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       Agnes J. Bayley, PhD LaVon Bobo, MS, LMFT LaVon Bobo, 1940-2023 It was a wonderful celebration of love and honor that was evoked on October 19th, 2023, as family, fellow STA colleagues, past students and friends gathered to celebrated LaVon passing. LaVon lived a life of dedication and love and lived it to the fullest. The celebration started with the lighting of a candle that linked other Sandplay therapists throughout the United States who were lighting candles in their hometowns since they were unable to attend. LaVon began her work as a play therapist in the Santa Clara School District and went on to become a School Psychologist and trained many new therapists and worked with hundreds of children over the years. LaVon first met Dora Kalff in 1981 and 1983 when she came to teach here in the United States. Then in 1984 she traveled to Switzerland and studied in an intensive group and she returned numerous times for the next seven years until Dora’s passing. These encounters were life changing for LaVon. She made lasting friendships with this initial group and Luana Rowland was one of her closest and dearest friends. Together they worked on the Board of Trustees for STA, hosted a National Conferences, led small groups, held seminars, initiated the use of Asilomar Retreat Center for sandplay intensives, was a part of the Sandplay Institute that did training around the country, trained and did supervision for numerous students even into her retirement. LaVon also was chair of the Ethics Committee in the early days of Sandplay and was active in sandplay events and trainings throughout Northern California. LaVon was certified as the twelfth CST and earned [...]

We welcome your participation in the Sandplay Therapists of America®. Joining together supports our goals of high-quality education and professionalism in the growing field of sandplay therapy. We are a nonprofit organization that operates as an all-volunteer service organization with administrative support from a few staff members. We depend on our members to vote and create the Board of Trustees, as well as run the organization within our written and accepted bylaws and code of ethics. Sandplay recognizes four levels of membership. Anyone may become an Associate. After that, there are three levels of membership requiring application and training: Registered Sandplay Practitioner; STA/ISST Certified Sandplay Therapist; and STA/ISST Certified Sandplay Therapist - Teaching Member. Details on the requirements for each level of certification can be found in the STA Handbook (updated Feb. 2025). Sandplay Associate Become an Associate STA welcomes the participation and support of all people interested in sandplay therapy as Sandplay Associates. The combined participation of associates and members strengthens the continued development and professional recognition of sandplay therapy. STA Associate membership includes the following: A subscription to the Journal of Sandplay Therapy. Invitation to special events and member discounts at Sandplay conferences and workshops. Our monthly newsletter, CyberNews. Associates are a vital part of STA, comprising the growing number of professionals involved in and bringing new energy to sandplay therapy. Registered Sandplay Practitioner (RSP) The Registered Sandplay Practitioner (RSP) category of membership responds to an expressed need of Sandplay Therapists of America members to recognize professionals who have completed a personal process and some sandplay training. This membership category is offered to those interested in offering sandplay within the scope of their license and training. RSPs receive all of the benefits [...]

Resources Sandplay: A Psychotherapeutic Approach to the Psyche (New Edition) by Dora Kalff The Archive for Research in Archetypal Symbolism (ARAS) is a pictorial and written archive of mythological, ritualistic, and symbolic images from all over the world and from all epochs of human history. The Philemon Foundation exists to make available the complete works of C. G. Jung in editions that meet the highest standards of scholarship and do justice to the true measure of this major creative thinker. C.G. Jung Institutes/Centers C.G. Jung Center, in Evanston, IL, maintains a complete list of Jungian organizations in the U.S. The Jung Center Houston C.G. Jung Institute of Los Angeles and its journal, Psychological Perspectives C.G. Jung Institute of New York and its journal, Quadrant C.G. Jung Institute of San Francisco and its journal, Jung Journal: Culture and Psyche International Sandplay Associations International Society for Sandplay Therapy (ISST) is an umbrella organization for sandplay societies around the world. STA is a member of ISST; see the website for a complete list of international member societies, in addition to those listed below. British and Irish Sandplay Society (BISS) PO Box 698, Godstone, RH1 9DS, Great Britain Email: bissadmin@virginmedia.com Website: sandplay.org.uk Canadian Association for Sandplay Therapy (CAST) Email: administrator@sandplaycanada.ca Website: sandplaycanada.ca Deutsche Gesellschaft für Sandspieltherapie (German Society for Sandplay Therapy Information) Website: sandspiel.de Israel Sandplay Therapist Association Website: sandplay.co.il Italian Association for Sandplay Therapy (AISPT) Dr. A. Navone Via E. Q. Visconti 103 00193 Roma, Italy Telephone (039-661) 687 640 (office) Website: aispt.it Taiwan Sandplay Association Email: tsa@mail2000.com.tw Website: sandplay.org.tw

Q.  Why does the word sandplay have “play” in it? Is it only for kids? A.  Sandplay therapy is effective with adults as well as children. It's not unusual for some sandplay therapists to work only with adults. Sandplay is the term originally coined by Dora Kalff, the founder, from the German word “sandspiel.” Children and adults work in the sand to create places and worlds, which express their inner conflicts and tensions, and find perspective on their issues. Q.  Where can I learn more about Sandplay Therapists of America (STA) and find a therapist? A.  You've come to the right place. Visit the Find a Therapist page; on this page, use the dropdown menu to filter by certification, geography, etc. Visit the Regional Support page for information about connecting with other sandplay therapists near you. The Membership Overview page describes the different levels of certification for sandplay therapists. Q.  Are there any mental health professionals who practice sandplay in my area of the country? A.  Absolutely. Please refer to the Regional Support page to find regional groups and case consultation groups in your area. You can also filter the list of sandplay therapists by state using the dropdown menu. Q.  How can I become a Sandplay Therapist? A.  Great question. You will find guidelines on the Membership Overview page to help you through this process. There are three categories of certification in STA: Registered Sandplay Practitioner (RSP), Certified Sandplay Therapist (CST), and Certified Sandplay Therapist – Teacher (CST-T). Additionally, anyone interested in sandplay can become an Associate Member. Q.  What is the purpose of the miniature figures in sandplay? A.  Figures and objects from culture and nature symbolize events and situations in our inner and [...]

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Mission Statement The mission of Sandplay Therapists of America® (STA) is to train, support, and promote professional development in sandplay in the tradition of Dora Kalff as based on the theories of C.G. Jung. Diversity Statement STA's Statement on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. STA Bylaws and Standards STA Bylaws (revised 2022) STA Standards for Professional Conduct (revised 2024) STA Handbook (v1.2, Feb. 2025) STA is a member society of ISST, the International Society for Sandplay Therapy. Certified Sandplay Therapists (CST) and Teaching Members (CST-T) are also members of ISST, and must familiarize themselves with the following documents: ISST Rules of Procedure ISST Code of Ethics STA members interested in pursuing leadership positions in either organization should also familiarize themselves with the ISST Statutes. STA Board of Trustees 2026 Elected Board Members Jacquelyn Kelley, President David Dermott, Past President Ruth Castellano, Treasurer Antoinette Eimers Theresa Hasting, Vice President Amanda Bechtel-Gupman, Admissions Chair Elizabeth (Betsy) Craft Karen Hartfield, Secretary John Mascaro Vincent Pastore, Education Chair Ex Officio Members/ISST Representatives Lorraine Freedle Jacquelyn Kelley Journal Editor Joyce C. Cunningham Emeritus Board Members Maria Chiaia Lauren Cunningham Regina Driscoll Harriet Friedman Jill Kaplan Rie Rogers Mitchell Daniel Nelson Audrey Punnett Sally Sugatt Janet Tatum Judy Zappacosta STA Trustees Board Meeting Minutes STA Board of Trustees Meeting Minutes STA Founding Members Founded February 28, 1987, by Kate Amatruda*, Linda Elaine Bath, Kay Bradway,* Lucia Chambers*, Lauren Cunningham, Harriet Friedman, Chonita Larsen,* Susan Macnofsky*, Mary Jane Markell,* Estelle Weinrib,* and Barbara Weller. * Deceased Presidents of Sandplay Therapists of America 1987–1991 Estelle Weinrib* 1991–1996 Council: Linda Elaine Bath, Kay Bradway,* Lucia Chambers, Lauren Cunningham, Mary Jane Markell,* Estelle Weinrib,* Barbara Weller, Lois Gradwell, Harriet Friedman, Holly Johnson 1996–1998 Harriet Friedman 1998–2001 [...]

…circle of heaven, the center, realized in earth, the square, emanating in the four directions… “Often the hands will solve a mystery that the intellect has struggled with in vain.”   C. G. Jung In this current age and time that rushes toward the future, the simplicity and depth of Sandplay provides a space for contact with the inner, symbolic world. A basic premise of Sandplay is that psyche possesses a natural tendency to heal itself, given the proper conditions. Similar to our physical wounds that heal under beneficial conditions, the psyche has an instinctual wisdom that emerges when able to operate naturally. Sandplay is “hands on” psychological work, and is an adjunct to talk therapy. It is a powerful therapeutic method that facilitates the psyche’s natural capacity for healing. In a “free and protected” space provided by a trained sandplay therapist, the client creates a concrete manifestation from his or her imagination using sand, water, and miniature objects. In this way Sandplay helps honor and illuminate the client’s internal symbolic world, providing a place for its expression within a safe container. With sufficient time and understanding, a sandplay experience can lead the client into layers of experience that are pre-verbal and long forgotten to the conscious mind. Through the tangible emergence of personal and archetypal symbols in the tray in a safe environment, the client moves toward a sense of balance and wholeness. Harriet Friedman and Rie Rogers Mitchell Additional readings Working with Dora Kalff Working in the World of Symbols

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