CBPT and Sandtray
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).
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.
What you will gain
Curriculum · ~2h
Who it is for
Instructor
Lisa Remey, MEd, LPC-S, RPT-S™, 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.
Enroll in this course
Advanced (Second Level) · APA-published, evidence-based · lifetime access · certificate
Enroll now →Who this course is for
Psychologists and psychotherapists · Psychiatrists · Clinical and licensed independent social workers · Licensed professional counselors · Marriage and family therapists · Mental health clinical nurse practitioners.
A certificate of attendance is issued on completion, tied to the final learning test.
What you'll learn
- ✓Describe the historical roots and theoretical foundations of Sandtray Therapy
- ✓Explain the core principles and therapeutic functions of sandtray work: nonverbal expression and symbolization
- ✓Select and apply both non-directed and directed sandtray techniques by age and stage
- ✓Employ observation, tracking and processing techniques (titling the tray, scene description)
- ✓Integrate sandtray exercises within the CBPT and CBT frameworks