CBPT and Sandtray

What you will be able to do

About this course

Sandtray Therapy is an expressive, symbolic modality that uses a standardized tray partially filled with sand and a curated selection of miniatures to facilitate nonverbal expression of thoughts and emotions in children and adolescents. Originating from Margaret Lowenfeld’s World Technique, it balances non-directed trays (spontaneous scenes) and directed interventions (interactive trays, tailored prompts, story-guided activities).

The tactile, kinesthetic quality of sand creates a safe, bounded space that fosters therapeutic distance, symbolic exploration and experiential learning — integrated within the CBPT framework to reinforce coping strategies and generalize skills across contexts.

Course objectives

1. Describe the historical roots and theoretical foundations of Sandtray Therapy
2. Explain its core principles: nonverbal expression, symbolic containment, therapeutic distance
3. Match tray type (non-directed vs. directed) to the child’s age and stage
4. Apply non-directed and directed sandtray interventions with preschool and school-age clients
5. Use observation, tracking and processing techniques to reinforce coping strategies
6. Integrate sandtray within play therapy / CBT frameworks for skill generalization

Course requirements

• Psychiatrists
• Psychologists
• Clinical Social Workers
• Licensed Professional Counselors
• Licensed Marriage & Family Therapists
• Mental Health Clinical Nurse Practitioners

The delivery of the certificate of attestation at the conclusion of the course will be tied to the evaluation of participants requirements. In the absence of the requirements, the course hours will not be certified.

Curriculum  ·  2 lessons + Learning Test  ·  1h 54min

Instructor

Lisa Remey, MEd, LPC-S, RPT-S™

Under Susan M. Knells scientific direction · CBPT Research Center

, NCC, is a Licensed Professional Counselor Supervisor, Registered Play Therapist Supervisor™ and Registered Sand Therapist. Owner of the Bluebonnet Center for Play Therapy (Texas), she co-edited The Handbook of Cognitive Behavioral Play Therapy and is a past President of the Texas Association for Play Therapy.