Level 1 builds on the foundational skills from the introduction by diving into the transformative process of working with client defenses in the sand tray. This in-person training focuses heavily on safety, ensuring that the client’s vulnerable parts remain secure while exploring and appreciating the defenses that keep those parts safe. Participants are introduced to NSST’s use of Satir’s parts work, which involves identifying and interacting with various aspects of the client’s internal world in the sand tray. The training explores multiple ways to transform defenses, encouraging clients to see them not as barriers but as parts that hold resources and positive intentions.
Therapists will learn advanced techniques for transforming defenses by seeing parts as resources, exploring positive intentions, special gifts, and yearnings. Participants will also appreciate and address the cost of defenses and expectations, enabling clients to shift perspectives and embrace change. This level prepares therapists to gently and effectively help clients navigate the protective mechanisms they have built over time.
Level 2 training offers both in-person and online options, with the added requirement of supervision for those pursuing online certification. This level deepens the practitioner’s ability to work with specific emotional and psychological challenges. Participants will focus on addressing grief, shame, trauma, anxiety, and depression, as well as working with young children and couples or families. The training emphasizes the importance of these emotional landscapes and their manifestations in the sand tray, providing therapists with strategies to guide clients through these intense emotional experiences.
This level not only sharpens the therapist’s skill in addressing complex emotions but also introduces more advanced techniques tailored to particular client populations. Whether working with individuals or families, the training ensures that practitioners are equipped to handle a wide variety of situations using the sand tray as a therapeutic tool. Completion of all components leads to full NSST Level 2 certification, empowering therapists to confidently address a wide range of emotional and relational challenges.
Level 3 is designed for practitioners ready to deepen their expertise in NSST and Satir principles. This advanced training emphasizes mastery of NSST sand tray techniques through substantial case study work, triad exercises, and participant-led demonstrations. The program also includes a comprehensive examination of teaching materials, making this the ideal pathway for therapists aspiring to teach or supervise others in NSST.
In addition to practical skills, this level includes an in-depth examination of teaching materials, ensuring that those aiming to become trainers are prepared to educate others in the NSST method. Participants will present their own case studies and demonstrate their learnings, culminating in the most advanced certification available. This level is essential for those seeking to master NSST or take on a teaching or supervisory role.
