Led by Jorge de la O, LMFT, JA
with moderator Elizabeth Gonzalez-Jaskulak, LCSW, RSP
Live - In-Person - Online Course
Course Coordinators: David Capitolo, LMFT, CST-T and Ellen Searle LeBel, LMFT, CST-T
Course Registration and Fees: $90 for NCRSS members, $105 for non-members
Continuing Education: 3 hours education credits for Sandplay Therapists of America
Licensed CE credits pending through Spiritual Competency Academy for $30 fee.
For information or questions contact norcalsandplay@gmail.com
Course Description
Sandplay therapy is an effective therapeutic modality for people who have suffered cultural trauma. This nonverbal, imaginative form of therapy activates a somatic, preverbal level of the psyche. Clients create a concrete manifestation of his or her inner and outer world in a tray of specific size by using sand, water, and miniature figures (Weinrib, 1983). This symbolic play allows the psyche to give form to whatever is held in the unconscious, both personal and collective, within a secure relationship.
The presentation begins with the psychological impacts of the colonization and conquest of the Americas on Latinx individuals and communities, noting how profound violations over generations formed group complexes. Jungian Analyst Thomas Singer states: “Group complexes have to do with trauma, discrimination, feelings of oppression and inferiority…[they] litter the psychic landscape and are as easily detonated as the literal land mines that scatter the globe and threaten life - especially young life.” The Chingada complex is such a landmine. Sandplay therapy with culturally specific, archetypal figures offers an opportunity to bring consciousness to the sol y sombra of the Chicanx experience of “los Hijos de la Chingada”- the children of the violated.
Learning about cultural symbols helps therapists empathize and better understand their clients. Many sandplay therapists have figures called Homies in their collection without knowing much about their meaning or associations for their clients. Homies were first created by cartoonist David Gonzalez in the 1970s and over time expanded to 300 characters, stories, and miniatures. In an inner-city world of discrimination, Homies represent a unifying cultural support system. Jorge de la O will lead an interactive introduction to Homies including stories about the characters, their archetypal qualities, examples of use in sandplay, and consideration of cross-cultural transference while Elizabeth offers commentary and moderates group discussion.
Course Objectives
Describe the historical Latinx cultural trauma of colonization and conquest as it affects the therapeutic relationship and process.
Identify three symbols used in sandplay therapy related to cultural trauma.
Analyze and evaluate the use of the Chicano Homies miniatures in sandplay as personal and collective cultural expressions with positive and negative aspects.
Biographical Statements
Jorge de la O, MA, LMFT, Presenter, is a professor in the M.A. Counseling Psychology Program at Pacifica Graduate Institute and is an IAAP-certified Jungian Analyst and sandplay therapist. Jorge has been in private practice since 2001. Jorge is also a senior analyst and instructor at the C.G. Jung Study Center of Southern California and a member of the Inter-Regional Society of Jungian Analysts. Jorge has published an article on the use of Homie action figures in sandplay in the Sandplay Therapist of America Journal (vol. 27, 2018), entitled, The Veterano in sandplay therapy. Jorge also published a chapter in The Routledge International Handbook of Sandplay Therapy (2017) entitled, Growing up with Andrew: A young boy’s discovery of Self in Sandplay, as well as a chapter in the book entitled, “Culturally Sensitive Supervision and Training.” This chapter is entitled, Image and Experience in Multicultural Training and Supervision, (Routledge, 2016). Most recently, Jorge published an article entitled,” Los Hijos de la Chingada: The Trauma of American Internalized Colonialism,” which was published in Psychological Perspectives, 2019. Jorge has presented nationally and internationally on cultural diversity and related Jungian topics.
Elizabeth Gonzalez-Jaskulak, LCSW, RSP, Moderator, is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Registered Sandplay Therapist in private practice in Santa Cruz County. She is committed to supporting diversity and access to mental health care for marginalized individuals and communities and enthusiastic about sandplay therapy. She majored in Psychology and studied Chicanx courses at CSU Northridge and graduated from the MSW program at UCLA in 1996. Elizabeth has extensive experience working with Latinx communities in California and Georgia. She worked for the LA County Department of Mental Health at Harbor-UCLA, where she helped found a Spanish-speakers DBT program. In Georgia, she helped establish the Spanish-speakers DBT program at CETPA, a community mental health and substance abuse program. Elizabeth became a Registered Sandplay Therapist this year and is also an EMDR certified therapist.
Information on Continuing Education Credit for Health Professionals
CE credits for psychologists are provided by the Spiritual Competency Academy (SCA) which is co-sponsoring this program. The Spiritual Competency Academy is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Spiritual Competency Academy maintains responsibility for this program and its content.
The California Board of Behavioral Sciences accepts CE credits for LCSW, LPCC, LEP, and LMFT license renewal for programs offered by approved sponsors of CE by the American Psychological Association.
LCSW, LPCC, LEP, and LMFTs, and other mental health professionals from states other than California need to check with their state licensing board as to whether or not they accept programs offered by approved sponsors of CE by the American Psychological Association.
SCA is approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing (BRN Provider CEP16887) for licensed nurses in California. RNs must retain their certificate of attendance for 4 years after the course concludes.
For questions about receiving your Certificate of Attendance, contact NCRSS at norcalsandplay@gmail.com.
For questions about CE, contact Spiritual Competency Academy at info@spiritualcompetencyacademy.com.