Clinical Observation in Therapeutic Practice: Through the Lens of Jungian Sandplay

Workshop Introduction

Children communicate in more ways than through words. Behaviour, affect, movement, silence and symbolic expression can all offer valuable information. This workshop develops a more attentive way of noticing these cues before moving towards interpretation.

A key focus of the workshop is the distinction between what we notice and the meaning we assign to it. Participants explore a disciplined observational stance grounded in curiosity, careful description and awareness of context, rather than premature conclusions.

Jungian Sandplay provides an applied lens for this process. Through an anonymised composite case, participants consider spatial organisation, boundaries, relationships between figures, recurring themes and movement over time. The emphasis is not on learning Sandplay Therapy as a modality, but on strengthening ways of seeing that can be carried into broader therapeutic work.

Overview

• Observation, description and interpretation
• Applying observational awareness beyond Sandplay
• Behaviour, affect, posture, movement and silence
• Relational and emotional cues
• Symbolic expression and personal context
• Space, boundaries and relationships between elements
• Recurring themes and patterns across sessions
• Movement and transformation over time
• Curiosity, context and clinical humility
• Reflective observation across therapeutic settings
• Practical tools for recording and integrating observations

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the workshop, participants will be able to:

• Differentiate between clinical observation, description and interpretation within therapeutic encounters.
• Identify behavioural, relational, emotional and symbolic cues that contribute to deeper clinical understanding.
• Apply a structured framework for observing non-verbal and symbolic communication in therapeutic practice.
• Recognise patterns of psychological development, therapeutic movement and change across the therapeutic process.
• Integrate enhanced observational skills into everyday clinical practice across diverse therapeutic orientations and client populations.

Certification

This workshop is for you if you want to develop your skills and understand a more attentive approach to what may be communicated beyond verbal content.

Open to anyone over the age of 18 with an interest in the topic, this workshop also awards CPD points to eligible professionals upon successful completion. 

The principles explored can support reflection across different therapeutic orientations and client populations. Jungian Sandplay is used as an applied lens rather than taught as a therapeutic modality.

The certificate serves as evidence of your new skills and knowledge and can be used to demonstrate your commitment to professional development. 

Attend the live online session, or watch the recording, and complete the required article reading and multiple-choice questionnaire within 5 days of the live session.

Dates and Registration

Class of 2026 November: 3 November @ 18:00 – 20:00 (SAST)

Participants are required to attend a live online workshop (2 hours). Thereafter, participants will be required to complete an assessment comprising of reading a journal article and answering a 15-question multiple choice questionnaire. The multiple-choice questionnaire needs to be completed within 5 days. 

Workshop Presenter

Dr Celia van Wyk is a Jungian Sandplay Therapist and Teacher-Consultant (STR-CT), and President of the Association for Sandplay Therapy (AST). She holds a PhD in Mental Health Counselling and has worked in private practice since 2005 with children, adolescents and adults in South Africa.

Her background includes education and remedial teaching, alongside international training and consultation in Sandplay. She founded Sandplay South Africa and contributed to the first Sandplay South Africa Congress in 2025. Her professional interests include water symbolism, integrative approaches and the neurological foundations of healing.

FAQs

The Team

The SACAP Global team brings a wealth of knowledge and practical experience across various disciplines. Our expert short course developers and dedicated support team are passionate about sharing their insights to help you get the most out of your online learning journey.