Become A
Qualified Sandtray Therapist

Australia’s only Registered Training Organisation (RTO) accredited to deliver the nationally recognised course 10757NAT Graduate Certificate in Sandtray Therapy.

Sandtray Therapy is a powerful therapeutic technique that helps evoke conscious and unconscious memories through tactile play.

Proudly Partnering with Mission Australia

Sandtray Therapy

What is Sandtray Therapy?

Sandtray therapy is a healing process which helps people work through any painful conscious or unconscious memories.

Sand play enables people to unconsciously process an issue by representing it in sand, by manipulating miniatures that represent daily activities, people, buildings, movement, nature, spirituality and more.

As a whole brain activity clients learn to explore their internal feelings, emotions, bodily sensations and images expressed in ‘sand worlds’ by parts of the brain that have no verbal language.

Who Uses Sandtray Therapy?

Sandtray Therapy graduates work in areas of disabilities, NDIS, with Indigenous children, early childhood, private practice or within government or private institutions.

How Can Sandtray Therapy Help?

Fiona Werle,
Trainer & Supervisor

Fiona is one of Australia’s leading clinical Sandtray therapists and Professional trainers who’s passion for Sand therapies is contagious.

Fiona is the lead trainer at Opengate Institute which is a registered training organisation delivering a very high level of sand therapy training. Fiona began her career in mental health as a registered Counsellor after completing her Bachelor degree. Fiona then went on to train as a Sandplay therapist with STANZA an affiliate of the International Society for Sandplay Therapy (ISST), her trainers included many highly esteemed international Sandplay analysts and therapists. She also studied with Marg Garvin, Sandplay Australia. Fiona then went on to develop her own training program that takes the best of Sandplay and Sandtray Therapy to develop a training program with the only government accreditation in Australia – 10757NAT Graduate Certificate in Sandtray Therapy.

Fiona has also written two books – A Parents Guide to Psychological Well-being for Children, A Therapists & Teachers Guide to Psychological Wellbeing for the Inner Child. (Volume 2).

Contact Fiona for Private Supervision Sessions.

Our Courses

We are Australia’s only Registered Training Organisation (RTO) accredited to deliver the nationally recognised course 10757NAT Graduate Certificate in Sandtray Therapy.

Terrence McBride Scholarship

Terence McBride was a prominent Sydney Jungian and founding member of the Sydney Jungian Society. Known as Terry he was President of the Society from 1981-1993 and a prolific writer and speaker on Jungian matters and a personal and professional inspiration to many. His family has kindly donated his Sandplay collection to Opengate Institute and in his honour we have created the Terry McBride Scholarship program.

The story of how we came up with the name:

Opengate Institute

As we were driving home along a country road, we were looking about us being a bit silly about names to call the company. Things like ‘flying bird’, ‘tree leaves’ and the like. Then it was said ‘Opengate’, this triggered a series of thoughts and deep impressions of the metaphorical meanings. Think about the gates of Heaven or Hell, standing there as your fate is decided. The image portrayed of being welcomed with the gate wide open into the training centre. An Opengate as a portal to the collective consciousness where knowledge and wisdom is abound!

Advocacy

ASQA Postgraduate Certificate Accredited Course Details

We are Australia’s only Registered Training Organisation (RTO) to deliver an accredited level 8 Postgraduate Certificate in Sandtray Therapy 10757 that is nationally recognised training.

This means that once you complete this course you gain a Qualification as a Sandtray Therapist. Opengate Institute has worked closely with industry to be able to deliver a high quality course. The course comprises 6 units, 3 of which are enterprise units.

Read more

ANZMHA Membership

The ANZMHA member benefits have been carefully curated to provide you access to sector-leading support and offers on programs, services and courses to enhance your professional learning. Membership is free for anyone to join.

Join here

Student Insurance

Opengate Institute are continuously advocating for our students to help with recognition as you become qualified Sandtray Therapists. We are proud to announce that in partnership with the International Institute of Complementary Therapists you can now buy insurance for as little as $1.00 (check with IICT for details until offer applies) Yes you read that correctly!

Follow this link to take advantage of this offer or other IICT Memberships you will need your student ID.

Marketing Platforms

The following platforms are paid membership platforms to help you find clients and promote your Sandtray Therapy Practice. Once you have gained your qualifications and you want to start to promote yourself, we have advocated with Natural Therapy Pages for a separate section under the generic term Sandplay.

www.naturaltherapypages.com.au

Psychology Today

We have advocated with Psychology Today, which is a paid marketing platform, they accept your Qualification in Sandtray Therapy (Postgraduate Certificate) and your IICM insurance for setting up your profile.

Join first 6 months free

Purchase
a Sand Tray

We have sandtrays available for purchase to use for sand therapy. Beautiful wooden trays painted blue to represent the water and the sky.

Join Hundreds of
Satisfied Students

“I can see my son's ability to communicate growing in leaps and bounds.”

L. Grech

“Fiona was very professional and worked wonders in the sand room.”

Chandelle Denne

“Fiona is highly professional, with a passion that is contagious.”

David Lipták

Ready For A
Career Change?

Sandtray Therapy graduates work in areas of disabilities, NDIS, with Indigenous children, early childhood, private practice or within government or private institutions.