SandScapes Insights

How do you become a Sandtray therapist?

Tue, 24 Aug 2021 21:14:41 GMT

How to become a Sandtray Therapist

So, you want to become a Sandtray Therapist? Well you have come to the right place. Below we are going outline:

What is Sandtray Therapy
Differences between Credentials and Certifications
What a sandtray therapist is and what they do
Benefits of becoming a sandtray therapist
Steps to become a Sandtray Therapist

1.) What is Sandtray Therapy?

Sandtray therapy is a therapeutic tool therapists use with individuals who may have experienced previous trauma in their lifetime. Although this type of therapy is most often used with children, it can also be extremely helpful with teens or adults.

Typically Sandtray therapy utilizes a sand tray to asses, diagnose and treat a variety of mental illnesses.

2.) The difference between credentials and certifications:

Credentials are the highest designation in a field of expertise an are recognized by an independent organization. Whereas certifications signify the individual has completed the requirements set forth by a person or organization. Credentials require renewals, certifications do not typically require any ongoing requirements. Credentials are often nationally and internationally recognized by professional organizations and certifications may achieve limited recognition. To learn more about the differences you can click here . Currently there is only one organization that offers a credential for Sandtray therapy, the International Association for Sandtray Therapy (IAS T).

3.) What is a Sandtray Therapist and what do they do?

A sandtray therapist is a mental health therapist who uses sandtray therapy techniques in his or her sessions. People tend to think not only in words, but also with images and the use of sand trays can help to activate this type of nonverbal manner of thinking. This helps the therapist asses, diagnose and treat their client by allowing them to communicate through the use of sand and miniatures. Emotional struggles often emerge through this process that the client may not have even been aware of in their conscious mind.

4.) Benefits of becoming a Sandtray Therapist:

There are extensive benefits to becoming a sandtray therapist which can help you grow as a clinician, but also make communicating with clients who may have hit a verbal "block" so to speak in regular talk therapy. Working with sand and the miniatures helps to move clients to a deeper level more quickly than they may have been able to reach while relying solely on words. It is crucial to receive quality training in Sandtray therapy to become proficient with clients.

5.) Steps to become a Sandtray Therapist.

In order to become an Internationally Credentialed Sandtray Therapist (ICST), you must:

Complete levels 1-4 provided by an approved ICST-P, or approved provider trained and recognized by the IAST. You may find a full list of approved providers her e . We, here at SandScapes, are a part of the approved list of providers. Register here today .
You must complete at least 15 hours of case consultation with an ICST-P. These are completed online between levels 2 and 3 of training.
You must complete at least 10 elective hours provided through the online members portal of the IAST or through attending the annual Sandtray Therapy Summit.

You can learn more about becoming an International Credentialed Sandtray Therapist (ICST) here.

Sandtray On-The-Go

Mon, 16 Aug 2021 03:17:16 GMT

Ready to take your Sandtray on the road?

Maybe you are a traveling therapist or need to share office space with other therapists who do not do Sandtray therapy! I wanted to share a way that I have found worked well for me when I was traveling into schools and even conducting sessions in my car once upon a time !

Yes, you read that correctly! I worked in a role where I traveled to several counties doing therapy where I could, which a couple of times ended up being in my car! It definitely challenged me to think outside the box.

So, if you have to do therapy in a closet in the school, in someone's kitchen or even in your car keep reading for my best tips!

First , I purchased a starter set on Amazon which came with some really great minis and the perfect size sand tray with a lid for traveling. I was working primarily with littles and teens so I made sure to have some minis for that age range (animals, characters, vegetation and army men, to name a few).

**I am not using any affiliate links and am not receiving any compensation if you choose to purchase any of these items! I just linked what I have used for years and found most helpful!**

Next , I needed some containers that wouldn’t be too heavy or bulky! I found some awesome craft organizers from Michaels that fit the bill along with a handy tackle box from Walmart! These pieces allowed me to separate and organize my minis into categories just like I would’ve in my office.

Finally , I needed a way to carry all these things efficiently and as pain free as possible! I’ve seen so many great options including rolling totes which, I wish I would’ve used but alas I settled on a large utility tote. It worked perfectly for what I needed and fit in my car with ease! I found mine from a company called Thirty-one gifts but I’ve seen similar ones at Walmart and Amazon !

My biggest tip is to not get overwhelmed with having everything for your clients to choose from, they will get what they need with whatever materials you have!

Remember: You and your ability to provide a free and protected space are the most important parts of the Sandtray therapy experience!

What does your on-the-go setup look like? I'd love to see!

Welcome to Sandscapes: The Kentucky Sandtray Institute!

Sun, 28 Jun 2020 17:39:16 GMT

Hey There! I’m Megan, the founder and director of Sandscapes: The Kentucky Sandtray Institute. I just wanted to share a little about my vision and hopes for Sandscapes. If you haven’t already, check out the About section to learn more about my sandtray journey! In short, when I found sandtray therapy it changed my life and the way I do therapy. You may be thinking, Megan, how did sandtray change your life? Well, the training that I received and the amazing therapist’ that I connected with during my training is the easiest answer. If you’ve never experienced putting your hands in the sand and carefully choosing miniatures to represent parts of yourself and your world, wow you’re missing out. It’s a powerful experience.

It wasn’t only the training and community, it was the fact that sandtray is backed by neuroscience! I saw early on that sandtray therapy was powerful, but I struggled to document what I was seeing and why it was working. Having the extensive training taught me the why and now I have the tools to teach others!

After receiving the training from Southern Sandtray Institute, I couldn’t wait until I had the opportunity to become a trainer. See when you find something that you believe in wholeheartedly, you want to share it with the world! So, Sandscapes: The Kentucky Sandtray Institute was born.

My hope with beginning this new chapter and journey with Sandscapes, is to provide quality and experiential training. It is my mission to spread the word about the power of sandtray therapy as a healing tool. Sandtray therapy changed my life personally and professionally. Because of my own personal transformation, I hope to create a space for other professionals to transform themselves as well.

My goal for this blog and the content I share, is to educate clinicians and the general public about sandtray therapy. I hope to share actionable resources and helpful tips and tricks to help you along your sandtray journey. Please feel free to reach out to me if I can ever help you along the way!