2026 National Conference Registration

We look forward to seeing you at our national conference in June in Chicago, Illinois! To assist with your registration process, you may use this link to open a PDF of the conference brochure in a new tab, which includes detailed descriptions of each session offering.

Attendees are asked to register as soon as possible for all conference sessions and activities to assist STA in preparing for the conference. Late registration and at-the-door registration are available; however, space in sessions may be limited.

STA Associate membership includes a 1-year subscription to the Journal of Sandplay Therapy as well as a $50 savings on Conference and Pre-Conference registrations. If you're not a member, you can become an Associate today for $95 (US residents; Canada $107; International $120) and then register for the conference as an STA Member!

STA will produce an electronic directory of conference attendees (name and email) to facilitate networking within the group; the directory will only be distributed to conference attendees. Please indicate below whether you would like to be included in the directory.

• The STA National Conference begins with an evening reception on Thursday, June 11 and ends at noon on Sunday, June 14
• The optional Pre-Conference is Thursday, June 11 (9am - 4:45pm)

Cancellation Policy. Cancellations must be submitted in writing to sta@sandplay.org by May 1, 2026 to receive a full refund, minus a $100 administrative fee. No refunds will be issued for cancellations requested after this date, and no refunds will be given for no-shows.

This year's conference includes up to 20.5 continuing education (CE) credits ($35 fee):

• Up to 14.5 CE credits for the Conference
• Up to 6.0 CE credits for the Pre-Conference

REGISTRATION DISCLAIMER: STA reserves the right to make adjustments to the program as needed. While we do our best to stay within the information provided, schedule changes and other unforeseen circumstances may arise that require adjustments. We appreciate your understanding in those cases. 

The basic information for each session is shown below; open a PDF of the conference session descriptions in a new tab to see the full session description.

"Tracks" below are recommended pairings for sessions where topics complement each other, and track sessions will be held in the same room. Attendees are also free to mix-and-match sessions from different tracks.

There is a lunch break from 12:15-1:30pm for all sessions; 15-minute breaks will occur at 10:30am and 3pm.

TRACK A: 9am–4:45pm

Sand and Psyche: Fundamentals of Sandplay Therapy

• Presenter: Ruth Castellano, MA, LPC, CST
• 6 CE + APT (Note: all sessions must be attended to receive full credit)

TRACK B: 9am–3pm

The Wizard of Oz and Star Wars: American Myths at the Crossroads of Masculine and Feminine Energies in the Psyche

• Presenters: David Dermott, PsyD, CST-T & Vincent Pastore, PhD, CST-T
• 4.5 CE

TRACK C Morning: 9am – 12:15pm

Pathways to Certification: Symbol Paper Writing Seminar

• Presenter: Ellen H. Saul, MS, LP, CST-T
• 3 CE

TRACK D Morning: 9am – 12:15pm

Death, Rebirth and Transformation in Myths, Dreams, Sandplay & Play Therapy

• Presenter: Lynne L. Ehlers, PhD, CST-T
• 3 CE + APT

TRACK C Afternoon: 1:30–4:45pm

Pathways to Certification – Writing Case Papers: "A Journey, Not a Destination"

• Presenter: Juanita McCabe, LPC, CSAC, CST-T
• 3 CE

TRACK D Afternoon: 1:30–3pm

Unearthing Healing: A Journey through Cemetery Art and Symbolism in Sandplay and Play Therapy

• Presenter: Jacquelyn Kelley, LCSW, CST-T
• 1.5 CE + APT

REGISTRATION DISCLAIMER: STA reserves the right to make adjustments to the program as needed. While we do our best to stay within the information provided, schedule changes and other unforeseen circumstances may arise that require adjustments. We appreciate your understanding in those cases. 

The basic information for each session is shown below; open a PDF of the conference brochure in a new tab to see the full session description.

There is a lunch break from 12:30-2pm for all sessions; 15-minute breaks will occur at 10:30am and 3pm.

The Self at the Crossroads: Microcosm and Macrocosm

• Presenter: Dyane Sherwood, PhD, JA, CST-T
• 1.5 CE

Crisis, Crossroads, Courage – Reflections on the Legacy of Estelle Weinrib, ISST Founding Member

• Presenter: Betty Jackson, MSW, LSW, CST-T
• 1.5 CE

Sacred Spaces: The Intersection of Nature and Sandplay Therapy

• Presenter: Jennifer Fendya, PhD, RSP
• 1.5 CE

The Goddess of Riches Mandala: Erich Neumann's Model of the Feminine Archetype in Sandplay Therapy

• Presenter: Gretchen Watts, LCSW, CST-T
• 1.5 CE

Child & Family Dynamics in Sandplay Therapy: Observing Unconscious Contents in Families

• Presenter: Judy Zappacosta, LMFT, CST-T
• 1.5 CE

Case Consultation: Group A

• Facilitators: Joseph Meyer, ACSW, CST-T & Helen R. Link CNS-BC, CST
• 1.5 case consultation hours
• Max 8 attendees

How Sandplay, Play Therapy, and Floorwork Support Rebirth and a Reimagined Life for an Adopted Girl

• Presenter: Karen Hartfield, LMHC, CST
• 1.5 CE + APT

Transformative Energy: Horse Symbolism in Sandplay Therapy

• Presenter: Helen R. Link CNS-BC, CST
• 1.5 CE

Expanding and Deepening the Sandplay Therapy Process through Somatic Awareness

• Presenter: John Mascaro, PhD, RPT-S, RSP
• 1.5 CE + APT

At the Crossroads with Mysticism: The Sandplay Therapist as an Instrument of Healing

• Presenter: Inessa Mil’berg, MA, LPCC, CST
• 1.5 CE

Healing at the Crossroads of Body and Psyche in the Sandplay Process of a Five-Year-Old Boy with Neuroblastoma

• Presenter: Elizabeth Schofield-Bickford, LMFT, JA, CST-T
• 1.5 CE

Case Consultation: Group B

• Facilitators: Sarah "Sally" Sugatt, LICSW, CST-T & Ruth Castellano, MA, LPC, CST
• 1.5 case consultation hours
• Max 8 attendees

STA Members' Meeting & Ribbon Ceremony

Members of Sandplay Therapists of America will meet to celebrate each other, to review the latest information from the Board of Trustees, and to vote on important matters.

The "Ribbon Ceremony" honors those among our sandplay community who have passed, and those who may be joining us for the first time.

Liminal Crucibles – Crossroads within the Art, Play, and Sandplay Therapies

• Presenter: Kimberly Coalo, LPCS-AT, RPT-S, ATR-BC
• 1.5 CE + APT

Integrating Sandplay into Adult Talk Therapy Sessions

• Presenter: James L. Broderick, PhD, ABPP
• 1.5 CE

Crossroads of Sandplay and EMDR: Entering the Cave and Encountering Other

• Presenter: Ruth Castellano, MA, LPC, CST
• 1.5 CE

"Horses Crossed My Road": Enlarging Ideas of Containment in Sandplay Therapy Practice

• Presenter: Inna Danieli, LCSW, PsyA
• 1.5 CE

Chronos, Kairos, and the Eternal Now: The Archetype of Time in Sandplay Therapy

• Presenter: Lorraine R. Freedle, PhD, CST-T
• 1.5 CE

Bicultural Ego Development in Sandplay Therapy: The Case of a Japanese American Adolescent

• Presenter: Yoshika Okada Sincock, MS, LMFT, CST
• 1.5 CE

Case Consultation: Group C

• Facilitators: Laura Soble, LMFT, REAT, JA, CST-T & Takako J. Ainsworth, LCSW, JA, CST
• 1.5 case consultation hours
• Max 8 attendees

2-3:30pm Research Roundtable: Developments in Sandplay Research

• Presenters: Jacquelyn Wiersma, PhD; Lorraine Freedle Ph.D, CST-T; & Brianda DeCastro, PhD
• 1.5 CE

2-3:30pm Case Consultation: Group D

• Facilitators: Ellen LeBel, MS, CST-T & Inessa Mil’berg, MA, LPCC, CST
• 1.5 case consultation hours
• Max 8 attendees

3:45-5:15pm Case Consultation: Group E

• Facilitators: Ellen Saul, MS, LP, CST-T & Inessa Mil’berg, MA, LPCC, CST
• 1.5 case consultation hours
• Max 8 attendees 

2–5:15pm Sandplay and Therapeutic Presence: Seeing with the “Mind’s Eye” when Meeting the Other at the Crossroads

• Presenters: Linda Elaine Bath, PhD, CST-T & Patrick Faggianelli, PhD
• 3 CE

2–5:15pm Mandala: Transformative Symbol of the Self

• Presenter: Jill Kaplan, MA, MFT, CST-T
• 3 CE

2–5:15pm Digital Worlds, Inner Landscapes: Ethical Reflections on Sandplay Therapy in the Age of Social Media

• Presenter: Sana Loue, PhD, MSSA, CST-T
• 3 CE

2–5:15pm Vasilisa the Brave: An Encounter with the Archetypal Wild Feminine

• Presenter: Shannon Yockey, LCSW, JA, CST-T
• 3 CE

All of Sunday’s programming will be in Rooney Hall as we gather together as a sandplay community. We hope that you will join us for these special events, including the Regional Breakfast, plenary session, and Elders' Panel.

8–9am Regional Breakfast

9:30–10:30am Play Therapy, Jungian Analytical Psychology, and Sandplay: At the Crossroads of Transformation

• Presenter: Audrey Punnett, PhD, CST-T
• 1 CE

10:45am–12:15pm Elders' Panel

• Panel: Joey Meyer, LCSW, CST-T, Judy Zappacosta, MA, LMFT, CST-T, & Linda Elaine Bath, PhD, LMFT, CST-T
• Moderated by Jacquelyn Kelley, LCSW, CST-T, STA President
• 1.5 CE

Loyola campus is offering single-occupancy dormitory accommodations for our use for $150/night (incl. tax). All rooms include a single twin bed and a private bathroom. The dorm is 1 block away from the main event center and 1 block from the cafeteria. If you choose the dormitory option, the cost will be added here to your registration fee. (Note: Any dorm registrations after Friday, April 24, will be based on availability with Loyola University and may incur additional fees.)

The nearby Hampton Inn also has limited availability under our group rate for $209–259/night (details below).

You may also purchase overnight parking for $8/night.

Conference Meals

• Pre-conference registration does not include meals.
• Conference registration fee includes your attendance at (a) the Thursday night reception, (b) the Saturday Evening Awards Dinner, and (c) the Sunday Regional Breakfast.
• Attendees can also purchase a daily meal plan from the university cafeteria ($13–$37, depending on day). Meals can also be purchased individually at the door.
• Please note: all dinner chosen meals can be made to accommodate noted dietary restrictions.

Please indicate your attendance selections below.

As a recognized 501(c)(3), the success of STA depends on the support of its members and other volunteers. We thank you for your consideration of helping STA with your time and energy.

Please select all volunteering types that interest you below. Checking a box does not commit you to volunteering in that capacity; a conference team member will be in touch before the event and your level and scope of volunteering confirmed in advance. Assignments are made to limit the amount of time away from conference activities.

Help prepare welcome bags and packets or support administrators by checking people in or passing out welcome packets, name tags, schedules, meal vouchers, etc.

Help manage the beginning and ending of each presentation. Responsibilities include passing out and collecting evaluations, introducing speakers, closing doors, monitoring capacity levels, notifying someone for technical assistance when needed. 

Tasks include setting up the room, monitoring the auction during the conference, taking down the room and sorting bids, and distributing items to auction winners.

Please review the cost summary below; you may return to previous tabs if changes are required. Please also take a moment to review your conference session choices, and make sure that you have made a selection for each time slot on the "Pre-Conference" and "Conference" tabs (as applicable) before you submit.