Sand Tray Interventions in Play Therapy: Practical Applications Across the Lifespan
Level: Beginner. This workshop is ideal for licensed and pre-licensed mental health and behavioral health clinicians, including counselors, therapists, social workers, and psychologists.
Presentation Details
June 12, 2026, 9 am - 4:30 pm; 6 APT Contact CE’s
Community room at 5990 SE 92nd Avenue, Portland, OR 97220
This experiential training introduces clinicians to practical sand tray interventions used in play therapy across the lifespan. Participants will explore both directive and non-directive sand tray applications while learning how to facilitate expressive work with children, adolescents, and adults. Emphasis will be placed on therapeutic presence, symbolic expression, developmentally responsive interventions, and the therapist’s role as witness in the sand tray process. Participants will engage in hands-on sand tray activities designed to build confidence in facilitating sessions, responding to metaphor and symbolism, and integrating expressive work into clinical documentation. Through case examples, partner practice, and reflective discussion, clinicians will learn how to adapt sand tray work to different clinical goals, including emotional expression, trauma processing, identity development, and relationship exploration. This workshop is designed to support clinicians in translating sand tray work into meaningful clinical practice across diverse therapeutic settings.
Cancellation and grievance policy: Registration is required. Please let the trainer know if you are unable to attend. There is a participation cost; therefore, no refund will be issued if canceled within 7 days of the event. A $25 cancellation and refund fee applies. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Jamie Watson. There will be an evaluation to complete at the end of the workshop to obtain CEs.
Presenter Information
Jamie Watson, LMFT, RPT-S™ brings over 15 years of experience working with neurodivergent children and families, including those navigating developmental differences and complex trauma. Jamie is a Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor™, an AAMFT Approved Supervisor, and is certified in Foster and Adoptive Family Therapy and Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT). She also has training in Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) and has long integrated play-based and attachment-centered interventions into her work. Teaching has been a meaningful part of Jamie's career since shortly after completing her graduate program. She has taught a variety of graduate-level courses, with favorites including Play Therapy, Child Development, and Practicum & Internship. In addition to her teaching and clinical work, Jamie has served as the Mental Health Therapy Director at a pediatric nonprofit and currently serves as a Clinical Operations Director at Wild Peloria, while running a consultation and supervision practice supporting pre-licensed and seasoned therapists nationwide. Jamie is also trained through Pet Partners as an animal handler and has incorporated Animal-Assisted Therapy into her clinical work using her previous therapy dog, and is currently training her Goldendoodle to continue that tradition. She profoundly believes in the healing power of connection, whether through play, relationships, or the presence of a well-timed wagging tail.
| 8:30 – 9:00 Registration 9:00 – 10:30 Foundations of Sand Tray in Play Therapy 10:30 – 10:45 Break 10:45 – 12:30 Directive vs. Non-Directive Sand Tray Interventions 12:30 – 1:30 Lunch 1:30 – 2:45 Experiential Sand Tray Practice 2:45 – 3:00 Break 3:00 – 4:00 Documentation & Clinical Integration 4:00 – 4:30 Discussion/Evaluation |
Sand Tray Interventions in Play Therapy
-
Describe the basic principles and therapeutic purposes of sand tray as an expressive modality within play therapy practice, including its role in supporting symbolic expression, emotional processing, and communication.
-
Differentiate between directive and non-directive sand tray interventions within play therapy and identify when each approach may be appropriate in clinical work with children, adolescents, and families.
-
Demonstrate the ability to facilitate a sand tray intervention within a play therapy session using reflective witnessing, metaphor-informed responses, and developmentally appropriate prompts.
-
Identify at least three clinical goals that can be supported through sand tray interventions within play therapy across different developmental stages.
-
Apply culturally responsive and developmentally informed practices when interpreting symbolic expression in sand tray interventions within play therapy.
-
Demonstrate documentation strategies for sand tray interventions within play therapy, using developmentally appropriate clinical language and play therapy-informed case notes.
-