Certification

Become a Certified Clinical Sandtray Therapist™

Global Council for Clinical Sandtray Therapy™ offers several levels of sandtray certifications to recognize your commitment to rigorous training and ethical practice.

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Pathway

The 10 Levels of Training

Each level is 12 hours of face-to-face, experiential training taught by certified GCCST trainers.

Foundational · Levels 1–4
CCST / SB-CST

This is where it all begins! This level introduces participants to the experience of clinical sandtray therapy. It begins to build the base for safety in the tray with ourselves and our clients.

We begin to focus on what the therapist will be doing on the other side of the tray as the builder is working. How will safety in the tray be created and protected by the therapist.

Consideration of symbols and cultural influences are considered here. Theoretical perspectives are explored and identified in the clinical sandtray process. 

Neurosequential development and somatic experiences are explored. Advanced sandtray skills are identified and ethical foundations are anchored. 

CCST / SB-CST Certification Eligible

Complete Levels 1–4 + application requirements to earn your foundational certification.

Advanced · Levels 5–10
CCST-AC / SB-CST-AC

The basics of effective & safe group facilitation are explored as we dive into the distinct experience of adding sandtray work into our group environment.

We will explore what is unique to children and adolescents as they use sandtray in play therapy. We will also dive into why this information is important when working with adults. Understanding the different cadence between child and adult sandtray work. 

This level covers the unique challenges and solutions to those barriers when working with adults. A deeper dive of neuroscience and the benefits of clinical sandtray for the adult population are explored.

This level builds on Level 5 as we are exploring what it is like with multiple clients using sandtray therapy at once.  We will look at specific dynamics in the family or partnership configuration.

How trauma work is done implicitly in clinical sandtray work is explored during this level. We will compare direct trauma work with what happens within clinical sandtray therapy. We will identify trauma traps that can occur when directives are used with clients.

This level addresses the ongoing grief processing that occurs in sandtray therapy at the implicit level. We address the different ways grief may show up in the sandtray and some out of the tray miniature work we can offer our clients working through this. The general grieving processes are considered as we work in the sandtray.

CCST-AC / SB-CST-AC Certification Eligible

Complete all 10 levels + additional application requirements to earn your advanced certification.

Find a Training

Thank you for your patience as we transition our trainers from Texas SandTray Association (TSTA) to GCCST. The button above takes you to the TSTA website. The trainers listed are qualified to provide GCCST Level Training.

overview

Certification Types

Global Council provides clinical certification which identifies you as a therapist who has completed rigorous training and is committed to ethical practices in sandtray therapy.

CCST

Clinical Certification in Sandtray Therapy

For licensed mental health professionals who have completed the foundational training pathway.

CCST-AC

Advanced Clinical Certification

For licensed professionals completing all 10 levels of clinical sandtray training.

SB-CST

School-Based Certification in
Sandtray Therapy

For school counselors and school social workers who have completed the foundational training pathway.

SB-CST-AC

Advanced School-Based Certification

For school-based professionals completing all 10 levels of clinical sandtray training.

Eligibility

Who It’s For

Certification pathways are designed for two professional tracks.

Clinical Certification

CCST / CCST-AC

Counseling (LPC)
Marriage & Family Therapy (LMFT)
Psychiatry
Psychology
Social Work (LCSW)

Note: An add-on specialty certification (i.e. addictions, art therapy, dance/movement therapy, etc.) is not acceptable in lieu of a clinical mental health license.

School-Based Certification

SB-CST / SB-CST-AC

School Counseling/Social Work at Schools
Mental Health Professionals at Schools

Must hold current and active certification by an educational agency to apply mental health services in a school setting.

Requirements

What You Need to Apply

Each certification level has specific training and documentation requirements.

  • Completion of Levels 1–4
  • Current, unconditional mental health license in good standing
  • 10 individual trays with notes
  • 2 case consultations with qualified consultant (completed Levels 1–4)
  • CCST for 2 years; application for AC accepted on CCST renewal date
  • Completion of levels 1-10
  • Current and good standing with licensing institution that holds your active and  unconditional mental health license
  • 10 additional individual trays with notes
  • 4 additional case consultations with qualified consultant (therapist who has completed levels 1-10)
  • Completion of levels 1-4
  • Current and good standing certification in school counseling or school social work
  • 10 individual trays with notes
  • 2 case consultations with qualified consultant (therapist who has completed levels 1-4)
  • SB-CST for 2 years; application for AC accepted on SB-CST renewal date
  • Completion of levels 1-10
  • Current and good standing certification in school counseling or school social work
  • 10 additional individual trays with notes
  • 4 additional case consultations with qualified consultant (therapist who has completed levels 1-10)
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Investment

Fees & Inclusions

GCCST members save on both initial certification and recertification.

Certification Action
GCCST Member
Non-Member
Initial Certification
CCST or SB-CST
$125
Save $100
$225
Advanced Certification Upgrade
CCST-AC or SB-CST-AC
$125
Save $100
$225
Recertification
Every 2 years
$75
Save $100
$175
FAQ

Frequently Asked
Questions

Discover solutions to your most pressing questions about membership and career growth.

You may begin to train before you are fully licensed and those levels will count toward your certification once your licensing process is complete. In the meantime, you may describe yourself as “trained in sandtray therapy.”

Submit your request to Global Council for Clinical Sandtray Therapy at [email protected]. Any supplementary materials you want to use to support your appeal can be submitted with your email. Your information will be reviewed and you will recieve notice of next steps via email.

Please email at [email protected] to inquire about a recertification plan.

Congratulations on finishing up the requirements for Advanced Certification! You may apply for the advancement when your certification is up for renewal. For example, your CCST is up for renewal in the month of December 2027. Even though you have completed two years of being certified as CCST and all of the additional requirements, you must wait until your renewal time (December 2027) to submit application to become CCST-AC.

You  may advertise yourself as a CCST-AC-T.  You are not required to include the “AC” if it feels too long. It is ok to call yourself a CCST-T.

Once you’re certified, the CEU’s you collect for renewal can be obtained from any licensed mental health professional, as long as the subject pertains to sandtray therapy.

For your initial certification, you must receive training in Levels 1-4 (or 1-10 if applying for advanced certification) from a GCCST approved trainer. You can find the list of approved trainers here.

Our requirement for sandtray CEU’s is 12 hours for every 2 years. Remember that you can gather CEU’s from ANY sandtray trainings, including in person and virtual.

If this happens, please complete the renewal application as usual and submit what CEU’s you do have. Then, please send us an email at [email protected] to let us know about your situation. You will enter a “deficient status” and be given 90 days to submit the rest of your CEU’s. During this deficient status, you cannot advertise yourself as a CCST, CCST-T, etc. However, if you complete your CEU’s within the 90 days, you will be reinstated to active status and will not have to reapply.

If you don’t complete your CEU’s within the 90 days and still want to be certified, you will need to apply all over again (including paying the initial application fee).

Note: If you enter a deficient status, your original certification date will still stand. For example, if your renewal date is February 2022 and you don’t reinstate until April 2022, your next renewal date would still be February 2024.