Description
Humanistic Sandtray Therapy for Preadolescents 101:
From Velveteen Rabbit to Skin Horse
3 Non-Contact CEs
Ryan D. Foster, PhD, LPC-S, CHST, RST-C/T
“What is REAL?” the Rabbit asked the Skin Horse one day… “It doesn’t happen all at once. You become.” — Margery Williams, The Velveteen Rabbit
Becoming Real is not a technique. It is a relationship. This 3-hour introductory workshop invites counselors, counselors-in-training, and allied mental health professionals into the world of Humanistic Sandtray Therapy (HST), a relational-experiential model that places the therapeutic relationship, not symbolic interpretation, at the heart of the sandtray process.
Unlike traditional Jungian or Lowenfeld approaches that center the therapist as analyst and interpreter of unconscious symbolism, HST is grounded in the humanistic tradition, drawing from Carl Rogers’ person-centered core conditions and Gestalt’s emphasis on present-moment awareness, embodied experience, and active dialogue with what emerges in the tray. In HST, the sand is not a diagnostic window. It is a relational space where preadolescent clients are invited to become more fully themselves in the presence of an attuned, authentic counselor.
The Velveteen Rabbit metaphor anchors the model’s spirit: just as the Rabbit becomes Real not through effort or analysis but through being deeply known and loved, preadolescent clients in HST move toward wholeness through the transformative power of genuine therapeutic encounter. The Skin Horse, who was wise, worn, and unwaveringly present, speaks to the kind of counselor HST invites us to become. This workshop is experiential by design. Participants will not simply learn about HST — they will begin to feel it. Whether you are brand new to sandtray or looking to reconnect with the humanistic roots of expressive work, this workshop offers an accessible, grounded, and deeply human entry point into one of the most powerful modalities in the counselor’s toolkit.
Learning Objectives:
Upon completion of this workshop, participants will be able to:
- Describe the theoretical foundations of Humanistic Sandtray Therapy (HST), including the integration of person-centered core conditions and Gestalt experiential principles as the primary mechanisms of change in the sandtray process.
- Identify the key elements required to establish a basic sandtray space and therapeutic environment with preadolescents.
- Demonstrate beginning-level facilitation skills for initiating an HST experience with preadolescent clients, utilizing a relational-experiential approach that prioritizes therapeutic presence over symbolic interpretation.
Speaker:
Ryan D. Foster, PhD, LPC-S, CHST, RST-C/T is Professor and Interim Department Head in the Department of Counseling at Tarleton State University’s Fort Worth campus. He has served as a full-time counselor educator since 2010. He is the founder of the Humanistic Sandtray Therapy Institute and the co-developer of Humanistic Sandtray Therapy (HST) — a dynamic, experiential philosophical approach to sandtray therapy grounded in a synthesis of person-centered and Gestalt theories in which the power of the here-and-now is harnessed to invite clients into increased awareness and paradoxical change. Dr. Foster is the author of Humanistic Sandtray Therapy: The Definitive Guide to Philosophy, Therapeutic Conditions, and the Real Relationship (Routledge) and holds the Certified Humanistic Sandtray Therapist (CHST) credential as well as the Registered Sandtray Therapist-Consultant/Trainer credential from the World Association for Sand Therapy Professionals. He offers HST training, supervision, and consultation through the Institute, based in Fort Worth, Texas.
Fees, CEs, and Participation
This online and live training is only $100 per participant. This fee gets you 3 CE hours for a virtual webinar. Participants must be present for entirety of workshop in order to receive CE credits and full completion of the course. Participants must also complete an exam and evaluation after the workshop in order to receive the CE credits and full completion of the course.
Please note this training does not meet the criteria for credit through the Association for Play Therapy.
Complaints Review & Resolutions: Individuals may contact EmpathyWell, PLLC at info@empathywell.com or (972) 498-1307 if they would like to express a concern about a continuing education program provided by EmpathyWell, PLLC. We will consider all complaints, make any necessary decisions or changes, and respond within 5-10 business days.
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