Let's Play Minecraft! Using Minecraft as a Digital Sand Tray in Individual Play Therapy
Live Online Course! June 27, 2025. 3 APT Non-Contact CE hours & 3 NBCC CE hours
About this Event
Let's Play Minecraft! Using Minecraft as a Digital Sand Tray in Individual Play Therapy
Live Online Workshop Featuring Hands-On Minecraft Gameplay!
Presented By:
Ellie Finch, MA, MBACP
Friday, June 27, 2025
9:00 AM - 12:15 PM (Central Daylight Time, CDT)
To check your local time zone, please visit: Time Zone Converter
What You Will Need to Play:
Participants must have the Bedrock Edition of Minecraft or Minecraft Education Edition installed (Deluxe Edition is not required).
Participants will receive instructions on how to access the Sandtray Therapy World in Minecraft, provided by our presenter, Ellie Finch. Please note that the Sandtray Therapy World is not compatible with the Java Edition.
Participants should also be able to log in independently and have basic knowledge of character movement and block placement.
Please register for this event only if you can attend live. A recording is not included in the ticket purchase. For those who cannot attend at this date and time, there will be a recording available for purchase for APT non-contact CEs (NBCC CEs will not be offered for the recording) at: https://letsplaytherapy.org/collections
Explore and Learn How to Utilize the Sandtray Therapy Minecraft World!
Ellie Finch, in collaboration with Dan Noble from Outsidetheblocks, has co-created the Sandtray Therapy World in Minecraft, designed specifically for use in counseling and play therapy sessions.
Attendees will be given guidance on how to access the Sandtray Therapy Minecraft World and have the opportunity to create their own sandtrays, gaining hands-on experience in using Minecraft for deeper, personalized therapeutic work.
Continuing Education Information:
Let’s Play Therapy Institute is an APT Approved Provider 20-609. This program has been approved for 3.0 APT Non-Contact CE hours. Play therapy credit may not be awarded to non-mental health professionals. Courses that do not qualify for play therapy credit are clearly listed.
We respect your sensory needs and will accommodate to make this a meaningful and valuable learning experience for you. For questions or accommodations, please contact Sophia Ansari at [email protected].
Please note that the Association for Play Therapy (APT) alone holds the right to accept or deny any continuing education training at its discretion.
Meets RPT Credentialing Standards for:
-Play Therapy Skills and Methods (Techniques)
-Play Therapy Special Topics
Let’s Play Therapy Institute, LLC has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7179. This program offers 3.0 NBCC CE hours. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. Let’s Play Therapy Institute, LLC is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.
Continuing Education Certificate:
Participants will be required to complete an evaluation and post-test immediately upon conclusion of the workshop to receive a certificate. The CE certificate is awarded to those who attend the entire webinar.
It is the responsibility of each professional to check with their state or national licensing board to obtain continuing education credit for this seminar. Most state and national licensing boards will approve continuing education courses which cover clinical topics, practice management skills, legal and ethical responsibilities and stress management. It is your responsibility as the license/certificate holder to be aware of and abide by the continuing education rules and guidelines set forth by your licensing board.
Program Description:
Minecraft is the world’s most popular video game, with over 140 million active players each month. Chances are, many of your clients are already immersed in its world. By incorporating Minecraft into counseling and play therapy, you offer clients a unique opportunity to engage in therapy within their comfort zone. Minecraft combines elements of sandtray therapy, LEGO™, and adventure, creating an incredibly creative and open space for clients to explore and express themselves.
Ellie Finch, in collaboration with Dan Noble from Outsidetheblocks, has co-created the Sandtray Therapy World in Minecraft, designed specifically for use in counseling and play therapy sessions.
In this training, Ellie will introduce practical ideas and techniques for utilizing Minecraft in individual therapy settings.
Participants will also have the chance to explore the Sandtray Therapy World firsthand and learn how to incorporate it into their own individual sessions!
What You Will Need to Play:
Participants must have the Bedrock Edition of Minecraft or Minecraft Education Edition installed (Deluxe Edition is not required).
Participants will receive instructions on how to access the Sandtray Therapy World in Minecraft, provided by our presenter, Ellie Finch. Please note that the Sandtray Therapy World is not compatible with the Java Edition.
Participants should also be able to log in independently and have basic knowledge of character movement and block placement.
Objectives:
1. Analyze the benefits of using Minecraft in individual play therapy and counseling sessions.
2. Identify the data protection, privacy, security, and consent issues that must be addressed before using video games like Minecraft therapeutically.
3. Describe three examples of how Minecraft can be utilized in individual sessions.
Important Program Details:
Consent to be Recorded:
Live events may be recorded for future non-contact training opportunities. Attendees will be given prior notice of any recording; however, participation in the event implies consent to the recording. Please note that attendees will not be shown in the recording unless explicitly agreed to. By attending, you also consent to the use of the recording for educational or commercial purposes without compensation.
Target Audience:
Graduate level mental health students & licensed mental health practitioners. This seminar is an INTERMEDIATE level course. This workshop is appropriate for licensed and pre-licensed mental health professionals, including psychologists, social workers, marriage and family therapists, and professional counselors. Play therapy credit may not be awarded to non-mental health professionals.
Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Ellie Finch is the owner of Ellie Finch Counselling Consultancy and Training Ltd. She receives a speaking honorarium from Let's Play Therapy Institute, LLC.
Non-financial: Ellie Finch is a Minecraft Ambassador and receives no financial compensation from Microsoft or Mojang for this role.
Grievance Policy:
Let’s Play Therapy Institute seeks to ensure equitable treatment of every person and to make every attempt to resolve grievances in a fair manner. Please submit a written grievance to: Sophia Ansari, [email protected]. Grievances would receive, to the best of our ability, corrective action in order to prevent further problems.
Special Accommodations:
Live Closed Captioning will be enabled for this presentation. We respect your sensory needs and will accommodate to make this a meaningful and valuable learning experience for you. For questions about accessibility or to request an accommodation, please contact Sophia Ansari at [email protected]
Cancellation & Transfer Policy:
Live Webinars
- Cancellations made at least 7 days before a scheduled webinar will receive a refund minus a $25.00 non-refundable administrative fee.
- Registrations are transferable to another individual for the same event. The original registrant must notify Let's Play Therapy Institute at least 48 hours in advance of the transfer.
- Cancellations made less than 7 days before a scheduled webinar are non-refundable; however, the registrant may request a credit toward a future webinar of equal or lesser value.
- If Let's Play Therapy Institute cancels a webinar, registrants will receive a full refund to their original payment method (or a credit toward a future training, if preferred).
No partial CE credit is available. Attendees must be present for live events for the entire duration and complete an evaluation and post-test to obtain credit.
Schedule (Times in Central Time Zone):
To check your local time zone, please visit: Time Zone Converter
9:00 AM -10:30 AM: Introductory presentation +Q&A
10:30 AM- 10:45 AM: Break (15 mins)
10:45 AM-11:30 AM: Exploring Sandtray Therapy Minecraft World in small groups
11:30 AM -12:15 PM: Coming back as whole group for reflections and any further questions
Instructor(s)
Ellie Finch, MA, MBACP
Ellie Finch is a clinical supervisor, counsellor, and social worker specialising in supporting neurodivergent clients and families of children with disabilities and complex medical conditions. With experience across CAMHS, schools, private practice, and charities, she provides tailored support to children, parents, and families.
Ellie pioneered an innovative online counselling service using video games, such as Minecraft, and other digital tools to engage children and families. She offers consultancy and training for professionals and organisations seeking to integrate digital tools into their practice.
With support from Cambridge Social Ventures and UnLtd, Ellie founded a social venture to train practitioners in digital therapeutic methods. She is also part of the University of Cambridge research team behind the Bridging the ChASM: Creating Accessible Services using Minecraft project.