As the practice of sand therapy grows and flourishes, the need for the identification of competencies of sand therapy practitioners is imperative. The purpose of this study was to identify sand therapy competencies (STC) in four categories: knowledge, skills, attitudes, and professional engagement. Using qualitative research design with a purposive sample, the researchers used an initial, open-ended, and researcher-developed STC survey and the additional process of member checking to determine a final list of competencies for sand therapy practitioners. Outcomes identified a total of 33 competencies with 15 knowledge, 7 skills, 7 attitudes, and 4 professional engagement competencies. These findings provide a framework of competencies with which sand therapy training programs, professional organizations, and credentialing standards should be aligned. Future research on the acquisition of sand therapy competencies and research with more diverse samples is indicated.

Identifying standards within sand therapy, a widely used therapeutic method, is of great importance and consequence. Standards need to be sufficiently specific and measurable, and broad enough to encompass all clinical theories and approaches. This article reports the findings of the first phase of a World Association of Sand Therapy Professionals research project, which includes survey data from current sand therapy practitioners. The gathered information provides a representative sample of a range of international practitioners who provide sand therapy as a mental health intervention. Findings point to the importance of education, experience, training, and supervision as well as a number of key personal characteristics. Understanding these important components and integrating them into credentialing programs will provide a solid base from which clinicians can strive toward and achieve proficiency within their sand therapy offerings.