Sandspace with Adolescents
The adolescent brings his world to the therapy situation and we, as therapists need to collaboratively, with our adolescent clients, create a framework of meaning which supports the process and purpose of therapy. The guiding principle of this collaborative construction is the client’s meaning-making, which promotes discovery of capability, agency, personal power and connectedness with the interpersonal world.
Gestalt Sand Therapy Process is a unique approach to working with adolescents, developed by Bronagh Starrs. The sandworld can bring healing and insight, offering a dynamic mode of relating which enriches contact process between aspects of self-experience which are often compartmentalised in the adolescent’s developing awareness. The adolescent’s lifespace and contact boundary development become visible, tangible and three-dimensional in the sand.
This dynamic way of working also creates additional richness and depth to therapeutic contact.
During the two days, we will explore theoretical, clinical and practical aspects of sand therapy process with adolescents including:
- An Overview of Jungian Sandplay Theory
- An introduction to Gestalt Sand Therapy Process
- Initiating sand therapy process with adolescent clients
- Gaining practical experience of creating & facilitating sand work
- Exploring the healing & transformative potential of sand therapy
- Trauma in the sand: silent expression of the unspeakable
- Understanding the richness of symbolic representation for the adolescent
Dates: Saturday 23rd & Sunday 24th March 2019
Time: 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Venue: Radisson Blu Hotel, Limerick
Fee: €240
To book a place on the workshop please email Bronagh directly: bronaghstarrs@gmail.com
About the Presenter:
Bronagh Starrs is Programme Director for the MSc Adolescent Psychotherapy in Dublin Counselling & Therapy Centre, in partnership with the University of Northampton, UK and Founder & Director of Blackfort Adolescent Gestalt Institute.
She maintains a private practice in Omagh, Northern Ireland, as a psychotherapist, clinical supervisor, writer, presenter, and trainer, specialising in working with adolescents. As well as her work as a parenting consultant with many families, schools and agencies, she is also an experienced therapist working with children, adults, and groups. Bronagh is a renowned adolescent development specialist and has considerable experience teaching and presenting throughout Ireland and internationally on the developmental implication of trauma on the adolescent journey. Her approach to therapeutic intervention with adolescents is both innovative and deeply relational.
She has authored numerous articles and chapters on the subject, and has contributed to the collected volume: Relational Child: Relational Brain (Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group/Gestalt Press). Her recently published book “Adolescent Psychotherapy – A Radical Relational Approach” (Routledge 2019) has received international acclaim.
