Upcoming Seminars

Going Deeper in Sand Play Therapy: Expanding Skills for Effective Client Change

Linda E Homeyer, PhD, LPC-S, RPT-S

Seminar description: 

Play therapists continue to expand their use of sand therapy, especially across the lifespan. This seminar will begin with a brief review of setting up the sand therapy experience as a separate therapeutic space and a model of the therapeutic powers of play within the sand tray. The seminar will focus on several ways to deepen the client’s experience while processing the completed sandtrays. This includes integrating the play therapist’s clinical theory with a deeper use of theory in the processing stage. Also, how the play therapist develops insight through the skill of eyes-on-trays. The participant will experience how to engage the client in processing the tray with more depth, including inviting add-ons and figure-play. There will be time to play and practice – hands-in-sand!

Objectives:

1. Identify and describe the essential materials required to set up and maintain a sand play therapy room.
2. Outline and apply the six-step protocol used in a standard sand play therapy session.
3. Explain the Therapeutic Powers of Play as they relate to sand therapy, including those impacting both the client and the play therapist.
4. Demonstrate an understanding of the eyes-on-trays skill and its clinical purpose during sand play sessions.
5. Identify and utilize at least three effective “add-ons” to deepen and enrich client work in sand play therapy.
6. Integrate relevant clinical theories into the processing stage of a sand play therapy session

Tentative Schedule:

Opening

• Experiential activity 
• Overview of setting up a sand play therapy room
• Therapeutic Powers of Play in the Sand Tray

Morning break

• Holding Sessions: 6-Session Protocol
• Introducing the Sand Tray & Prompts
• Hand’s In Sand - Poly Vagal Impact of Sand
• Experiential Activity

Lunch

• Expanding the Client’s Experience (back-drops/sky-hooks)
• Eyes-on-Trays: Practice
• Using your Theory to Create Prompts

Afternoon break

• Deepening the Processing: Figure Play
• Experiential Activity

Workshop Date and Hours:

April 10, 2026 from 9am - 4:30 pm.

CE hours: 6 hours

This training is approved for 6 contact CEs. (Add APT approved provider logo – attached.)

Play therapy credit is only awarded to mental health professionals. 

APT Approved Provider: 12-336

Need to cancel? Email: s_b426@txstate.edu.  Cancellations made 7+ days before the session receive a full refund less $35; cancellations within 7 days of the session or no-shows are non-refundable. If we are the ones to cancel, full refunds will be issued.

Cancellation Policy

Nonrefundable fees: There is a $35 nonrefundable fee for administrative costs associated with processing each payment. 

Cancellations: Written cancellations received two weeks prior to the start of the training will receive a refund minus the nonrefundable fee. Cancellations within two weeks of the training, after the training, or no shows will not receive a refund.

The Institute for Play Therapy reserves the right to cancel a seminar if there are fewer than 14 professional participants registered as of 7 days before the start of the seminar. In the case of cancellation, we will refund registration fees in full or the participant can choose to apply funds towards an alternate seminar.

Questions or Concerns: Please contact us at playtherapy@txstate.edu