Adventures in Sand, Sound and Story: A Castle Retreat Exploring the Heart of Sand and Play Therapy (weekend only)
Where? Join us for a weeklong retreat and training in stunning Springfield Castle https://springfieldcastle.com.
Retreat Description: We gather in community to share our love for sand tray, sound healing, play and expressive arts therapies while we immerse ourselves in an incredible environment with many stories of its own.
This unique event will fall over the Autumn Equinox, the brief window when day and night are in complete balance. Throughout the retreat, we will explore this balance between light and dark in a therapeutic context. There will be three and 1/2 days of therapy training with Roz Heiko, Masha Bennett, and Maggie McEachern, each focusing on different experiential activities.
What's included:
Cost of the retreat includes three days of training, most meals, and lodging. Participants will stay in Springfield Castle or a scenic nearby farmhouse. Priority for spaces within the castle will be given to those staying for the full week. Shared rooms are available for a discounted cost and payment plans are available.
Weekend training (Sat-Mon) with accommodations Friday night-Monday morning and most meals included: $1350 or 1000 GBP
Cancellation and Refund Policy: Due to the special nature of this training/retreat experience, there will be no refunds available once you have registered. We will maintain a waiting list; and if an emergency arises and we can move another participant into your slot, we will make every attempt to do so so that you can receive a refund, minus an administrative fee.
Continuing Education Credits:
21 Continuing Education Contact Hours for certification/credentialing towards the World Association of Sand Therapy Professionals (WASTP) credentials/certificate, if the full training is completed.
21 CPD hours for UK counsellors/psychotherapists/play therapists.
21 ISST/STA Certification Hours will be awarded through Rosalind Heiko, Ph.D., CST-T (Teaching Member, International Society of Sandplay Therapists), if the full training is completed.
Who is this course designed for?
This course is designed for registered and/or licensed mental health professionals for continuing education purposes.
Retreat Learning Objectives:
Explore the Therapeutic Use of Story and Symbol
Recognize the importance of metaphor, symbol, and narrative in the healing process in play, sound and sand therapy.
Understand how clients use story and symbolic play in sand to express inner experiences.
Integrate Sound and Sensory Elements
Examine how sound (e.g., music, voice, instruments) can enhance therapeutic depth in sand and play therapy.
Identify ways to incorporate sensory-rich environments that support emotional regulation and creative expression.
Facilitate Safe, Contained Expressive Play
Apply trauma-informed principles to create a safe and contained space for clients using sand, sound, and story.
Develop skills for observing and supporting client processes without interpretation or intrusion.
Enhance Clinical Practice with Creative Interventions
Practice designing and facilitating sand and story-based interventions for diverse populations (children, adolescents, adults).
Adapt Techniques for Various Settings
Reflect on the Therapist’s Role and Presence
Explore the therapist's presence, attunement, and use of self in non-verbal, symbolic modalities of play-based and sand therapy approaches.
Engage in reflective practice to deepen awareness of transference, countertransference, and symbolic resonance.
Evaluate Therapeutic Outcomes
Identify signs of therapeutic progress in symbolic and sensory modalities
Reflect on cultural considerations and ethical implications when integrating creative, sensory-based interventions in diverse therapeutic contexts.