MAKING SENSE OF DISSOCIATION: PLAY THERAPY, SAND TRAY & PARTS WORK FOR CHILDREN & CAREGIVERS

About this training

Dissociation in children is often misunderstood, frequently appearing as emotional shutdown, sudden behavioral changes, avoidance, memory gaps, or explosive reactions rather than obvious symptoms. This training will help clinicians recognize dissociative responses in play therapy through a developmental, attachment-informed lens and understand these behaviors as adaptive survival strategies rooted in trauma. Participants will learn practical, play therapy-based interventions using sand tray, parts work, and sensory approaches to promote safety, regulation, and healing. The workshop also highlights the essential role of caregivers in supporting recovery, leaving clinicians with immediately applicable tools to strengthen attachment, improve treatment outcomes, and confidently work with children experiencing trauma and dissociation in play therapy. Objectives: Describe dissociation in children through an attachment-informed developmental framework and recognize common presentations in play therapy such as shutdown, avoidance, rapid state shifts, memory gaps, and explosive behaviors as protective trauma responses. Demonstrate play therapy and sand tray interventions that help identify and map protective parts, reduce shame, strengthen regulation, and increase internal cooperation while maintaining the child's window of tolerance. Apply caregiver-inclusive strategies that position caregivers as co-regulators by using attachment-repair language, responding to protective parts with curiosity and steadiness, and implementing practical co-regulation techniques that reinforce therapeutic progress in play therapy at home.