CPD Workshop Online: Sandtray Therapy Across the Lifespan: Regulating and Treating Anxiety in Children, Teens, and Adults

• Length: 3 days

• Times: 17:00 – 21:00

• Dates: 14–16 November 2025

• Mode: Online

• Fee: €120.00

• Language: English

• CPD Certificate: 16 hours of Ongoing Professional Development

This workshop is for mental health practitioners, psychotherapy students, psychotherapists, and counselling therapists who want to learn more about using Sandtray therapy with children, adolescents, and adults.

NOTE: Basic Sandtray experience is required.

Workshop Description

Join Dr. Garrett for an in-depth exploration of how anxiety manifests across the lifespan, focusing on children, teens, and adults. This training delves into common anxiety diagnoses, symptom tracking, and the nuances of differential diagnoses. Participants will learn how to leverage Sandtray therapy as a dynamic tool within play therapy to support clients in managing and exploring anxiety. Through the integration of Solution-Focused and Cognitive Behavioral Play Therapy techniques, practitioners will gain actionable strategies for fostering problem-solving skills and symptom reduction.

Key topics include understanding change variables in child-centered play therapy that alleviate anxiety, selecting assessments to measure progress, and fostering collaboration with parents and teachers to support anxious children, all in the sandtray. This hands-on training equips mental health professionals with the tools and insights to effectively use Sandtray therapy across cultural contexts, while also addressing stigma and enhancing treatment outcomes.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this training, participants will be able to:

• Identify and describe common anxiety diagnoses seen in children, teens, and adults.

• Explain the neuroscience of anxiety and its impact on emotional regulation in and out of the playroom.

• Analyze how the counselor’s cultural background influences the perception and treatment of anxiety through Sandtray therapy in play therapy.

• Examine how the client’s cultural background shapes the experience of stigma and the effectiveness of anxiety treatment using Sandtray therapy in play therapy.

• Articulate the rationale for using Sandtray play therapy in treating anxiety disorders in the play therapy relationship.

• Demonstrate a foundational understanding of Sandtray play therapy techniques.

• Identify and utilize three types of Sandtray play therapy tools appropriate for clients experiencing anxiety.

• Apply three Solution-Focused Play Therapy directives within Sandtray therapy to address anxiety symptoms.

• Employ three Cognitive Behavioral Play Therapy directives in Sandtray therapy for anxiety management.

• Develop 3–5 personalized Sandtray directives in play therapy tailored to specific anxiety diagnoses and categories.

• Select and implement at least three assessments to track progress in reducing anxiety symptoms in play therapy.

• Provide at least three practical tips or resources for effectively collaborating with parents and teachers when supporting anxious children in play therapy.

This enriched learning experience will leave participants confident in their ability to integrate Sandtray therapy into their practice, offering transformative care to anxious clients across all stages of life.

About Dr. Ashley Garrett

Dr. Garrett holds a PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision (Walden University), an Education Specialist degree, and a Master’s in Agency Counseling (Jacksonville State University). She is a Licensed Professional Counselor Supervisor (#0856), a National Certified Counselor, a Registered Play Therapist–Supervisor, and a CCE Approved Clinical Supervisor (ACS #4357).

In private practice since 2009, her work focuses on counseling children, adolescents, parents, families, and adults with issues related to anxiety, grief, trauma, and relational difficulties. Dr. Garrett is an active member of multiple professional associations and regularly provides supervision and training across the U.S. and internationally.

Outside of work, she enjoys reading, traveling, and gardening.