After the introductory assessment, a therapy session can look many different ways. A typical 1-hour sandplay session will begin with a parent check-in, which may include what is new or different in your child/youth’s life, this is very brief to keep the focus on the child’s important work. The therapist, and at times this may include the parent with the child/youth, will then build trust and emotional literacy through a quick game, check-in, art project, etc. After this, the decision to do sandplay or another therapy modality will be decided. It is expected the parent of minors will remain in the building in our comfortable waiting area for the duration of the session.

Sandplay is only one of the many options available for therapeutic change. The child/youth may be drawn to the sand that day or not, the counseling session is client-led. My experience has afforded my personal practice to have a variety of resources to engage reluctant youth or keep busy youth engaged.

Each individual’s process will look quite different as readiness for change directs our personal process. It is customary for a child/youth in sandplay to engage in 10 or more sessions, the process is child-led, so in my experience the child/youth lets the therapist know through action or words that their process is completed.

As a parent, you play the most integral part of your child’s wellness journey. Providing support, unconditional love and allowing the sandplay process to unfold without judgment or question. Being patient is key as when therapy starts you may find your child regressing, this is common, and something that we can manage together.

Look for a licensed, experienced mental health professional who is part of a registered regulatory association with advanced training in many therapeutic modalities and most importantly in sandplay therapy. The educational background is important but so are their experience, the sandplay set-up, and how well you and your child can engage with the therapist. Counseling can be uncomfortable; it’s a process of building trust and acquiring skills to manage life’s difficulties with a qualified professional.

Office hours are by appointment and can be any day during the week, some evenings, and weekends. First session time is 8 am and last is 7 pm at night.

For new clients there is a free 15-minute telephone Discovery Session where a brief discussion of what brings the person to therapy is explored as well as to answer therapy questions. Currently the fee for a scheduled hour counseling session is $125.00.

Telephone calls are billed after the initial 15 minutes, at a rate of $20 per 15 minutes.

Payment is by e-transfer to Lori.espcounselling@gmail.com

Receipts will be issued within 24 hours of payment. After the first missed session fee a discussion about alternate resources will be attempted. If no resolution is found the therapy may need to be terminated

Cancellation will need to be done 48 hours in advance, in order to provide an opportunity for others, otherwise, 50 percent of the session fee will be charged and payment is needed before future sessions may occur. Individual circumstances will be taken into account in rare or unusual circumstances.

Instances of not attending a scheduled session without the 48-hour advance notice will be charged the same 50 percent session fee, with the same consideration for unusual circumstances.

It will be the person’s individual responsibility to ensure that therapy will be covered by their health care coverage or to secure a form of payment; there is no direct billing.

Check out these links:

www.sandplaycanada.ca

www.isst-society.com