Sandbox & Sandtray Play Therapy- Across the Lifespan

Workshop Overview:

Sandbox therapy is a trauma-informed interpersonal form of therapy used with children from ~1 5 years old (or older) in order to engage the relationship while engaging the sensory system in calm sand play. Sandbox play is a world of discovery in which the counselor and child engage in floor time play and build attachment.

Sandtray therapy is an expressive and projective mode of counseling involving the unfolding and processing of INTRA and INTER personal issues through the use of specific symbolic miniatures & materials, as non-verbal mediums of communication, led by the client and facilitated by a trained professional. Sandtray therapy is Trauma Informed and we will discuss best practices, as such, in this presentation.

This workshop awards 6 NBCC- and APT-approved CEs. Social work CEs are pending as of 5/9/24.

The learning objectives for this workshop are:

• Explain the difference between sandbox play therapy and sandtray play therapy and how both are used to build the therapeutic relationship.
• Facilitate the use of metaphor in symbolic communication
• Describe the difference between sandtray therapy and sandplay therapy
• Create a plan for setting up properly organized sand tray space/cart with a variety of miniatures from several categories
• Demonstrate basic processing skills for sandtray therapy
• Discuss how sandbox and sandtray therapy are both Trauma informed practices, and why

Agenda Breakdown

• .5 hour Introductions and Symbolic Miniature Activity
• 1 hour on understanding Sandbox Play Therapy, Sandtray Play Therapy, and Sandplay Therapy
• Break
• .5 hours on the use of Metaphor in Symbolic Communication (lecture)
• 1 Hour Experiential Activity- Practice
• Lunch Break (12-1)
• 1 hour on Set-up, Organization, and Basic Skills in Sandtray Play Therapy (lecture and role play)
• .1 hours on Experiential Activity/ Sandtray Activity (role play)- Practice Processing
• Break
• .5 hour- Family, Intimate Partner, Group Sandtray
• .5 hour- Closing exercise- experiential activity - miniature

About the Presenter

Dr. LeAnne Steen is the Director and founder of the Loyola Play Therapy Center, Chair and Associate Professor in the Department of Counseling. She completed her Ph.D. in Counselor Education at the University of North Texas where she specialized in play therapy, counselor supervision, child-parent relationship therapy (filial therapy), and activity therapy. Dr. Steen developed multiple courses in play therapy including Intro to Play Therapy, Child Parent Relationship Therapy, Activity Therapy, Sandtray Play Therapy, and Advanced Play Therapy & Theory. Dr. Steen acquired (2016) an endowment and a grant for the play therapy center to create both a legacy at Loyola University New Orleans for Play Therapy Education and to develop a Continuing and Professional Education Program at Loyola in Play Therapy. Both the Endowment and the grant were from the Heebe Family Fund at Touro Hospital. Dr. Steen enjoys presenting extensively on many topics related to play and activity therapy, child-parent relationship therapy, parent consultation, and clinical play therapy consultation.