Presence is the Foundation: A Tapestry of Sand Stories and Neuroscience
Program Description:
Dates and Times: March 4-5 2022, 10 AM-6:15 PM EST
Location: live virtual event (zoom link to be sent)
Bonnie Badenoch: Beyond Technique: Trusting the Wisdom of our People (Keynote Speaker - 90 mins) March 4
Since 1993, Bonnie and her people have been surrounded by sand and miniatures. Over the decades, she found that the more she trusted the inner wisdom and inherent health of her people, the more they found creative ways to engage with this earthy resource and the beings on her shelves. Today, she will share how such trust can develop as we cultivate our capacity to be truly present with those who come to us to heal. Offering a little theory and a lot of memories, she will begin the story of presence as the foundation for the work we do that Rita and Lorraine will deepen over these two days.
Learning Objectives:
1. Describe the neurobiological foundation for non-judgmental presence
2. Describe how non-judgmental presence creates a safe foundation for deep implicit work with sand and miniatures
3. Describe two ways that sandtray therapy provides a container for people of all ages doing work with embedded traumas
Rita Grayson: The Challenge of Maintaining Presence: A Compassionate Exploration (4.5 hrs) March 4
What do we mean by presence and why is it foundational? How do we, as therapists, offer our presence and what are the challenges to doing so? In this segment of the conference, we will look at some of the neurobiological building blocks of interpersonal presence to gain a deeper understanding of how it heals. From there, we will take a compassionate look at the challenges we face in offering this way of being in relationship with those who come to us. We will take this discussion to the sand, allowing our inner worlds to offer insight into our individual responses to the challenge of providing full, attuned presence to our people. In Bonnie’s talk we heard stories about trusting the inherent wisdom of those we serve. Our time together will invite us to deepen trust in our own wisdom and capacity to hold healing space.
Learning Objectives:
1. Identify the role of interpersonal safety in maintaining presence in the therapeutic relationship
2. Identify neurobiological mechanisms that operate below conscious awareness to bring us together into a shared experience
3. Describe challenges to grounding therapy in the right hemisphere
4. Describe therapy as an attachment experience
5. Practice using the sandtray to explore individual challenges to being fully present in our work
Lorriane Freedle: Deep Knowing: Brain and Psyche in the Sand (6 hrs) March 5
Is anything changing? How can I better understand and communicate to others what is happening in the sand? Sandplay and sandtray therapy provide an enriched sensory and relational experience for children and adults. Multiple brain systems are activated and synchronized, and the psyche’s natural healing capacities are mobilized. Drawing from Dr. Bruce Perry’s Neurosequential Model™ and other theories rooted in neuroscience, depth psychology, and body-centered therapies this workshop provides a neuropsychological perspective on how the brain and psyche interact in a dynamic way to promote neurodevelopment and movement toward wholeness in sand therapy. Through lecture, discussions, and interaction with myth, symbol, compelling case studies, and one’s own creative processes participants will have the opportunity to connect on a deep level to this work and to integrate concepts.
Learning Objectives:
1. Define brain and psyche in the neuropsychology of sandplay and sandtray therapy
2. Describe the role of myth and story in psychological healing
3. Identify activities in sand therapy that correlate with the functional domains of the brain in the Neurosequential Model™
4. List four aspects of sand therapy that promote neural integration and psychological healing
5. Using the lens of neuroscience, describe how the journey toward wholeness and wellbeing unfolds in the sand
6. Identify the evidence base for the use of sandplay therapy with children and adults, including the latest research using brain imaging.
Schedule:
March 4, 2022 (All stated times are EST)
10:00-10:30 Check-In, Gathering and Introduction to Immersive Conference
10:30-12:00 Bonnie Badenoch: Keynote Speaker
12:00-1:00 Lunch Break
1:00-5:15 Rita Grayson: The Challenge of Maintaining Presence: A Compassionate Exploration
5:15-5:45 Questions & Closing
March 5, 2022 (All stated times are EST)
10:00-10:30 Check-In, Gathering and Introduction to Day 2 of Immersive Conference
10:30-1:45 Lorraine Freedle: Deep Knowing: Brain and Psyche in the Sand
1:45-2:45 Lunch Break
2:45-5:45 Lorraine Freedle: Deep Knowing: Brain and Psyche in the Sand
5:45-6:15 Questions & Closing
Presenters:
Bonnie Badenoch, PhD, LMFT is a therapist, mentor, and author who delights in integrating the discoveries of relational neuroscience into the art of therapy. For 30 years, her work has focused on supporting trauma survivors and those with significant attachment wounds reshape their neural landscape, most often with the help of sand and miniatures, to support a life of meaning, resilience, and warm relationships. At this stage of life, she enjoys mentoring those in the helping professions through offering longer-term immersion trainings for the embodiment of interpersonal neurobiology principles. Her books include Being a Brain-Wise Therapist, The Brain-Savvy Therapist’s Workbook, The Interpersonal Neurobiology of Group Psychotherapy and Group Process (co-edited with Susan Gantt), and The Heart of Trauma. These books seek to build a bridge between science and practice with clarity, compassion, and heart.
Rita Grayson, LCSW, RPT-S, is the founder of SageSource Learning Center, a training facility for sandtray therapy. Combining her deep knowledge and experience of sandtray therapy with emerging knowledge in the field of relational neuroscience, she created The Body–Brain approach to sandtray therapy. She is also the owner of Johns Creek Counseling, LLC where she has offered to join with children, adolescents and adults on their healing journeys for over 20 years. She is co-editor of the book The Embodied Brain and Sandtray Therapy: Stories of Healing and Transformation.
Lorraine R. Freedle, Ph.D., ABPdN, CST-T is a licensed psychologist, board certified pediatric neuropsychologist, and international sandplay teacher (STA/ISST) who practices at the crossroads of depth psychology and neuroscience. She is a trainer in the Neurosequential Model™ and teaches at Southwestern College, in Santa Fe, NM and the Trauma Research Foundation in Brookline, MA. She provides clinical oversight for several integrative and holistic behavioral health organizations and also maintains a private practice, Black Sand Neuropsychological Services, in Hilo, HI. Dr. Freedle has authored numerous research publications in the area of neuropsychology, trauma and sandplay therapy, and co-produced and directed the award-winning documentary film, Fire and Sand featuring sandplay therapy and multicultural disaster relief. She currently serves on the Board of Sandplay Therapists of America® and as Research Editor for the Journal of Sandplay Therapy.
Continuing Education:
This program is co-sponsored by the World Association of Sand Therapy Professionals (WASTP) and The Institute for Continuing Education. The Conference offers a total of 12.00 contact hours (6.00 hrs. per day).
Continuing education credit is awarded on a daily basis, with full attendance required for the sessions attended. The CE processing fee is $25.00 per person, and may be paid with registration. Application forms and other required CE materials will be made available by WASPT. If you have questions regarding the program, continuing education learning objectives, presenters, contact The Institute at: 800-557-1950 / email: [email protected]
NOTE: To receive continuing education credit, applicants must complete all CE materials, comply with attendance requirements, and submit an evaluation form for the sessions attended.
NOTE: It is the responsibility of the attendee to determine if CE credit offered by The Institute for Continuing Education meets the regulations of their state licensing/certification board.
Psychology: The Institute for Continuing Education is approved by the American Psychological Association (APA) to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. The Institute for Continuing Education maintains responsibility for this program and its content. New York: The Institute for Continuing Education is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Psychology as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed psychologists #PSY-0043.
Counseling: The Institute for Continuing Education and WASPT are co-sponsors for this event. This co-sponsorship has been approved by NBCC. The Institute for Continuing Education is an NBCC approved continuing education provider, ACEP 5643. The Institute for Continuing Education is solely responsible for this program, including the awarding of NBCC credit. New York: The Institute for Continuing Education is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors. Provider MHC-0016. Ohio: Board of Counseling and Social Work Board, Provider RCS 030001.
Social Work: This program has been approved for 12.00 social work continuing education hours for re-licensure, in accordance with 258, CMR, NASW-MA Chapter CE Approving program. Authorization D-90900. New York: The Institute for Continuing Education is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers, Provider SW-0025. Ohio: Board of Counseling and Social Work Board, Provider RCS 030001.
Marriage/Family Therapy Professionals: This program is approved by the following states. California: The Institute for Continuing Education, Provider 56590, is approved by the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists to sponsor continuing education for LMFTs, LCSWs, LPCCs. The Institute for Continuing Education maintains responsibility for this program and its content. This Course meets the qualifications for up to 12.00 hours of continuing education credit for LMFTs, LCSWs, LPCC, as required by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences. New York: The Institute for Continuing Education is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Marriage-Family Therapy as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed MFTs, Provider MH-0012. Ohio: Board Marriage/Family Therapy, Provider RTX 100501
Skills Level: Beginning, Intermediate, Advanced. Attendees are urged to review the session descriptions to determine appropriateness for professional and personal needs.
Instructional Methodology: May include lecture, demonstration, audio/visual, experiential practice of techniques, large and small group discussion. **Ethics credit is not offered for any events scheduled. **CE credit is not "academic" and cannot be used toward fulfillment of an academic degree.
Additional Information:
Registration fee is for both days. Registration cannot be purchased for single days for this event.
This event is a live virtual event that will not be recorded. Recordings will not be available to participants after the event.
Disability Accommodations: Closed captions will be available for hearing impaired participants. Please contact the conference chair to inquire about other accommodations a minimum of two weeks in advance.
Continuing Education: 12 CEs will be offered through The Institute of Continuing Education for psychologists, social workers, marriage and family therapists, and professional counselors.
Cancellation & Refund policy: Registration is non-refundable but can be transferred to another participant if requested no later than one week prior to the event.
Contact information for questions:
Conference Chair: Lilianne Smith. [email protected]