Therapist Training

What is Hypnotic Sand Tray Therapy™?

Hypnotic Sand Tray Therapy™ (HST) is an innovative therapeutic approach that combines the power of clinical hypnosis with the symbolic, experiential process of sand tray therapy. It provides a structured yet creative way for clients to explore emotions, beliefs, memories, challenges, and personal strengths using miniature figures, symbols, and the sand tray while in a deeply relaxed, focused therapeutic state.

Rather than relying solely on conversation, Hypnotic Sand Tray Therapy™ allows clients to express experiences symbolically, often accessing insights that may be difficult to reach through words alone. The hypnotic component helps reduce conscious resistance, enhances emotional processing, and supports meaningful, lasting change.

The HST™ model teaches practitioners how to facilitate this process safely and ethically using a clear, structured framework that can be integrated into existing therapeutic practice.

Who is this training for?

This training is designed for qualified and student helping professionals who wish to expand their therapeutic skills and confidently incorporate Hypnotic Sand Tray Therapy™ into their practice.

It is suitable for:

• Counsellors
• Psychotherapists
• Clinical and Consulting Hypnotherapists
• Psychologists
• Social Workers
• Mental Health Practitioners
• School Counsellors
• Child and Adolescent Therapists
• Occupational Therapists (where appropriate)
• Coaches with recognised therapeutic training
• Allied Health Professionals working within their scope of practice
• Students currently completing recognised qualifications in the helping professions (where permitted by their professional association)

Practitioners who work with children, adolescents, adults, families, trauma, anxiety, grief, emotional regulation, self-esteem, and personal development will find the model particularly valuable.

What will you learn?

By the end of this training, participants will be able to:

• Understand the foundations and principles of Hypnotic Sand Tray Therapy™.
• Facilitate symbolic exploration using the HST™ three-phase model.
• Integrate clinical hypnosis safely within the sand tray process.
• Recognise therapeutic metaphors and symbolic meaning without over-interpreting.
• Apply evidence-informed hypnotic language to deepen therapeutic outcomes.
• Adapt the model for children, adolescents, and adults.
• Work ethically and confidently within professional scope of practice.
• Integrate HST™ into existing counselling, psychotherapy, hypnosis, or mental health practice.

Why practitioners choose HST™

Hypnotic Sand Tray Therapy™ offers practitioners a practical, structured approach that moves beyond traditional talk therapy. It provides clients with a safe, engaging way to explore their internal world while helping therapists facilitate insight, emotional regulation, and behavioural change through symbolism, focused attention, and therapeutic hypnosis.

Whether you work with children who communicate more comfortably through play, or adults who struggle to express complex emotions verbally, HST™ offers a versatile framework that can be adapted across a wide range of clinical presentations and practice settings. It complements existing therapeutic modalities rather than replacing them, making it an effective addition to an integrative therapeutic toolkit.