OUR DIRECTORY LISTS MEMBERS OF NCRSS WHO ARE CERTIFIED SANDPLAY THERAPISTS AND PRACTITIONERS

The Sandplay Therapists of America (STA) and the International Society of Sandplay Therapists (ISST) set the standards for training and certifying therapists  based on the theories and teachings of  Dora Kalff.  Years of study and practice are required to qualify for certification. Therapists listed are professionally qualified to provide a therapeutic sandplay process. Many are also teachers, consultants, writers and mentors who are devoted to sandplay therapy and its unique healing potential. 

Please scroll down to find listings by name and location.

Alphabetical Directory of Therapists

 

Laura Bachman, MA, SP
Sandplay Practitioner, STA: Certified Kairos Therapist

38 Ridge Road, San Anselmo, CA 94960

Email: lbachman@post.harvard.edu

Phone: (415) 457-4419
Website: http://www.laurabachman.net

In offering adult clients a unique blend of kairos, sandplay, and tarot over many years, I have found these non-verbal therapies to be particularly helpful in accessing body-based wisdom about persistent self-defeating patterns of behavior. Kairos is gentle hands-on energy work which relaxes the body in such a way that trapped emotions can be released. While powerful on its own, my work is also a useful adjunct to psychotherapy, counseling, or medical treatment.

 

Linda Elaine Bath, PhD, LMFT, CST-T
Certified Sandplay Therapist - Teaching Member of STA/ISST; Founding Member of STA,

1003 Court Street, Woodland CA 95695

Email: elainebath@me.com
Phone: (530) 848-1674

Private Practice: Children and adults using sandplay in Kalff method as well as long term depth therapy, EFT, and Reikian and body based interventions. Teaching/process/mentoring/therapy in sandplay: 30 years certified teaching member of ISST and STA in individual process, supervision and trainings in sandplay.   

 

LaVon Bobo, MFT, CST-T, Retired School Psychologist
Certified Sandplay Therapist - Teaching Member of STA/ISST

836 El Camino, Mountain View, CA 94040

Email: lavonbobo@comcast.net
Phone: (408) 735-9247 and (650) 200-7771 (cell)

Sandplay therapy with children has captivated and inspired me since being trained by its founder, Dora Kalff. I'm always deeply touched to discover the healing power that resides within each child's psyche as the journey to wholeness unfolds. I also offer a sandplay consultation group which meets the first Saturday of each month. Please contact me if interested.

David Capitolo, LMFT, CST-T
Certified Sandplay Therapist - Teaching Member of STA/ISST

1480 Lincoln Avenue, San Rafael, CA 94901
465 California Street, Suite 630, San Francisco, CA 94104

Email: dcapitolo@sbcglobal.net 
Phone: (415) 456-5596

David is a MFT and a STA Certified Sandplay Therapist. His clients include adults, children, adolescents & GLBT. He facilitates sandplay processes and supervision for interns. He is a seed member of NCRSS and its CFO. He is interested in fathering and initiation into manhood rituals. He co-founded CTIM with his wife Tessamarie.

 

Tessamarie Capitolo, MFT, CST-T
Certified Sandplay Therapist - Teaching Member of STA/ISST

1480 Lincoln Avenue, San Rafael, CA 94901

Email: tcapitolo@sbcglobal.net 
Phone: (415) 456-4448

I am a seasoned analytic psychotherapist, trained in Jungian, sandplay and psychodynamic theory and methods of practicing within the frame of depth psychological work. My patients include adults, adolescents and children. I have written and published articles on race and culture, a particular interest of mine. My practice includes offices in San Rafael and San Francisco.

Linda Cunningham, PhD, MFT, CST-T
Certified Sandplay Therapist - Teaching Member of STA/ISST

2964 Fillmore Street, San Francisco, CA 94123
21 Tamal Vista, Suite 194, Corte Madera, CA 94925

Email: linda@drlindacunningham.com 
Phone: (415) 346-6363
Website: www.drlindacunningham.com

Linda Cunningham, PhD is a depth psychotherapist who works with adults on the issues of anxiety, relationships, and complex trauma. She is the author of Sandplay and the Clinical Relationship (2013) and many articles in the Journal of Sandplay Therapy. For many years, Linda was associate faculty at the California Institute of Integral Studies and in Sonoma State University's Depth Psychology Master's Program. She provides sandplay training, process and consultation.

 

Lynne Ehlers, Ph.D., CST-T, Licensed Clinical Psychologist
Certified Sandplay Therapist - Teaching Member of STA/ISST

1664 Solano Avenue, Suite 8, Albany, CA 94707
1902 Webster Street, San Francisco, CA 94115

Email: lynne.ehlers@sbcglobal.net 
Phone: (510) 388-7679

Sandplay and Jungian-oriented Analytic Psychotherapy. Available for personal sandplay process, individual and group consultation. East Bay Consultation Group: Albany Sandplay consultation group meets 10 - 12, first Saturday of each month, or TBD.

 

Olivia Heathcote, Ed.D., MFT , CST-T
Certified Sandplay Therapist - Teaching Member of STA/ISST

P O Box 1941, Los Gatos, CA 95031

Email: oliviadh@gmail.com 
Phone: (408) 920-2990
Website: oliviaheathcote.com

Olivia Heathcote is a teaching member of the Sandplay Therapists of America and serves on that organization's executive board. She teaches sandplay in the Bay Area and nationally. Trained in both Jungian theory and psychoanalytic psychotherapy, Olivia offers individual and group consultation on sandplay. She works with children, adolescents and adults in her private practice in Los Gatos.

 

Valerie Hinard, MA, MFT, SP
Sandplay Practitioner: STA; Certified Integrative Medicine Practitioner: Guided Imagery - Expressive Arts

1480 Lincoln Avenue, #5, San Rafael, CA 94901

Email: valeriehinardmft@gmail.com 
Phone: (707) 938-7018

Valerie Hinard is a Jungian depth psychotherapist who works with individual adults and couples. She integrates sandplay, dreamwork, guided imagery, and art therapy into her practice. Valerie has published articles and a book chapter on Jungian topics. She currently teaches in the JFK University Deep Imagination - Guided Imagery certification program.

 

Caroline Isaacs, MFT, RPT-S, SP
Sandplay Practitioner: STA

2625 Wilson Street, Eureka, CA 95503

Phone: (707) 444-0927

With individuals, couples and families, adults and children, my clients and I work at the place where psyche and spirit meet. The emphasis is on transformation, deep structural change, not adjustment. In addition to sandplay, other expressive and verbal modalities are used. I am also certified as a supervisor by CA Association of Marriage and Family Therapists and by the Association for Play Therapy, and offer spiritual direction to individuals and groups as well as psychotherapy.

 

Maretta Juarez, LCSW, IFECMH Specialist, RPF Mentor, CIIM, RPT/S, SP
Sandplay Practitioner: STA

PO Box 808, Gilroy, CA 95021

Email: marettaj@msn.com 
Phone: (408) 504-8647

Maretta has been a licensed clinician for over 25 years, currently specializing in work with children ages 0-5. Endorsed by California as an Infant Family Early Childhood Mental Health Specialist and Reflective Practice Facilitator Mentor, she is also an Infant Massage and Touch Communication instructor and Play Therapist Supervisor. Maretta is a trainer in the Touchpoints approach developed by Dr. T. Berry Brazelton. Her sandplay consultation focuses on the interpersonal neurobiology of sandplay.

 

Jill Kaplan, MFT, CST-T
Certified Sandplay Therapist-Teaching Member of STA/ISST

913 Willow Street, Suite 103, San Jose, CA 95125

Email: jillkk@att.net 
Phone: (650) 364-4670
Website: kaplanmft.com

I offer sandplay for children and adults as well as sandplay consultation. My background includes training in Jungian analytic psychology, Eastern psychology, domestic violence, childhood trauma, and psychoanalytic relational psychotherapy. I take an integrative approach using dream work, body awareness, meditation, and active imagination to facilitate a process toward healing and an experience of the Self.

 

Ellen Searle LeBel, LMFT, BC-DMT, CST-T
Certified Sandplay Therapist - Teaching Member of STA/ISST; Board Certified Dance/Movement Therapist

745 Chapman Court, Arcata, CA 95521

Email: ellen@temenostherapy.com 
Phone: (707) 826-7900
Website: temenostherapy.com

The sandplay process is fundamental to my therapeutic approach. I incorporate sandplay, movement, dream work and art to express and integrate unconscious themes, emotions and complexes . I teach, consult and mentor sandplay therapists, have written for the Journal of Sandplay Therapy and other publications, and volunteer  as the current NCRSS President and program manager for Continuing Education.I am committed to fostering learning and collaboration among sandplay therapists in our regional communities.

 

Sonia Lucana, PHD-C, LCSW, RPT-S, SP
 Sandplay Practitioner: STA; Registered Play Therapist - Supervisor, Board Certified Hypnotherapist

San Mateo, CA

Email: sonylizan@yahoo.com 
Phone: (415) 312-7974

I have worked for 14 years serving children and families, and hope in the future to have a private practice. I provide supervision for child play therapists who are in the process of being certified, and also supervise candidates for the Association of Play Therapists.

 

 Donna C. Rodriguez, LMFT, LPCC, PPSC, SP

Sandplay Practitioner: STA

25A W 25th Avenue, San Mateo, CA 94403

Email: drodriguezmft@gmail.com

Phone: (650) 549-4638

Donna supported children and their families for over 20 years as a school counselor offering sandplay therapy and utilizing art, expressive arts and play therapy techniques. Donna enjoys working with children and adolescents. She welcomes anyone interested in sandplay therapy to contact her for a consultation.

Donna serves as the treasurer to the NCRSS Board.

Laura Soble, MFT, REAT, CST-T, JA
Certified Sandplay Therapist - Teaching Member of STA/ISST

PO Box 135 Fairfax, CA 94978

Email: laura@laurasoble.net 
Phone: (510) 527-1501
Website: laurasoble.net

Laura Soble, MFT, REAT, CST-T works with people at all stages of the life cycle, with a focus on Jungian Depth Psychotherapy & Sandplay. She is attuned to symbols, images and dreams as important to the therapy process. She is a Jungian Analyst, affiliated with the C.G. Jung Institute of S.F. and a founding member/former officer of NCRSS, Laura presents and consults nationally and internationally on sandplay and the integration of the arts in psychotherapy.

 

Diana C Wood, LCSW, SEP, SP

Sandplay Practitioner, STA; Somatic Experiencing Practitioner

2775 Cottage Way Suite 38 Sacramento, CA 95825

Email: dcwlcsw@mac.com

Phone: (916) 446-2787

Website: www.tending2ourresiliencenow.com

Diana is a somatic psychotherapist using Jungian Sandplay and somatic modalities to work with adults struggling with developmental trauma and complex PTSD. When one engages the deeper aspects of the Self through active imagination and somatic modalities, the whole mind-body- spirit responds with healing energies. Compassionate mindfulness towards oneself allows these energies to lead the way to embodied well-being. Diana serves as the secretary to the NCRSS Board.

Judy Zappacosta, MFT, CST-T
Certified Sandplay Therapist - Teaching Member of STA/ISST

720A Capitola Avenue, Capitola, CA 95010

Email: zappaj@sbcglobal.net 
Phone: (831) 427-5326

Judy Zappacosta offers sandplay for individuals seeking to experience their own personal process, as well as consultation and training in Jungian studies. Judy uses integrative dream work, sandplay and body awareness in both individual psychotherapy and Interior Rhythm workshops. In addition, Judy has a strong background working with children, basing her theoretical work in Jungian child studies and developmental psychology.

 

Directory of Therapists, by Location

Albany

  • Lynne Ehlers

Arcata

  • Ellen Searle LeBel

Berkeley

  • Maria Ellen Chiaia

Capitola

  • Judy Zappacosta

Corte Madera

  • Linda Cunningham

Eureka

  • Caroline Isaacs

Fairfax

  • Liana Kornfield

Gilroy

  • Maretta Juarez

Los Gatos

  • Olivia Heathcote

Menlo Park

  • Mary Ann Brock

Monterey

  • Eileen Nazzaro

Mountain View

  • LaVon Bobo

Oakland

  • Laura Soble

Petaluma

  • Marilyn Stefonetti

Sacramento

  • Diana C. Wood

San Anselmo

  • Laura Bachman

San Francisco

  • Takako Ainsworth

  • David Capitolo

  • Joyce Cunningham

  • Lauren Cunningham

  • Linda Cunningham

  • Lynne Ehlers

San Jose

  • Jill Kaplan

San Mateo

  • Sonia Lucana

  • Donna Rodriguez

San Rafael

  • David Capitolo

  • Tessamarie Capitolo

  • Maria Ellen Chiaia

  • Valerie Hinard

Woodland

  • Linda Elaine Bath