The Hero's Journey: Using Sand Tray and Narrative Techniques in Play Therapy
| Course code: | 25-SS-237 |
|---|---|
| Dates: | January 24-25, 2025 Alternate Course Dates |
| Meets: | F and Sa from 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM, 2 sessions |
| Hours: | 16.00 |
| Location: | ChildSavers |
| Instructor: | Robert Nickles |
| Fee: | $249.00 |
Description
In this workshop you will explore the history of sand tray work and compare different aspects of the early development of sand tray leading to both sand tray and sand play approaches. We will examine the theories of Jungian psychology and Humanistic psychology that contributed to the formation of sand tray use in child therapy today. You will also learn about narrative work and the important role it plays in sand tray work, particularly with play therapy.
You will explore how to use the sand tray in the playroom in different modalities including: sensory work, directive work, non-directive work and as a medium for creating narratives with children. Through case presentations, you will identify the different stages of sand tray work and how to utilize the tray in the playroom. You will learn how to build the collection of miniatures needed for this work and the reasoning behind their selections as well as practice interventions for using the tray in play sessions with children and adolescents.
This workshop is designed to help you:
- Describe the characteristics of sand tray therapists and the role of the sand tray in therapeutic play with children and adolescents;
- Discuss the history and foundations of sand tray work and identify the theoretical approaches sand tray work was built on;
- Identify and select the miniatures needed to conduct sand tray work with children, identify the categories used and the practical steps to setting up your sand tray within the playroom;
- Discuss the differences between sensory work, directive work, non-directive work and narrative work with a sand tray;
- Communicate with parents, the purpose and importance of play therapy and the use of sand tray within play therapy treatment;
- Identify and explain the different phases of sand tray work and how to recognize them within the playroom setting;
- Develop a narrative approach using the "Hero's Journey" to explain the connection between themes within the sand tray and universal symbols found in Jungian psychology;
- Practice the basics of creating trays and "reading" trays through identifying symbolic meanings and commonly found themes in children's sand trays.
Notes
Instructor: Robert Nickles, LCSW, RPT™Bob Nickles is a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) and Registered Play Therapist™ (RPT) who lives and works in Richmond, Virginia. Bob has practiced clinical social work since 2009 with a variety of populations across the lifespan and especially enjoys seeing families find new ways to solve old problems. He presently serves as a school-based services manager with the non-profit agency, ChildSavers. Outside of work, Bob enjoys cooking, exercise, and theatre.
The Association for Play Therapy (APT) has approved this in person VCU event for 16 contact training hours. Effective July 1, 2022, the required 150 hours of play therapy instruction may be earned via contact training (in person only), non-contact training, and live webinars. Of the 150 hours of play therapy instruction, a minimum of 75 hours must be met by contact/in person training. A maximum of 75 hours may be met via live webinars and of those 75 hours, no more than 40 hours may be met via non-contact trainings. Definition of the above terms can be found at https://www.a4pt.org/
Synchronous In Person Sessions
Our in person sessions will be held at ChildSavers in Richmond, VA and offer an opportunity to interact with the instructor and other participants. There will be a one-hour break per day. Please bring your own lunch for the sessions.
Attendance and Participation
Participants must attend the full workshop to receive APT continuing education hours from VCU and to earn the certificate of completion and the digital badge. Any individuals who test positive for COVID 19 or presumed positive, i.e. have an identifiable COVID-19 contact and are symptomatic, are not permitted to attend the in-person training and should reach out to ssschuetz@vcu.edu to discuss a transfer to another play therapy offering. Individuals, who have been exposed to a COVID-positive individual, are able to attend the in-person trainings after they have quarantined for 5 days and have been fever free for 24 hours.
Should the training need to move to a teleconference platform, participants will be notified 48 hours prior to the training start date to adjust any travel plans. If you have any questions or concerns regarding these standards, please reach out to Katie Francis, Kfrancis@childsavers.org
Creative Materials
ChildSavers staff will provide all creative materials for experiential work during this workshop. Having said that, this workshop involves the making and reading of in person sandtrays. As such, participants are invited to bring no more than 10 meaningful small objects for their tray, if desired.
Required Assessments
VCU conducts a two-part assessment in each workshop. To earn educational hours toward an Association for Play Therapy (APT) credential, you must pass both assessments. These include a scored rubric that demonstrates your mastery of workshop objectives via small and large group activities and discussion, and a multiple-choice test. Only participants who pass the activity rubric will be eligible to take the test.
Cancellation and Refund Policies:
You may cancel your registration up until two weeks before the workshop start date, and receive a full refund minus a $35 credit card processing fee. After that date, no refunds will be given. Cancellations must be received via email at ocpe@vcu.edu
In the unlikely event that this workshop is cancelled or postponed due to insufficient enrollments or unforeseen circumstances, the university will fully refund registration fees, but cannot be held responsible for any other expenses, including change or cancellation charges to include but not limited to airlines, hotels, travel agencies, or other organizations.
Transfer Policy:
Workshop registrations may be transferred to a different workshop or person if requested in writing via email at ocpe@vcu.edu by the cancellation deadline. The participant must meet all prerequisites or qualifications required by the program. Participants who are unable to attend their registered session due to a positive COVID-19 test or exposure, may transfer their registration to another Play Therapy session at no cost.
Questions? Should you have any questions about the workshop, please contact Shelly Schuetz at ssschuetz@vcu.edu or (804) 828-1322.
Student/Participant Conduct:
Participants are subject to all university policies applicable to students, unless a specific university or VCU Continuing and Professional Education policy explicitly states otherwise. University policies governing students are available at https://vcu.public.doctract.com including:
Student Code of Conduct
Honor System and Standards of Academic Conduct
Preventing and Responding to Discrimination
Title IX Sexual Harassment Policy-Interim
Sex-Based Misconduct Policy-Interim
For Academic Accommodations, please visit https://ocpe.vcu.edu/courses/policies.html#accommodations
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