected” Space Through Teletherapy

I am excited to join with my friends in play therapy, Tammi Van Hollander, LCSW, RPT-S and Dr. Jessica Stone to presenting this interactive workshop on how to navigate the virtual therapy world as a sandplay or sandtray therapist.  We will be presenting on Saturday, April 17, 2021 from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm PST as part of the amazing LA Expressive Therapies Summit:

This year the entirely Zoom conference will be held over three, 4-day weekends: April 15-18, April 22-25, and April 29-May 2.  Over 185 workshops are being taught live online and will not be available for later viewing. You can register for just one hour or as many as 85 hours – it’s up to you!

REGISTER HERE!

Workshop Description:

The transition to teletherapy during the pandemic and beyond has particular impact on sandtray and sandplay therapists. Without our sand and miniatures many of us feel a sense of deep loss. We are challenged to develop new skills to work effectively in a virtual format. During this interactive workshop a trio of experienced sand therapists explore these struggles, along with creative ideas to enhance practice with children and adults alike. Together, we will address issues of safety, privacy, engagement, and therapeutic containment related to nurturing clients in their home while we are on screen. With firm grounding in the healing power of image, symbols, play and creative processes we will learn practical adaptations of sandtray therapy to a virtual platform. We will explore effective ways to use household materials, toys, digital resources, symbolic content, and a variety of therapeutic activities to help clients achieve treatment goals and continuity of care. The “do’s and don’ts” of intervention planning and limitations of the approach will be reviewed, as well as unexpected benefits. Through participation, we hope therapists will gain a fresh set of ideas and renewed enthusiasm for virtual sandtray practice.

Learning Objectives:

1. List three ways to create a “free and protected” virtual space in sandplay and play therapy
2. Discuss two personal struggles related to loss of sand and miniatures in play therapy
3. Demonstrate two adaptations of sandtray play therapy to a virtual platform to nurture continuity of care
4. Identify two ways to use image and symbols via telehealth to enhance treatment goals