Student Membership
Student Membership of AIST is open to all those in the final year of their Diploma course in Counselling, Psychotherapy and Playtherapy who intend to continue their studies for the AIST Certificate in Integrative Sandplay and/or associated Creative Arts Therapies.
Associate Membership – Associate AIST
Training in Sandplay and/or associated Creative Arts Therapies is open to post graduate Counselling, Psychotherapy, and Play Therapy students or those who hold an equivalent qualification.
Students are eligible for associate membership of AIST on completion of the Certificate in Integrative Sandplay Studies and/or associated Creative Arts Therapies together with 50 hours of clinical practice. In the clinical practice element the student is required to use sandplay and associated arts therapies with children, adolescents and adults.
Students must be in therapy with an AIST approved therapist during their period of training. The therapy to include a minimum of 18 hours sandplay and/or associated Creative Arts Therapies.
Membership- AIST Registered Sandplay Therapist
Training leading to membership is open to therapists who have completed the Certificate in Integrative Sandplay Studies and/or associated Creative Arts Therapies.
Students are eligible for full membership of AIST on completion of the Diploma in Integrative Sandplay Studies and/or associated Creative Arts Therapies together with a total of 90 hours of supervised clinical practice. In the clinical practice element the student is required to use sandplay and associated arts therapies with children, adolescents and adults.
Students must be in therapy with an AIST approved therapist during their period of training.
Applicants for membership of AIST need to provide evidence of receiving a minimum of 18 hours of individual Sandplay Therapy and/or associated Creative Arts Therapies within the past two years.
Teaching Certificate – AIST Registered Teacher
A Teaching Certificate in Integrative Sandplay Studies and Therapeutic Art will be awarded to AIST members who have completed the following:-
- (i) An AIST Diploma in Integrative Sandplay Studies together with two years of post Diploma supervised clinical practice
- (ii) An AIST Certificate in Therapeutic Art.
- (iii) An AIST Certificate in Supervision or an approved equivalent, together with two years post Certificate supervised clinical practice.
In addition a candidate is required to have satisfactorily completed the following :
- (iv) Observation of all the modules of the AIST Certificate and Diploma in Integrartive Sandplay Studies courses and the Certificate in Therapeutic Art given by a recognised AIST teacher together with an assessed oral presentation to the students on an agreed topic.
- (v) Two advanced training weekends that include an assessed oral case presentation and the evaluation of a previously unseen sandtray and drawing.
A recognised teacher is approved to present introductory weekends and weekend workshops.
AIST Recognised Senior Teacher
An AIST recognised teacher can apply to the Standards and Ethics Committee for recognition as a Senior Teacher after an appropriate period of teaching experience.
Both Teachers and Senior Teachers are required to complete the AIST five day retreat in nature on a bi-annual basis.
Senior Teachers are approved to teach Certicate level courses and subject to agreement by the Standards and Ethics Committee, to teach higher level courses.
Insurance
All Teachers, Associate Members, Members and Student Members of AIST are required to hold professional indemnity insurance.
Working with children and adolescents
All Student Members, Associate Members, Members and Teachers of AIST working with children, adolescents and vulnerable populations are required to hold a current DBS certificate.