Shadow in the Sand: Exploring Shame, Guilt and the Unspoken

Shadow in the Sand: Exploring Shame, Guilt, and the Unspoken is a trauma-informed training focused on how shame and guilt emerge symbolically in sand tray and expressive therapy. This training explores the “unspoken” aspects of client experience—hidden parts, silenced narratives, and internalized beliefs that shape identity, attachment, and behavior. Participants learn how sand tray creates safe distance for exploring shadow material, supporting clients in externalizing shame, reducing self-blame, and integrating disowned parts of self. Experiential activities, clinical examples, and hands-oninterventions are provided for work with children, adolescents, and adults.

1. Identify how shame and guilt present symbolically in sand tray and play therapy.
2. Demonstrate at least three sand tray or play-based interventions for externalizing and processing shame.
3. Apply developmentally attuned strategies for addressing shame in children and adolescents using play therapy principles.
4. Explain the role of shame and guilt in trauma, attachment, and identity development in sand and play therapy.
5. Apply sand tray play therapy strategies that promote self-compassion, integration, and resilience in clinical practice.

My Crossing Paths Training Center has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7253. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. My Crossing Paths Counseling Center is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.
My Crossing Paths Training Center is approved by the Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy, and Mental Health Counseling. Provider # 50-37274.

My Crossing Paths Training Center has been approved by the Association for Play therapy, APT No. 23-705. Programs that do not qualify for APT credit are clearly identified.

My Crossing Paths Training Center, has been approved as an Association of Social Work Boards Approved Continuing Education (ACE) Provider. ACE provider approval number is 1877. Training that are ACE approved with be identified on the training material with correct CE credit and type.

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Host or Publisher Julia Knach, My Crossing Paths Counseling Center