Highlighted Events

A heart-centered workshop with gentle practices for exploring what feels sacred. This heart-centered workshop offers gentle, contemplative practices that invite participants to sense what feels sacred within their own human experience, including the deeply personal ways spirituality can be felt or expressed. Through embodied exercises, reflective moments, a brief sandtray experience, and personal journaling, participants will explore their own spirituality in ways that feel authentic and personally meaningful. Grounded in personal meaning and experiential awareness, this session creates space for participants to connect with aspects of human life that feel profound, tender, or spiritually significant. The presentation will also explore spirituality as a deeply personal dimension of human life, acknowledging the unique beliefs, practices, and values each person holds, including those rooted in religious traditions. In addition, we will consider best practices for incorporating spirituality into clinical practice in ways that honor client autonomy, cultural diversity, and the unique meanings individuals bring to their therapeutic journeys. Together, we will consider how opening the heart in this way can enrich sand therapy practice across diverse cultural and theoretical backgrounds, honoring the universal human capacity to experience spirituality in unique and personally resonant ways.

This study evaluates the ACST Training Program I developed — a year-long curriculum grounded in ACT and situated within contextual behavioral science, neuroscience, and interpersonal neurobiology.

Abstract

This paper introduced Acceptance and Commitment Sandtray Therapy (ACST) as a new branch of sand therapy theory. As a novel framework, it offers a fresh approach to conducting sandtray therapy and provides additional avenues for pursuing research. The creation and articulation of ACST is an evolution of my unique experience as an enthusiastic and dedicated studen of both Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Sandtray Therapy (STT). Part of this article's purpose is to introduce ACT's foundational philosophy and theory. I achieve this by briefly describing radical behaviorism, functional contextualism, and relational frame theory. However, the primary focus of this paper is to highlight the six core psychological processes used in ACST and provide an example using a fictitious client's tray with those processes in mind. Suggested protocols for implementing this framework, along with therapeutic interventional prompts appropriate for its application, are also offered. This work is significant in that it bridges two worlds: the contextual behavioral science realm of ACT and the interpersonal neurobiology domain of STT. With the mergence of this new model, new possibilities are on the horizon for both professional communities.

I'll be conducting this introductory workshop. Grab some food and join us for an overview of Acceptance and Commitment Sandtray Therapy (ACST)! This munch and learn introduces ACST, a framework that bridges the worlds of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Sandtray Therapy. For anyone curious about this modality, this session will provide you a basic understanding of ACST with an opportunity to participate in short experiential exercises. 

This training will qualify for 1 CE through NBCC 

No May meeting.

Will meet for 2 hours on the 4th Monday of each month.

Minimum 6 participants required no later than Monday, January 19, 2026.

Waitlist closes on January 19th @ 11:59 pm EST.

You will be notified on January 20th if the group formed. At that time, you will be asked to register for enrollment.

This presentation explores innovative strategies to address the pervasive issue of loneliness among aging individuals. Grounded in ethical principles, we'll delve into the relevance and need of fostering meaningful connection in this population. How to address loneliness with our aging clients using Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, creativity, playfulness, and spirituality will be explained. This will be an experiential workshop, and participants will have the opportunity to participate in an interactive creative activity. Supllies needed: paper and anof the following: crayons, pastels, marker, colored pencils, gel pens. No worries if you don't have these on hand. You can still participate!

Metaphor is a powerful tool for enhancing therapeutic engagement and insight. This workshop introduces a suggested protocol for incorporating visual metaphor as evocative relational imagery, lending enhanced precision, scope, and depth to the therapeutic process. This workshop will highlight experiential learning and practical application. Participants will be guided through a step-by-step process, including an explanation of the protocol, a live demonstration, breakout room practice, and a group discussion. Key considerations such as managing challenging emotions and fostering present moment awareness will be addressed. The workshop will encourage reflection on the purpose, context, and population for using metaphorical imagery into their therapeutic repertoire, enhancing their ability to facilitate client self-awareness and emotional expression. This workshop is suitable for clinical professionals seeking to deepen their understanding and application of metaphor in therapy. All levels of expertise are welcome!

THE PURPOSE OF THE PROJECT

The Art Share Project is a community based initiative aimed at responding to the US national epidemic of loneliness by fostering connections through art. Any patron or citizen in the Fayetteville/Cumberland County area can participate.

You can gain a sense of belonging, camaraderie, and generosity of spirit in this shared artistic adventure. Even if we are alone in this world, we know that creative expression helps us feel connected. By fostering a vibrant cultural exchange through a project of this nature, the feeling of loneliness for all who actively participate can be soothed.

HOW IT WORKS

Take a mini art kit home with you. Basic instructions and information will be included with each kit. Once you're done with the art kit activity, you're invited to return your creation to the Art Share Depot and leave it as a gift to a stranger.

Or, you can snap a picture of your creation and upload it here:

#ArtShareProjectFayCC

If you see a creative gift you'd like to have, feel free to take it home and take a moment to appreciate the generosity of the giver.