An Integrative Approach to Play Therapy Supervision Using Sandtray Therapy

Abstract

Supervisors are gatekeepers to the counseling profession and the same applies to safeguarding play therapy. Clinical supervision in play therapy helps play therapists master their skills when working with children, adolescents, or adults. Integrative sandtray supervision facilitates emerging play therapist developmental levels. The Integrative Developmental Model of supervision and sandtray concepts offer a different way of conducting play therapy supervision. Supervisees learn to master each stage of development. Sandtray supervision allows play therapist supervisors a new medium for emerging play therapists to process cases, discuss ethical issues, and explore professional and personal challenges. Each sandtray can mark the four developmental stages and three content areas. Supervisors monitor the development of emerging play therapists to ensure fidelity, ethical practice, and multicultural competency. Cultural sensitivity should also be applied within the supervisory relationship and reflected in the miniatures. This chapter seeks to broaden the scope of practice for play therapy supervisors.