The Roots of Me: Examining the Self of the Play Therapist through Sandtray

There is a reason you are a therapist. You are not just any type of therapist. You are a play therapist. When was the last time you examined why? In this highly experiential course, we will use four lenses to examine the self as therapist: family system of origin, touch, identity as healer, and identities within (and outside of) the play therapy room. This four-part program will examine each lens through a left-brained, relational neuroscience perspective paired with a right-brained sandtray perspective. Relational neuroscience tells us that the relationship between the therapist and client is the biggest agent of change and contrary to graduate school teachings, the embodiment of therapist as self plays a critical role in a client’s healing. By examining parts of the play therapist as self that are divisive or uncomfortable, we are better able to be fully present in body and soul for our clients.