The 2027 course is starting on the 10th February – Applications are now OPEN!
This exciting Diploma course will bring you deep into the world of projective play and the use of symbols as therapeutic agents with psychotherapy and counselling clients. Participants engage in experiential sessions utilising sandtray therapy, spectrograms, and the use of symbols. The training is relevant for therapists working with adults, adolescents, and/or children. The course is IACP CPD Approved for 84 CPD Points. It is also suitable CPD for therapists and counsellors accredited with different professional bodies.
This exciting Diploma course will bring you deep into the world of projective play and the use of symbols as therapeutic agents with psychotherapy and counselling clients. You will engage in experiential sessions utilising sandtray therapy, spectrograms, and the use of symbols. The training is relevant for therapists working with adults, adolescents, and/or children. Making use of right-brain processes and accessing implicit memories will deepen the therapy process and facilitate healing from unresolved issues that have their roots at any life stage. Accessing a direct route to the unconscious bypasses defences and maintains a felt sense of safety by providing dramatic distance from disturbing thoughts and feelings. This allows the social engagement system to stay active and protects the client from being triggered into a hyper- or hypo-aroused state. Creative expression, with a therapist who communicates strong safety cues, allows the player to experience a neuroception of safety even when processing difficult experiences.
This is a blended learning course which makes the best use of the onsite training days for experiential learning, while facilitating your work/life balance by providing for a mixture of live online sessions, directed study tasks, and self-directed learning (including access to interactive learning opportunities for you to engage with at times to suit your own schedule. The experiential nature of this course will support your personal and professional development, and you will acquire knowledge, skills, and competence that will enhance your clinical practice.
The experiential nature of this course can be emotionally and psychologically challenging. Students will create a number of their own sandtrays during the course and will explore these with peers. There will also be an abundance of experiential learning activities to facilitate symbolic expressions and exploration.
This course is IACP CPD Approved for 84 CPD Points. It is also suitable CPD for therapists and counsellors accredited with different professional bodies.
This blended learning Diploma Course involves:
Both Zoom Introductory and Orientation sessions take place from 7 – 8.30pm. Full day sessions take place from 10am – 5pm, with morning and afternoon tea/coffee breaks and a one hour lunch break. For onsite training days, students may eat their packed lunch in the Centre or may choose to go to the coffee shop in the local village.
2027 Course Dates:
Self directed learning and directed study tasks to suit individual learners
This training is suitable for trainee and qualified play therapists, counsellors, psychotherapists, expressive arts therapists, psychologists, and other mental health professionals working within the range of psychotherapeutic modalities with clients of all ages.
This course is IACP CPD Approved for 84 CPD Points. It is also suitable CPD for therapists and counsellors accredited with different professional bodies.
Emer Mc Donagh, SIAPTP, MIAPTP, MIAHIP, ECIP, is the leader for this course. She holds an MA in Humanistic & Integrative Psychotherapy and Play Therapy and a BA (HONS) in Applied Social Studies in Social Care. Emer is also Assistant MA Course Leader at CTC and is a fully accredited psychotherapist, supervisor and trainer with the European Association of Integrative Psychotherapy.
This Diploma Course involves:
Both Zoom Introductory and Orientation sessions take place from 7 – 8.30pm. Full day sessions take place from 10am – 5pm, with morning and afternoon tea/coffee breaks and a one hour lunch break. For onsite training days, students may eat their packed lunch in the Centre or may choose to go to the coffee shop in the local village.
13th May 2026 (Zoom, 7-8:30pm)
20th May 2026 (Zoom, 7-8:30pm)
30th & 31st May 2026 (Ballymore)
20th & 21st June 2026 (Ballymore)
8th July 2026 (Zoom)
25th & 26th July 2026 (Ballymore)
29th & 30th August 2026 (Ballymore)
9th September 2026 (Zoom)
7th October 2026 (Ballymore)
Self directed learning and directed study tasks to suit individual learners
There are 2 Assignments:
Each student will present a poster based on their use of sandtray with a client. Each poster will include anonymised details about the client, images of the tray, materials available, the process and a section making links to theory and exploring meaning making.
Peer groups will make an interactive creative presentation on an assigned topic related to working with a specific client group using sandtray therapy.
Course Fee includes a starter sandtray kit (miniature tray, sand, 50+ symbols) and the course book: Homeyer, L. E. & Sweeney, D. S. (2022) Sandtray Therapy: A Practical Manual, 4th Ed. London & NY: Routledge
Payment Plans for Diploma in Sandtray Therapy & Symbolic Expression 2027
The course fee is €1700. €50 is due at the application stage, this is included in the €1700 course fee. Each student is responsible for full payment of course fees, regardless of level of attendance. CTC offer three different payment options. Students must select their payment option when they accept their place, payment is due within two weeks of this. Places cannot be held without payment.
Option 1: €1700 Pay in Full
Option 2 – €1750 Pay in Five Instalments
Option 3 – €1800 – Pay in Seven Instalments
ALL MONTHLY INSTALMENT PLANS MUST BE PAID BY DIRECT DEBIT. APPLICATIONS MUST SIGN THE DIRECT DEBIT MANDATE AND SELECT THEIR PAYMENT PLAN ON ACCEPTANCE OF OFFER.
Terms and Conditions
€50 application fee and €350 deposit included in the initial payment are non-refundable. All fees are non-refundable within one month of the course dates. Prior to this, fees paid outside of the application fee and deposit are refundable.
Please complete the online application linked below.
We look forward to receiving your application.
Warmly,
Siobhán & Team CTC
