Stephen A. (Steve) Armstrong has been teaching and training graduate students and practitioners in sandtray therapy since 2001. Steve has extensive experience in training and supervising advanced masters and doctoral students in sandtray therapy, gestalt therapy and play therapy. He has published several articles in the area of sandtray therapy and play therapy and presented regionally, nationally and internationally on sandtray therapy and play therapy.

Steve was trained in child-centered play therapy at the University of North Texas and has been a Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor (RPT-S) since 2004. He is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and a Board Approved Supervisor in Texas. Steve was trained in gestalt therapy for five years by Rick Carson. The humanistic approach evolved from a synthesis of Rogerian theory and gestalt therapy. Steve began developing the humanistic approach to sandtray therapy as a doctoral student and found that blending the two approaches provided an effective method of processing.

Supervision

Steve has been a Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor (RPT-S) since 2004 and has supervised play therapists and sandtray therapists for the past seven years. Using a developmental approach to supervision based on the work of Ronnestad and Skovholt (2003), Steve?s approach to supervision with doctoral students and LPC Interns is to focus on the counselor as much as the client in order to promote therapist growth and awareness. He has supervised over 150 masters, post-masters and doctoral students in academic and private practice settings. Through Sandtray Therapy Institute, Steve provides quality supervision for therapists working on LPC, RPT, sandtray therapy proficiency and gestalt therapy.

Presentations and Training

Armstrong, S. A., & Lyman, S. (April 12, 2008). Sandtray processing: Facilitating the moment. Texas Association for Play Therapy 15th Annual Play Therapy Conference, Dallas, TX.

Armstrong, S. A. (March 29, 2008). Sandtray processing. Solt Supervision Group, Frisco, TX.

Armstrong, S. A., & Lyman, S. (November 8, 2007). Critical moments in sandtray therapy. Texas Counseling Association Professional Growth Conference, Corpus Christi, TX.

Simpson, C. S., Armstrong, S. A., & Willis, S. (November 30, 2006). A grief camp experience for children: Practical therapeutic activities for working with grieving children. Texas Counseling Association Professional Growth Conference, San Antonio, TX.

Shen, Y. P., & Armstrong, S. A. (November 4, 2005). Sandtray therapy processing: A step-by-step guide. Texas Counseling Association Professional Growth Conference, El Paso, TX.

Armstrong, S. A. (October 15, 2005). Sandtray processing: A humanistic approach. Solt Supervision Group, Frisco, TX.

Armstrong, S. A. (July 9, 2005). Sandtray training. Vickery Park, Dallas, TX.

Armstrong, S. A. (May 24, 2005). Sandtray therapy: A humanistic approach. Play Therapy-Northern Territory, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.

Armstrong, S. A. (October 22, 2003). Sandtray training for activity therapists. University of North Texas, Denton, TX.

Armstrong, S. A., & Simpson, C. S. (October 17, 2002). Using expressive art activities with supervisees: Enhancing self-awareness and building cohesion in group supervision. Association for Counselor Education and Supervision National Conference, Park City, UT.