Happy new year to all our members and subscribers from NCRSS! Without you the wonderful work that has been done and continues to go forward would not be possible.
Support Sandplay and NCRSS With Your Membership
On behalf of NCRSS Board,
Thank you to those of you who renewed your dues for this year. The Board of NCRSS is now reaching out to our larger community. We are asking members from the past to join recent members in renewing their dues to support NCRSS. Renewal of dues has to date provided essential income for maintaining our nonprofit status and basic expenses during the down time of the pandemic.
At this time we wish to give a big thank-you also to Tessamarie Capitolo, Lynne Ehlers, and Luana Rowland who provided a very successful Salon on Regenerating the Spirit Within Sandplay. It was moderated by Sonia Lucana with a wonderful closing by David Capitolo, the NCRSS Education Chair.
Other good news is that as your President, I was able, with the help of our Treasurer Donna Rodriquez, to procure a modest NPO CalRelief Grant to fund technical support. We have recently rehired part time staff person Eloise Lauren LeBel as administrative assistant for web support, marketing and all things remote.
Dr. Lorraine Freedle , President of STA generously provided a fundraiser and workshop entitled “The Living Mythology of the Goddess Pele in Sandplay Therapy” on August 21, 2021. The workshop and film “Fire and Sand: Healing in the Wake of 2018 Kilauea Eruption” was both a profound and healing experience for those who attended. It came at a timely moment for those of us struggling with the fires in Northern California. Several diversity scholarships were also provided. As a bonus, this presentation included both STA Credit and continuing education CEs. Several members who could not attend generously provided donations.
Another very exciting event was the Salon Nature Play on Friday September 10, 2021 at 200-3:30 pm by Amy Jessen, MA sponsored by Jill Kaplan, CST-T . This Salon is based upon Kasper Kiepenheur’s work on the Nature Play process.
Linda Elaine Bath, Ph.D, NCRSS, President
NCRSS EXECUTIVE BOARD:
Linda Elaine Bath, Ph.D., LMFT, CST-T, President
Diana Wood, LCSW, RST, Secretary
Donna Rodriguez, LMFT, RST, Treasurer
David Capitolo, LCSW, CST-T, Member at Large/ Educational Committee Chair
Jill Kaplan, LMFT, CST-T Member at Large
Judy Zappacosta, LMFT, CST-T Member at Large/ email support
A message for all members of the Northern California Regional Sandplay Society from current Board members
Linda Elaine Bath, Donna Rodriguez, Diana Wood, David Capitolo
As sandplay therapists, we witness the sacred and spiritual with our clients and their images created with the figures on our shelves. Ganesha, the elephant-headed Hindu god of beginnings, is often found placed above doorways to protect and help with new beginnings and overcoming obstacles that may get in the way of new growth.
Our mission for NCRSS is providing sandplay education and cultivating our sandplay therapy community in northern California. Many of you are essential to the existence and life of NCRSS and we are grateful to all the dedicated members who have accomplished so much in the past ten years.
As NCRSS emerges from this incubation we are able to bring new life and perspective, incorporating the interior development that Covid19 entailed. The world has been changed by the pandemic experience, this is a time of hope and fears as we rebirth our organization, hatching in uncertain times as a chick in an egg. We see the past month of incubation as potential for new growth, stronger for the ensuing obstacles we hope to emerge stronger for the experience.
Training and collegial activities have continued with Sandplay Therapists of America (STA). They are now offering free video trainings and dialogues to members, including monthly “tool kit sessions”, twice monthly chats among members, and a Google classroom series (coming soon). If you are not a member of STA, consider joining as an Associate. With that, you will have access to these sessions as well as to their members' listserve, Regional Newsletter, subscription to the Journal of Sandplay Therapy and other resources at www.sandplay.org .
In this time of renewal for NCRSS and our community of sandplay therapists, the board looks to the symbol of Ganesha to overcome obstacles and protect the doorway of this transition.
A message for all members of the Northern California Regional Sandplay Society from current and former Board members
Linda Elaine Bath, Donna Rodriguez, Diana Wood, David Capitolo
As sandplay therapists, we witness the sacred and spiritual with our clients and their images created with the figures on our shelves. Ganesha, the elephant-headed Hindu god of beginnings, is often found placed above doorways to protect and help with new beginnings and overcoming obstacles that may get in the way of new growth.
Our mission for NCRSS is providing sandplay education and cultivating our sandplay therapy community in northern California. Many of you are essential to the existence and life of NCRSS and we are grateful to all the dedicated members who have accomplished so much in the past ten years.
As NCRSS emerges from this incubation we are able to bring new life and perspective, incorporating the interior development that Covid19 entailed. The world has been changed by the pandemic experience, this is a time of hope and fears as we rebirth our organiztion, hatching in uncertain tmes as a chick in an egg. We see the past month of incubation as potential for new growth, stronger for the ensuing obstacles we hope to emerge stronger for the expereince.
Training and collegial activities have continued with Sandplay Therapists of America (STA). They are now offering free video trainings and dialogues to members, including monthly “tool kit sessions”, twice monthly chats among members, and a Google classroom series (coming soon). If you are not a member of STA, consider joining as an Associate. With that, you will have access to these sessions as well as to their members' listserve, Regional Newsletter, subscription to the Journal of Sandplay Therapy and other resources at www.sandplay.org .
In this time of renewal for NCRSS and our community of sandplay therapists, the board looks to the symbol of Ganesha to overcome obstacies and protect the doorway of this transition.
Painting from the Red Book by C.G.Jung
From STA: Safe Practices for Sandplay Therapists and Clients in Response to COVID-19
NCRSS is sharing this timely message from Sandplay Therapists of America with our community in Northern California. Please feel free to share it with other colleagues who practice sandplay or play therapy with sand trays. With these precautions, you can continue to safely offer sandplay to your clients and help them symbolically modulate the emotions of crisis and trauma.
Every day brings new developments related to the coronavirus, and the uncertainty can be unsettling. Our hearts go out to all people, especially those who are most vulnerable. The health and safety of our members is our highest priority. We are actively monitoring the changing landscape to inform our actions during this time. We will continue to monitor the spread of COVID-19, commonly referred to as coronavirus.
Here are some Sandplay-specific tips to stay healthy:
1. Washing hands for at least 20 seconds is recommended before and after sessions. (Sing Happy Birthday twice!)
2. Sanitize your sand. Sift through sand, thoroughly moistening with water. Bake at 300 degrees F (150 C) for up to 45 minutes.
3. Disinfect figurines after they have been used and other objects that are touched, such as door knobs and faucets.
4. Use hand sanitizer when water isn't readily available.
The Environmental Protection Agency released a list of disinfectant products approved for use against COVID-19 on surfaces. Can’t find products in stores? Here’s a DIY solution.
Homemade Sanitizing Gel:
1 cup of 91% isopropyl alcohol
½ cup of aloe vera gel (natural or store-bought)
15 drops of tea tree oil (or another antibacterial essential oil like lemongrass, lavender, or eucalyptus)
**Do-it-yourself sanitizers must contain at least 60% alcohol, by volume, to work. Isopropyl alcohol (better known as rubbing alcohol) or ethanol are both suitable varieties.** For more information, please visit CDC’s information for healthcare professionals. Your health and well-being is our utmost concern.
Warmly,
Lorraine R. Freedle, STA President
Riding the Chariot of Change
At our recent NCRSS Sandplay Salon, each person selected a card from a deck of Tarot or animal cards. Then we introduced ourselves and associated to the symbols in our hand. This opened up perceptive interaction as the group related to the symbols, noticed synchronicities and reflected on their journeys toward certification in sandplay therapy.
My experience inspired more exploration of the Tarot and one card in particular. The Chariot is the 7th card in the Major Arcana and represents the principle of change. Although the image varies in different decks, the central form is a person in a vehicle, led by creatures such as horses, sphinxes, and fish. Above is a celestial sky with crescent moon and stars. The person wears a crown and sometimes holds the wheel of fortune, symbolic of making choices. The Charioteer holds the reins, initiating and guiding the pace of change, moving from immobility to supersonic speed.
Angeles Arrien writes in the Tarot Handbook that “change is for the purpose of reminding us who we really are.” Questions arise: what changes do we welcome or search for? What changes come hard and are resisted? When do we get lost or found in the process of navigating change? These questions are on my mind in the context of my personal life, as a citizen of this country and the world, as a therapist and as the President of NCRSS whose term ends this year.
The topic of change was at the heart of our recent NCRSS Board meeting as we discussed the future of sandplay therapy and sandplay organizations here, nationally and internationally. Much has changed since the mid 1960’s when Dora Kalff began teaching Sandspiel through lectures with her case studies. We have become an international community of sandplay therapists that has grown over the years. Now in 2019, we see virtual worlds created by technology influencing our play, learning, communication and therapeutic sessions. How does sandplay continue to develop and be relevant with these and other changes?
NCRSS Board members agree that our priority is outreach, education and support for the next generation of sandplay therapists. This includes active mentoring for those seeking certification, which was the purpose of the Sandplay Salon last month. Without more certified sandplay therapists and teaching members, we cannot carry on the trainings needed to educate new sandplay therapists. We will continue offering Salons for members and reorganizing our education program in the coming year, encouraging therapists who work in diverse communities and keeping our training fees affordable.
To face and navigate change, NCRSS seriously needs and heartily welcomes your participation to maintain and guide our collective chariot. Look for more specific information about volunteer and leadership opportunities coming soon or email me at norcalsandplay@gmail.com to talk about your interests, skills and ideas for our sandplay organization.
Climb aboard and be a Charioteer of Change.
- Ellen Searle LeBel
Illustration above by Cathy McClelland
2019 Sandplay Therapy Institute in Dallas, Texas
Holiday Greetings!
Here’s exciting news about the upcoming Sandplay Therapy Institute to be held in Dallas, Texas, beginning in April 2019.
The Northern California Regional Sandplay Society is affiliated with the national Sandplay Therapists of America, which sponsors the Sandplay Therapy Institute. STI offers affordable, intensive weekend trainings over two years. The program is designed for students who live in areas where regular sandplay training is not available and a way to attend all the educational courses necessary for certification. The cohort brings people together from many states and is part of the rich learning experience. Give yourself the gift of sandplay training in 2019.
Ellen Searle LeBel, NCRSS President
STA’s two-year intensive training in sandplay therapy, the Sandplay Therapy Institute (STI), begins in April, 2019. Please join us for this deep immersive experience through eight retreat weekends with a total of 16 senior sandplay teachers! Click here for flyer and visit the STA website www.sandplay.org under Sandplay Institute.
Opening The Treasure Chest
One figure that most sandplay therapists have in their collection is a treasure chest. Looking for treasure can be a game, a quest, or a surprising discovery. Hiding or burying treasure is a strategy to protect something of value, whether stolen from others or putting things we hope no one will find what we most value. And some treasure is simply not seen for what it is. What a thrill it can be to find treasure.
This happens when we clean out our drawers and piles of possessions, as I am doing right now. Or wander through computer fiIes, websites and emails asking, what is most valuable to me now or may be in the future? Perhaps the essence of the treasure chest is that it holds contents that are both lost and found.
Some treasure hides in plain sight and needs to be noticed. This is true for the Journal of Sandplay Therapy Reflections: Books and Events posted on the Sandplay Therapists of America website www.sandplay.org. Reflections are short articles written by sandplay therapists and available to anyone who visits the website and clicks on the Journal page. No paid subscription is necessary, no email or publicity announces the appearance of a new article so sometimes I forget to check and read them. When I do, there are wonders to be found.
Last week I discovered a book review of Neil Russack’s fascinating Animal Guides in Life, Myth and Dreams, written by Hannah-Valeria Grishko. There was an essay by Leanne Morris describing her experiences at the 2017 Sandplay Intensive in Switzerland that brought back memories of my journey there in 2001. And I was happily surprised to find Vincent Pastore’s inspiring Reflections on Masculine Myths and Blessings from 2016.
This collection of reflective gems belongs to anyone who is curious about sandplay therapy. It may lead you further to the Journal itself, that is filled with case studies, research and features beautiful illustrations. I invite you to open your eyes, mind, and heart to what lies within the STA Journal treasure chest and click here for a peek!
Ellen Searle LeBel
January's Threshold
The double faced Roman Janus is the god of thresholds, who we identify with at the New Year when we stand between past and future, simultaneously aware of loss and potential . As sandplay therapists, Janus also represents the tension of opposites that we hold, not knowing what will emerge next. Standing in this threshold, we are neither here nor yet there, a moment that will pass quickly as time moves us.
This New Year invites us to be curious, seeking new perspectives and experiences. If you are curious about new developments and research in sandplay therapy, I invite you to listen to a recent interview with Dr.Lorraine Freedle on a Hawaiian program called Shrink Rap. Click the link and enjoy! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v8GljRlv-HY8feature=youtu.be
We hope you will participate in our NCRSS Sandplay community. Keep informed with this monthly newsletter and on our website with information about membership, workshops and sandplay gatherings.
Welcome to 2018!
Ellen Searle LeBel, NCRSS President
After the Wildfires
After the fires, tend the garden
The rippling effects of the recent wildfires in Northern California are being felt by most of us as we hear and see the stories, feel the suffering of people in so many communities, and remember the discomfort of smoky air and apprehension. Many of us made donations in the immediate aftermath. Many of us are helping clients, students or friends who have lost loved ones, homes, and/or jobs. And the need for reconstruction and healing will go on for a longer time, well past the current news cycle.
As therapists, we are empathic and trained to help others. This can be harder when we are compromised with our own grief, fear, or are overloaded. When we feel “burned out”, who cares for us and how do we care for ourselves? In the spirit of caring for those who have been closest to the disaster, a group of NCRSS members will be meeting on November 18th to learn Hakoniwa, a group sandplay model developed in Japan and used following the earthquake and tsunami in 2011. We are making contacts with schools in Sonoma County and will offer Hakoniwa to teachers and staff who are serving children and families in the fire regions.
Hakoniwa translates as “miniature garden”. Here small groups are invited to create a collective, symbolic image in a barren landscape - a new world in box with sand. How important it is to remember that cycles of destruction and creation are intrinsically related. This summer I visited the lava flows on the Big Island of Hawaii - where villages and homes were buried, leaving no trace. The expanse of gray lava seemed endless, yet here and there were islands of trees that the lava river left green and untouched. It is from these lava gardens that seeds are blown and take root in the volcanic sand, starting with tiny ferns. Seeing these spots of green not far from the smoking lava felt miraculous and uplifting.
With Hakoniwa, we hope to bring seeds of the imagination to fertile soil where new life and hope can emerge from devastation.
Ellen Searle LeBel
Thanks to our Board members and participating members of the Northern California Regional Sandplay Society. For further information, email norcalsandplay@gmail.com or call 707-826-7900. www.californiasandplay.org
IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT
The State of California is seeking to contract licensed mental health professionals to immediately assist first responders and fire victims.
The contact information is below and can be shared with other qualified California therapists.
The California Department of General Services sends this urgent request. Due to the severity of the fires in northern California, there is an critical need for mental health providers, licensed by the state of California and particularly those in northern California, to provide immediate mental health services to first responders and those caring for disabled, veterans, and elderly that have been directly affected by these disasters.
Please contact Ricardo Martinez, DGS Chief Procurement Officer for the State of California at 916-317-6451 or ricardo.martinez@dgs.ca.gov .
Welcoming Solstice
On the longest day of the year in the northern hemisphere and the shortest in the southern part of the earth, I remember to pause and appreciate the rhythms of nature and the opposites of light and dark. Opposites balance each other in nature and our psyches. Without darkness I cannot fully appreciate the light. As I stand facing the sun on this day, I feel life pulsing energetically as we all cycle through moods, seasons, lifespans and orbits.
Poised at this moment of solstice time, I hope you will also witness and savor the experience of transformation that is at the heart of sandplay. Dora Kalff said “These images may show us that in all traditions, our lives correspond to a physical and psychic flow that can be looked on as the basis of individual development.” In that flow, each of us as individuals are an essential part of the totality.
I hope the Solstice calls you to observe, play and celebrate life in its endless variety and flow.
Ellen Searle LeBel
Quote from Dora Kalff’s book Sandplay: A Psychotherapeutic Approach to the Psyche, ( 2003) page 14.
Be Glad It Is The Year Of The Rooster
The Asian Lunar New Year dawned today with crowing cocks. I placed a glass rooster on my desk and wondered how this symbol might be useful to us and our therapy clients during this time of political upheaval and strife. What is the story of the Rooster around the world and how might we relate to this animal in our lives this year?
Let’s start with the tale of how the rooster became one of the 12 animals of the Chinese zodiac.
“The rooster always sought to prevail over others, made troubles and fought all around. When the Jade Emperor selected the Chinese zodiac animals, the contributions to human beings were taken into consideration, so the rooster had no chance. One day, the rooster found the horse which had been selected was spoiled by human beings with golden saddle and silver stirrup. The rooster was very envious of the horse, so it asked: "hi, brother horse! How did you win today's honor?" The horse replied: "I plow and transport at ordinary times and charge forward in wartimes. So I have made great exploits for human beings. Of course they love me." The horse continued: "it is not difficult to get human's love if you can take your advantage and work for them. For example, the ox can plow; the dog can watch the gate; the pig devotes meat and the dragon can rain. You are born with a natural golden voice; maybe it is helpful to humans."
After going back home, the rooster thought it over and finally found that it could wake up the sleeping people with its golden voice. Therefore, the rooster got up early every dawn and woke people from sleep by singing. Humans were very grateful, so they decided to ask the Jade Emperor to list the rooster into the Chinese zodiac signs. But according to Jade Emperor's standard, only animals rather than birds could be selected as the zodiac signs. Among the six domestic animals, the horse, the ox, the sheep and the dog were all selected except the rooster. So, the rooster was extremely anxious: its eyes turned into red and its throat became hoarse, but still had no effect.
One night, the rooster was unable to get over; it tossed about and couldn't sleep. Its soul came to the Heavenly Palace and complained tearfully to the Jade Emperor that it woke up the humans every morning and made great contributions, but it was not selected, so it was unable to get over. After that, the rooster cried. The Jade Emperor thought the rooster indeed made great contributions and his standard of selecting the Chinese zodiac signs was wrong, so he picked a flower in front of the Heavenly Palace and put it on the rooster's head as a reward.
After the rooster woke up, it found there was really a red flower on its head, so it went to visit the Four Heavenly Kings with the flower. The Four Heavenly King recognized that this flower was the one in front of the royal furnace and the Jade Emperor valued the rooster, so they permitted the rooster to participate in the competition for Chinese zodiac signs. On the competition day, the rooster and the dog got up and came together. When they approached the Heavenly Palace, the rooster flied to the front of the dog. The dog wanted to catch up but failed, so it was ranked after the rooster. Since then, the dog hated the rooster and chased after whenever it saw the rooster. Even today, the dog is still angry about the rooster and the phenomenon of "the dog chasing after the rooster" is still visible. While the rooster still wakes up people every morning in red face and with a beautiful red flower.” www.yourchinesastrology.com
When the Rooster appeals to the Emperor to be seen for his value to humans, he is recognized and blessed with a red flower. He discovered that his voice could serve humanity. The Rooster’s “cock-a doodle-doo” at dawn reminds me to awaken in time to meet the day’s tasks. But what else does he represent?
In many cultures the Rooster is a protector. In Europe, the crowing of the cock drove away nocturnal demons and protected people from evil forces. It was believed that the rooster’s comb protected dreamers from nightmares and that he called babies out from the womb at birth. Roosters are brave fighters and harbingers of change. A symbol of sun and fire, a guardian of the Norse rainbow bridge to Valhalla and various divinities in other cultures, he is also a symbol of Christ, who calls people to awaken to faith. And perhaps most pertinently, the rooster symbolizes a warning against arrogance.
This morning dawned pink and golden above the trees as the sun rose again. I heard three roosters yodel today as I walked by. Inspired by the year of the Rooster, I am ready to boldly strut and crow aloud, join others in the flock and together we will chase away the demons and the darkness.
Ellen Searle LeBel, NCRSS President
COMMENTS on this article are welcome but please do not include any client references.
A Thanksgiving message and announcements
The Generous Heart of Sandplay
Autumn is a usually a time to enjoy abundance as we shift from the warmth and light of summer to the contemplative depths of winter. This fall the storms of change and upheaval have struck, profoundly straining psyches and communities throughout our families, neighborhoods, country and the world. At such a time, sandplay therapy can be a quiet refuge for expression and centering, containing the opposites, and being witnessed.
However, it is very hard to be a therapist in these times, holding one’s own inner uncertainty while offering a safe place for others and receiving their emotions. We try to be practitioners of generosity- kind, openhanded and understanding. But how do we maintain an open heart in the face of collective dissension and rampant cultural complexes?
Remember that symbols support us and our clients in our efforts to represent and feel our way through the unknown and to heal. At our NCRSS Annual Meeting in September, the wheel symbolized communities and our organization in its symbolic and functional aspects. At the end of the day, we joined hands and became the wheel, turning around the center, feeling the power of collaboration.
But the wheel does not turn without an axle penetrating that center hole. It must be a strong rod that can bear great weight with a fitting called a key that locks to the wheel. This conjunction of center and axle is the heart of the wheel, an image to contemplate in therapy with our clients when we are the axle for another’s wheel.
I wonder what other symbols, images or figures are helpful to us now? Which figures appear in the trays of our clients that illuminate the spirit of endurance? How are our bodies responding to the contact with a rough road and emotional acceleration? What is your experience and how can you express it?
We hope you will reach out to other sandplay colleagues to share and support one another with gratitude for our sandplay community. Please read on for upcoming events and news. You will also find all this on our NEWS section of our website, www.californiasandplay.org.
- Ellen Searle LeBel, NCRSS President
SAVE THE DATE FEBRUARY 11, 2017
Sandplay Therapists of America will hold a day-long meeting February 11, 2017 in Menlo Park. The meeting is open to NCRSS members, California sandplay therapists, and others studying sandplay. The day includes case presentations, lunch and an STA members meeting for a reasonable fee. Hours toward certification will be offered.
NCRSS will be sending an announcement with details by email. Visit www.sta.org for details or contact us at norcalsandplay@gmail.com to be added to our email list.
SANDPLAY SALONS COMING IN SPRING 2017
Plans are in process for Sandplay Salons!
Many members requested meetings to learn about writing a symbol paper, a sandplay case and the process of becoming certified as a Sandplay Practitioner or Certified Sandplay Therapist. Dates and locations will be announced soon.
These will be informal, free groups for NCRSS members, hosted by a member in their home or office. Guest teaching members will provide information and answer questions.
Watch your email and the NEWS page on the website for more information soon.
AS THE WHEEL TURNS- SANDPLAY IN COMMUNITIES- Annual Meeting
The NCRSS Gathering and Annual Meeting brought members and newcomers together on a sunny, warm day in San Rafael for a program of thoughtful and inspiring presentations, a wonderful figure sale, delicious homemade lunch and interactive annual meeting.
This year NCRSS grew in members to 59, is now financially stable, sponsored a successful series of Fundamentals courses last spring and Intermediate courses in sandplay for 2016-17 and is dedicated to supporting training and certification for sandplay therapists. We launched our new website and improved our registration process in 2016.
At the meeting, NCRSS Board members encouraged people to become involved as volunteers, especially Board members, and asked for suggestions from the audience for other events and community activities.
Thanks to all the hard-working volunteers, presenters and Board members who made this event a success: Lynne Ehlers, Tessamarie Capitolo, Mary Watson, Sandi Peters, Ann Strack, Takako Ainsworth, Hope Dean, Valerie Hinard, Marianne Von Michalofsky, Sonia Lucana, Laura Bachman, Diana Wood, David Capitolo and Ellen Searle LeBel.
Special thanks to the donors of the figures, the team who organized the figure sale and all who bought figures. We raised over $1,000 to benefit NCRSS!
THE JOURNAL OF SANDPLAY THERAPY recently published a special issue in celebration of the 25th anniversary year of the journal. Congratulations to Journal editor and NCRSS member Joyce Cunningham for a splendid issue. Other NCRSS members authored several articles. This issue features quotations from Dora Kalff's 1963 presentation, compiled and discussed by Judy Zappacosta. These words are sparkling gems of Kallf's ideas and wisdom that have come to light again. Lynne Ehlers' in depth study of mandalas opens our understanding of archetypal defenses and healing in sandplay. Sonia Lucana described the Peruvian "mother of the universe", Pachamama in sandplay therapy. Another piece by Judy Zappacosta explored the archetypal black Madonna and her global importance.
If you are not a JST subscriber, you can order an issue or subscribe online at www.sandplay.org or better yet, join as an associate and receive a subscription.
Remember that anyone can read the Journal Reflections on the STA website. There are book reviews, conference reports and commentary for all to enjoy.
NCRSS ANNUAL GATHERING AND FIGURE SALE
AS THE WHEEL TURNS: SANDPLAY IN COMMUNITIES
SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 24 IN SAN RAFAEL, CA
9:30-2:30 pm
· Engaging presentations about sandplay therapy with people in different communities.
· Fantastic sale of objects and figures to support NCRSS and enhance your collection.
· Participate in the annual meeting and closing ritual.
· Enjoy lunch, contemplate or socialize in the garden, stroll paths, admire the views.
The Northern California Regional Sandplay Society invites you to enjoy personal and professional time with colleagues and friends in our sandplay community. Be inspired and support your work within circles of communities and cultures. All are welcome: NCRSS and STA members, students, teachers and professionals interested in learning and practicing sandplay therapy. Meet at the Unitarian Congregation of Marin in a beautiful location with views of Mt. Tamalpais and the Bay, easily reached from Hwy. 101 with ample, free parking. Lunch is included. Cost is $30.
Click here to register on Eventbrite!
PROGRAM AND PRESENTERS
Tessamarie Capitolo, LMFT, CST-T; Lynne Ehlers, PhD, CST-T; Sandi Peters, MA, CPG; Mary Watson, MA, SP
The morning program begins with a welcoming ritual symbolizing our theme of the wheel. Presentations begin with Lynne Ehlers' visual reverie of wheel images from around the world. Mary Watson will share insights from her dedicated efforts over decades of integrating sandplay with children in multicultural schools locally and internationally. Sandi Peters will describe her innovative use of sandplay and research with elders with memory loss and dementia.
The theme of communities and current events in our society inspires us to look deeply at the psychological roots of cultural, racial and other bias, personal identity and impacts within a therapeutic relationship. Tessamarie Capitolo will discuss the psychology of racism and introduce her Racial Awareness Inventory as a tool for individuals and groups to share. We will conclude with discussion about how to practice consciously as sandplay therapists, embrace other perspectives, and evaluate the diversity of figures in our figure collections.
FIGURE SALE
NCRSS will be selling an abundant array of figures from two donated collections including many one of a kind treasures as well as basics for starting a collection. This is a fundraiser for our organization. Payment accepted will be cash or check only.
ANNUAL MEETING AND CLOSING RITUAL
The NCRSS annual meeting is open to all attenders and is a chance to mingle, hear about the progress of the past year in our organization, and meet the newly elected board members.
Cost is $30 person plus small registration fee. Please share this announcement with colleagues and click here to register now on Eventbrite.
Contact norcalsandplay@gmail.com for further information.