STANZA is a member society of the International Society for Sandplay Therapy (ISST). It is the only society in Australia and New Zealand approved by ISST to offer ISST certification for Sandplay Therapists and Sandplay Therapist Teaching Members.
Being a member of STANZA/ISST gives recognition of having completed training to recognised standard. Membership also comes with responsibilities, including those to the organisation and the method and standards we promote and uphold on behalf of the founding and current ISST members.
The requirements for certification are outlined here and are in line with ISST requirements.
STANZA/ISST Certified Sandplay Therapist (CST)
A Certified STANZA/ISST Therapist ( CST) has obtained their certification through ISST either as an individual member (IM), as a certified member of STANZA, or a certified member of an international member society .
The requirements for certification include:
Educational Qualifications
A university education or equivalent.
Professional Background
Certification as a Sandplay Therapist does not by itself provide a qualification to practice psychotherapy or counselling. It is expected that applicants have a current membership of a professional association of Counsellors, Psychotherapists, Art Therapists, Mental Health Practitioners, Social Workers, Medical Practitioners, Jungian Analysts or other recognised mental health profession OR licensed OR insured to practice in a mental health profession where required by any local legislation or authority.
Personal Process
- Completion of Personal Process in Sandplay Therapy with a certified STANZA/ISST CST.
The personal process therapist may not be a trainee’s advisor, supervisor or symbol paper/case paper reader. As a guide, a minimum of 20 sandplay trays completed with the same personal process therapist is recommended.
Theoretical Training
- Completion of a minimum of 100 hours in training seminars in Sandplay Therapy in the tradition of Dora Kalff and based on the principles of the psychology of C.G. Jung.
All theoretical training is to be certified by STANZA/ ISST Teaching Members (CST-T).
Certification in Sandplay Therapy is more than just accumulating the required number of seminar hours within a certain time frame. One’s personal process and individual and/or group supervision are important parts of coming to understand Sandplay Therapy processes and one’s personal relationship to depth psychology.
There are recommended texts and resources for becoming a certified Sandplay Therapist. These are listed under Resources.
Supervision
A minimum 80 hours of Sandplay case consultation/supervision of clinical material must be undertaken with a minimum of two different STANZA/ISST Teaching Members. At least 30 of these hours must be individual.
Up to 50 hours of group supervision is acceptable provided the student/trainee presents her/his own client’s material for at least 20% of the total of their group supervision hours. 30 of the Group Supervision hours may be online.
Group supervision is optional. The trainee may choose to gain all their supervision hours in individual supervision. The applicant’s personal Sandplay Therapist cannot be one of the supervisors.
Symbol Papers
Two symbol papers must be submitted. Generally, each is of approximately 5,000 words in length. One symbol paper must include clinical material illustrated from Sandplay Therapy cases conducted by the trainee.
Final Case Study
Acceptance of a final case study as per ISST guidelines (Appendix C, www.ISST-Society.com). The final case report must be read and approved by a minimum of three ISST CST-T’s who have been approved as final case readers as per ISST guidelines. At least one of the final case report readers must be a STANZA CST-T if a reader is available. Guidelines can be found here.
Requirements for Jungian Analysts
Jungian Analysts who are members of IAAP may become STANZA/IAAP Certified Sandplay Therapists by completing the requirements for certification by Jungian Analysts as set out by ISST.