Title:
Hansel and Gretel: A one-day interactive workshop exploring a tale of abandonment, loss, courage and growth
Format:
in-person (Venue location: West Melbourne 3003)
Dates and Times:
There are 3 options available (Max 5 participants per session)
- Saturday 21st March 2026
- Saturday 16th May 2026
- Saturday 28th November 2026
Time: 9.00am – 5.00pm
Description:
I invite you to join me for an in-person day of immersion and exploration of the fairy tale – Hansel and Gretel. In this interactive workshop, I will offer a depth psychological interpretation of the motifs and symbols featured in the Hansel and Gretel tale. Woven into our day will be many experientials involving self-reflection, clinical case examples and sandplay.
The theoretical component of this day draws on the work of Jungian analysts: Marie Louise von Franz, Jacqueline Schectman, Hans Dieckmann, Erich Neumann, Theodore Seifert and incorporates the scholarship of psychoanalyst: Bruno Bettelheim. You will deepen your knowledge of the archetypal meanings underlying this special fairy tale and learn to apply these learnings in your own life and to your clinical work with clients who use sandplay, psychotherapy or play therapy.
We will have access to a fully equipped sandplay therapy room during this workshop.
STANZA Certification hours:
7 STANZA/ISST accredited hours and/or Professional Development Hours
Cost:
$500.00 plus GST
CPD Learning Objectives:
Objectives:
- To learn the archetypal meaning of the key motifs and symbols in Hansel and Gretel
- To consider how the motifs apply to one’s own life
- To reflect on how the motifs apply in clinical practice
- To deepen understanding of archetypal psychological processes
- To enhance symbolic capacity through sandplay experientials
Presenter’s Details
Presented by:
Dr Mary Raftopoulos
Professional Qualifications:
PhD, PostGradDipPsych, GradDipChildPS, LLB, BA
Presenter/s Bio:
Mary Raftopoulos, PhD, is a registered Psychologist/Supervisor (AHPRA), Play Therapist & Approved Supervisor (APPTA) and the first Internationally Certified Sandplay Therapist-Teacher (STANZA/ISST CST-T) in Victoria. She became a Certified Member of ISST in 2014 and a Teaching Member in 2017.
Mary’s work spans over 20 years across a range of settings in Melbourne, London and Vancouver in public health, education, the non-profit sector and private practice. For over 10 years, Mary worked as a Senior Psychologist at the Royal Children’s Hospital, specialising in the treatment of childhood trauma and abuse. She is now in full time private practice offering psychotherapy, supervision and consultation to agencies and schools.