Most approaches to sand acknowledge the power of this non-verbal expression, especially for clients who are impacted by grief and trauma. In Level I we examine how to facilitate the use symbols with metaphors, discern our purpose for use of different theories, and carefully amplify projections from client and clinician. We maintain a safe space, become an active empowering witness to attend client stories, especially those experiences which are too painful or too conflicted to explain directly in words. Appropriate for clients across the lifespan, stories unfold respecting client readiness, and at the level of depth with which the client can cope and with which the clinician can facilitate and protect.

The Sand Therapy certificate program is grounded in: client safety; therapist knowledge and skills to bring depth to work with symbols in sand; a process that validates clients and their sand scenes; emphasis on the relevance of culture; access to symbols; client perceptions; and therapist presuppositions and disposition toward metaphor and symbol work.