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Certification in Sandplay Therapy

Certification in Sandplay Therapy (endorsed by Malaysian Association of Psychotherapy (MAP) and Psychotherapy Chapter of Malaysia Society for Complimentary Medicine MSCM leading towards practitioner membership License of MAP & MSCM.

This course is providing Best-practice Sandplay. Therapy training for professionals who have a passion for assisting individuals, regardless of age, gender, race and social class to achieve optimum mental health.

Sandplay is a wonderful way of exploring our inner world .a lot of transformation can happen at this level, as the figurines in the sand try are related to and arranged in relation to each other. It is very non-threatening. Inner changes are allowed which remain hidden in a traditional counseling session. Sandplay is a hands-on expressive counseling and psychotherapy modality that has been in use for over seventy five years. It forms a bridge between verbal therapy and the expressive therapies, combining both elements. Sandplay allows the deeper aspects of the psyche to be worked with naturally and with safety, and is highly effective in reducing the emotional causes of difficult behaviors. It can be used both as a support for stress management and emotional growth and as a means for providing a bridge to support the use of a variety emotional growth therapies.

What is included in the Sandplay Therapy

  • Lecture
  • Reading materialls
  • Group Clinical Supervision
  • Case review and assessment
  • on line support

Fees and Course Structure

Course Cost  RM 4,800 (Students are required to buy various recommended text books)
Course Time  3 Months
Prerequisite At least a Credit in SPM English or two years working experience at a related industry
Group Size  Group limited to 6 participants maximum only to optimize group dynamics

Training Topics

Foundation Skills

  • Introduction to Sandplay Therapy and Symbol Work
  • practical experience, history and theory
  • Brief review of literature
  • Role-play techniques to support integration
  • • Input on sandplay equipment
  • Contraindications for use of symbolic work and role-play
  • Creating mythological stories for self-understanding
  • Illustrated case studies

Advanced Skills, Psychological Frameworks

  • Psychological mechanisms activated by sandplay
  • Concepts from Jungian Psychology supporting sandplay
  • Use of mandala artwork for integration
  • Interpretation of spatial arrangements in the tray
  • Dr Lowenfeld’s theoretical framework
  • Skills practice and case illustrations

Research, Theory & Development of Practice

  • Use of Symbol Work in group programs
  • Review of Dora Kalff’s theoretical framework
  • Indications for analysis of sandpictures
  • Working with dream symbols
  • Co-transference in the sandplay session

Transpersonal Aspects, Supervision

  • Case presentations by students
  • Transpersonal and perinatal influences on the psyche
  • Beyond the Shadow – completion trays
  • Skills development

Course Layout

We use the mastery system of education. Besides lecturing, this course provides clinical experience such as: research, case study, group clinical supervision, reflections, discussions & presentation. Assessment includes case study oral and written presentations, group participation, research paper and assignments.

The topics mentioned above are taught within 3 months. During this period, students will also be given clinical case assignments and presentations to do.

Our course is structured as 2 intensive workshop with 6 group clinical supervision & oral / written case presentation for the assessment. Fulfilling the attendance and passing the criteria given will lead to towards the licensed practitioner membership of Adult Psychotherapy, Geriatric Psychotherapy, Family Therapy, Couple Therapy, Child Therapy, Art Therapy and/or Expressive Therapy Divisions of Malaysia Association of Psychotherapy.

Equipment & venue

Below are the equipment used:

  • Psychometric Instruments
  • Audio Resources
  • White board
  • Notes/ books
  • Miniatures & shelves
  • Sandtray & Toys
  • Sandtray

Venue: International Psychology Centre, Kuala Lumpur.

Teaching Faculty

The course will be facilitated by IPC team of psychologists, art therapists, educational and child psychologists and child therapists, headed the course director.

Course Director

Dr. Edward Chan FAMPsy, FMCBTA

B.Sc.(Hons.)(Psy), MSc. (Learning)(Lancaster), D.Phil.(Psy)

(Master Trainer), Cert (Sandplay Therapy), Grad. Cert (Expressive Therapy)

CSAC(Hawaii, International Certification & Reciprocacy Consortium)(Reg. No. M906-98)

Principal Consultant Psychologist, Child Therapist & Certified Master Trainer. Dr. Chan has been conducting psychological and psychoeducational assessment and psychotherapy for the past 16 years clinical experience as the principal consultant psychologist in Malaysia, Asia and Europe.

Dr. Edward is a fellow of the Malaysian Association of Psychotherapy; a fellow of the Malaysian Cognitive Behavioural Therapy Association; a level 5 (accredited supervisor) practitioner member of the division of Adult Psychotherapy; Educational Psychology; the division of Couple and Marital Therapy; and the division of Child Therapy of the Malaysian Association of Psychotherapy, a practitioner member of the Malaysian of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Association and the Psychotherapy Chapter, the Malaysian Society for Complementary Medicine.

Dr. Chan is a board member of the World Council for Psychotherapy; the Counselling & Psychotherapy Association of Commonwealth Nations (CPACN); the Malaysian Association for Psychotherapy; the Malaysian Cognitive Behavioural Therapy Associaiton; The Psychotherapy Chapter, the Malaysian Society for Complementary Medicine and the keynote presenter for the Asian Pacific Rim International Counseling & Psychotherapy Conference 2013 (APRCPC 2013)(www.COunselingMalaysia.com)

Dr. Edward received postgraduate training on numerous psychological research and clinical practices from leading psychologists and psychotherapists in the world.

Dr. Chan had professional certification training in working with clients and patients with depression by Professor David Barlow from the Boston Centre for Anxiety and Professor Andy Clarke from the Institute of Psychiatry, University of London. He was also trained by Patrick Jansen Sandplay therapy & Symbol Work who pioneered Dona Kalff’s work on Sandplay Therapy in Australia based on her collaboration with Carl Jung and Emma Jung at the Jung Institute in Zurich. In addition, he received training from Mark Pearson in Expressive Therapy for Children & Adolescent from the Institute of Expressive Therapy, Australia. Dr Chan was also trained in clinical supervision in couple and family Therapy by Aldo Gurgone, licensed clinical Psychologist and Director of William Street Therapy centre, Australia.

Dr. Chan has also published widely, including in the academic proceedings in the various international and national conferences he has been invited to speak, Current Research & Practices on Cognitive Behaviour Therapy in Asia; the critically acclaimed parenting book, Are You Man Enough To Be a Father; couple psychology book, Love Is Never Enough, Pleasurable Commitment Rules; and Dancing with Crocodiles. Dr. Edward is the keynote speaker for the Asian Pacific Rim International Psychotherapy & Counseling Conference 2013 to be published in the Handbook of Psychotherapy & Counseling Research & Clinical Practice in Asia. His professional views on children, couple and adult psychology is also regularly sought and featured in national newspaper (including the parenting, women and appointment sections of the New Straits Time, the Education Section of the Star, Oriental Daily and professional and popular journals including: Malaysian Medical Tribune, Junior Statesman, Today's Parents, Better Parents, Mama Moden, Malaysian Women Weekly, Females, Marie Claire, Nona, Jelita, Malaysian Business, CIMA, Health & Beauty. He is also a well-known radio and television personality on educational and child psychological, relationship and family issues.

Dr. Edward Chan gained his degree in psychology from Middlesex University, UK., his Masters degree in Learning from the Dept. of Educational Research, University of Lancaster, UK., and his Doctorate in Psychology from the Intercultural Open University , the Netherlands. Dr. Chan spent 3 years at the Dept. of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford and the Open University, UK to conduct the research for his doctorate work.