EMDR & Sandtray Therapy Integrated

EMDR and Play therapies offer a robust therapeutic combination.

Given what we know about symptoms and behaviors as adaptations of our brilliant autonomic nervous system seeking survival, it's important to show up in the therapeutic relationship with curiosity and willingness to allow information to emerge organically. Play and sandtray therapy allow this process to occur, perhaps in a way unlike any other modality can.

As EMDR therapists, knowing the goals of each phase of the basic EMDR protocol, while resisting the urge to control the process, can allow for deep, long-lasting healing....Read more "Treating" each person as a person, not merely someone who fits a certain list of diagnostic criteria, is the key to healing deep trauma. Even for the most educated and experienced clinicians, knowing exactly what needs to occur in therapy is just not realistic as it dismisses our uniqueness.

In EMDR Phase 1, history taking and case conceptualization in Sandtray Therapy, we can witness the beautiful emergence of targets, inner/outer resources, and secondary gains that far surpass anything we can gather through a traditional verbal trauma history exchange. It’s magnificent! Given what we know about the magnitude of one not being alone in trauma and the importance of connection, this EMDR/Sandtray combination allows us to be WITH our clients, optimizing opportunities for beautiful integration to occur.

In EMDR Phase 2, preparation in Sandtray Therapy, we can establish a strong therapeutic relationship, establishing safety through a deep right hemispherical connection. Human to human. So beautiful! The relational nature in this sacred space of sandtray therapy allows our clients to internalize safety, perhaps allowing our co-regulation just through reflection of their experience with us long after the session has passed. Since the sand and the tray are regulatory and offer containment, this combination exudes safety. Safety is key! This integration of EMDR and Sandtray therapies also allows us to experience how the neuroception of symbolism in the sandtray can shift to the perception of making meaning. There's nothing quite like it.

In EMDR Phase 3, assessment in Sandtray Therapy, neural networks safely activate, accessing material often embodied as traumatically stored material. Our clients literally feel "stuck" in their suffering. Through this profoundly gentle but powerful approach to shift the stuck-ness, we can touch painful memories in a nurturing way with EMDR to allow for deep healing to occur. The procedural steps of this phase in EMDR — worst part, image, emotions, somatic location, negative cognition, distress levels (SUD), positive cognitions, and levels of truth (VOC) — naturally surface. Since the nervous system already wants to heal, we can show up with what is needed without getting in the client's way through preplanned "do this" and "do that" ideas.

In EMDR Phase 4, desensitization in Sandtray Therapy, our client experiences a deeper level of bilateral stimulation as the right hemisphere is active through the sensory-rich symbolism, and the left hemisphere is also active through the meaning-making of what occurs in the process.

In EMDR Phase 5, installation in Sandtray Therapy, we can deepen awareness and accessibility of applicable positive cognitions with the whole-body involvement, welcoming input and activation from the bottom-up/top-down AND right hemisphere/left hemisphere. Finally!

In EMDR Phase 6, body scan in the sensory-rich environment of Sandtray Therapy, we can attunefully and safely support our clients' access to their felt sense in a tolerable way. This is a big deal as trauma can disconnect one from the felt sense when things are too much. Inviting the felt sense to come back online in the midst of safety can change lives in and of itself.

In EMDR Phase 7, closure in Sandtray Therapy, we can use the sand, movement, and connection to regulate the nervous system, supporting our clients' capacity to leave our sessions experiencing a state of homeostasis, even after reprocessing painful material such as with complex trauma. It can feel so good, especially for people previously living life in survival states.

In EMDR Phase 8, re-evaluation in sandtray therapy, our clients can experience insights and resources, as well as previously unprocessed material, on a deeper level than where words alone can go. This allows for the re-evaluation of previous targets to take on a whole new meaning, as it offers deeper resourcing through more right hemispherical presence of Sandtray Therapy in the process.

Sandtray therapy makes the unconscious conscious. This is extremely helpful in EMDR therapy, as much of a client's trauma is embodied. As humans, we live in our bodies. Our bodies are indeed most of our human experience: 80% body - 20% brain. If we rely on words alone in EMDR Therapy, we miss so much, limiting healing capacities. ❤️

Sandtray Therapy is great to support the imagery, adaptive shifts, regulatory techniques, and more when using all 8 Phases of EMDR Therapy with fidelity.

Sandtray Therapy lends itself to deeper processing of targeted issues, especially when integrated with EMDR Therapy.

In this course, you'll experientially learn practical, actionable Play Therapy techniques so you can go back to your office the next day and start integrating EMDR & Sandtray.

This is an in-person training in Austin, Texas, at Marshall Lyles' workshop.

Hope to see you there!
Jackie


Jackie Flynn, EdS, LMHC-S, RPT
Registered Play Therapist
Certified EMDR Therapist
EMDRIA Approved Consultant
Safe and Sound Protocol Certified (Musical Application of the Polyvagal Theory Less...

Learning Objectives

• Describe the Adaptive Information Processing, AIP, model as defined by the EMDRIA definition.
• List 7 considerations for clinicians to deliver Sandtray Therapy safety and ethically in Play Therapy in regards to basic theory, skills, tools, and directives of Sandtray therapy.
• Discuss considerations for working with clients presenting with complex trauma.
• Discuss the historical context of Sandtray Therapy and Play Therapy with reference to applicable theoretical foundations.
• Demonstrate how to introduce Sandtray Therapy in Play Therapy to child, adolescent, and adult clients.
• Explain the significance of symbolism and metaphors in Sandtray Therapy.
• Describe the categories of Sandtray Therapy miniatures.
• Discuss main tenets of Sandtray Therapy and applicable therapeutic powers of Play in Sandtray Therapy.
• Demonstrate EMDR Phases 1-8 integrated with Sandtray Therapy.

Saturday, August 05, 2023

09:00 AM CDT - 04:00 PM CDT