246. Sand tray for school counselors with Patti Sutherland

Listen to the full episode below:

Welcome back to School Counseling Simplified! April is all about expert guest sessions, and today I’m thrilled to be joined by Patti Sutherland. Patti holds a Master of Social Work, is a Certified Play Therapist Supervisor, and has over 30 years of experience working with children and families in both community and private practice settings.

She currently works as a school social worker in Winnipeg, Canada, where she brings play therapy into schools, offers trainings, and creates valuable resources for school-based mental health professionals.

In this episode, we dive deep into sand tray therapy—how it works, why it’s effective, and how you can use it even if you don’t consider yourself a play therapist. Whether you're brand new to this tool or looking to expand your counseling toolbox, Patti breaks it all down with practical advice and encouragement.

Here’s what we cover:

• Why sand tray therapy isn’t as out-of-reach as it might seem
  
  

• How this method helps students feel more regulated, safe, and heard
  
  

• The power of metaphor and why it’s essential in child counseling
  
  

• Creative and accessible ways to introduce sand trays into 1:1 and small group sessions
  
  

• Real-world examples, like using sand tray for conflict mediation and storytelling
  
  

• What supplies to gather (hint: it's okay to collect slowly!)
  
  

• Patti’s best tips for new counselors who want to begin incorporating sand tray in their work
  
  

Bonus:
Patti shares details on her upcoming 2-day online Sand Tray Training for Elementary Schools, happening June 6–7, 2025!

Get on the no-obligation waitlist here:
Click here to join the waitlist

📧 Have questions? Want to connect?
You can email Patti directly—she loves hearing from fellow counselors:
ps@pattisutherland.ca

Whether you’re curious about the basics or looking to grow in your play therapy practice, this episode is a must-listen! Let’s get into it.

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Connect with Patti:

• TpT Store

• Waitlist for Sand Tray Trainings and Newsletters for more info 

• Email Patti

More About School Counseling Simplified:

School Counseling Simplified is a podcast offering easy to implement strategies for busy school counselors. The host, Rachel Davis from Bright Futures Counseling, shares tips and tricks she has learned from her years of experience as a school counselor both in the US and at an international school in Costa Rica.

You can listen to School Counseling Simplified on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, and more!