Check out our SandStory® courses
​
CPD/CE for Therapists & Counsellors
What is SandStory Therapy®?
SandStory Therapy® has deep roots in the narrative tradition of Storytelling, Sandplay and Sandtray Therapy. The latter was developed by Margaret Lowenfeld in the early part of her work in the 1920's.
​
At its heart, SandStory Therapy® offers a container of support to the Therapist - in particular, their ability to remain grounded in their own presence and be fully present each moment to their client. This approach allows the Therapist to attune exquisitely to their client's needs and pace which enables empowerment and growth for the client.
​
SandStory Therapy® offers a gentle, safe and unique way of using sand and symbols in a contained tray to support a client's process ... so that they can 'tell their story in the sand'; whilst encouraging a respectful and sensitive dialogue between the unconscious and the conscious so that the wisdom from within is heard, seen and experienced. In turn, this is taken into daily life and natural, very organic shifts occur.
Who is
SandStory Therapy®
training for?
The training is suitable for qualified Therapists or Counsellors including: Play and Creative Arts Therapists, Drama Therapists, Art Therapists as well as talking-based Therapists looking to introduce a creative component to their practice etc.
It is best suited to those who are qualified or reaching the end of their training as it presupposes solid clinical skills.
​
For those for whom working with sand is entirely new, you are very welcome to attend as the training builds on layers and offers you a well-tailored experience to build your confidence and competence. Please fill in the appropriate section in the application form so that I can support you in this new medium.
I teach this approach online and at the SandStory Centre to Therapists, Counsellors and other Mental Health professionals.
On qualifying, Therapists join a Register of SandStory Therapists and all become members of the International SandStory Association.
​
For more information on all in-person Level 1 trainings in the UK please see: www.sandstorytherapytraining.com.
Those who qualify as Registered SandStory Therapists are also welcome to become Trainers and to enrol in the
Certified SandStory Therapy® Trainer's Programme to teach this to other Therapists and Counsellors.
​
Who can benefit from experiencing SandStory Therapy®?
SandStory Therapy® fits well with children from the age of 8 years onwards, teenagers, young adults and adults right through to senior adults.
It can be used in multiple ways and for a spectrum of referral issues:
​
-
Individual therapy/counselling
-
Group work
-
Family work
-
Couples work
-
Parent work
-
Support groups such as bereavement or addiction groups
Interested in becoming a SandStory Therapy® Trainer?
With demand high and fuelled by our passion, we are looking to bring the gentle power of SandStory to every part of our gorgeous globe and offer SandStory on every shore!
​
Criteria for potential participants are:
-
A strong resonation with this sand therapy approach and a passion for the transformational impact it makes.​
-
Being a fully qualified SandStory Therapist at Level 1.
-
Have had 1 year of clinical practice as a minimum.
-
Attend an interview with Lara and present a SandStory Therapy® case study as part of the application process.
-
A proactive approach, a healthy abundance mindset and a warm, containing energy is essential.
Once a year starting on 1 May, the training is available as a live online training and spans over a full 3 months till 1 August.
It includes the full training IPR [Intellectual Property Rights] plus training templates and resources for a 2 day in-person training of SandStory Therapy® Level 1.
On qualifying, Trainers become Certified SandStory Therapy® Trainers and are featured on the global training website: www.sandstorytherapytraining.com.
For those who want to increase their income and add Training in this creative medium to their portfolio of services, this could be an ideal stepping up into the next stage.
​
So take a look at the full information page, contact me below and let's explore this wonderful, very exciting, potentially slightly daunting opportunity for you!
​
What is SandStory Supervision®?
SandStory Supervision® is a wonderful skill to offer your supervisees during supervision sessions.
It's a creative way, using sand and symbols, to gently uncover the hidden insights and intuition your Supervisees holds within their unconscious about their clients and how best to support them.
​
Using the container of the Five Stages in SandStory, as the Supervisor you can lean back into a deep listening presence with your Supervisee. Offering a safe space for them to express, explore and experiment as Therapists.
​​
Over the 2020 pandemic, I responded to the need to safely adapt the approach for non-therapists who were already using, or keen to start integrating sand and symbols into their work of offering emotional wellbeing support to those in their care.
These were educational staff, corporate line managers, prison officers, spiritual directors and residential care staff - and many others!
​
And so, for the pre-schoolers, early years children through to adolescents, adults and senior adults, who would benefit from this gentle, creative and expressive approach, I situated SandStory Skills® in a safe remit.
A Trainer programme was created and is taught soley to qualified Therapists to teach these non-therapist professionals with their profound understanding of working safely with the conscious.
What is SandStory Skills®?
SandStory Circles®: The 8 Feminine Archetypes
SandStory Circles® grew from a commitment to support other Therapists and Counsellors in their own personal growth - yes, as a way to be able to go where there Clients may go; but also as a natural and organic way of being truly authentic to that interior drive to evolve and grow in congruence.
​
Reading, assimilating and loving Carl Jung's teaching on the feminine archetypes, I saw the incredible value of living attuned to the powerful and exquisitely beautiful inner archetypal feminine energies within me. This transformed both my personal and professional life and, as I shared it with other female Therapist & Counsellors, I saw it being catalytic to their own growth.
​
Prepare for a deep, sweet, juicy journey that will forever change you.
Coming September 2023 - enrol below and click video [sound on].
​
Lesley Godfrey
"Lara has developed a comprehensive and detailed training course for any Therapist wishing to introduce or enhance their practice in the area of sand & symbols and storytelling.
I highly recommend this training, the support, resources and content are available 24/7 online,
I would recommend in particular the Sandstory Workbook to support your training and practice moving forward."
Lauren Pike
"Lara gently, simply and passionately brought SandStory Therapy® to life.
The course was an effective mixture or theory and experiential exercises and I left feeling confident in my ability to work with clients in the sand in this way."
Suzanne Wass
"This was such a powerful process & even for myself felt some transformative healing.
I truly think all Therapists should have something like this in their therapeutic toolbox .
Beautifully held space, probably the most enjoyable training I’ve done in the last few years. Totally recommend."
Testimonials
