About CAST

The Canadian Association for Sandplay Therapy (CAST) has been a member society of the International Society for Sandplay Therapy (ISST) founded by Dora Kalff, since 1998. CAST’s role as a member society is to develop Sandplay in Canada by providing modality-specific continuing education to psychotherapy professionals, as well as to employed practitioners who are qualified in fields related to mental health. CAST also provides guidelines for professional practice and opportunities for professional exchange.

CAST’s focus has been to become recognized as the centre for sandplay training in Canada, offering a comprehensive and internationally approved training program. Successful training candidates will achieve either international certification with ISST or national practitioner status with CAST.

CAST is not a regulatory body. Certification by CAST/ISST or any independent practice of Sandplay Therapy requires adherence to provincial regulations regarding the practice of psychotherapy.

A pivotal role in the history of CAST was played by Dr. Nehama Baum of Toronto, who brought together a group that felt called to Sandplay Therapy. She organized the first meeting of CAST in September 1993, at which time the association was established.

CAST’s inaugural conference, Sandplay: A Magical Journey, took place in 1993. Distinguished faculty included Linda Bath (US), Nehama Baum (Canada), Paola Carducci (Italy), Yvonne Federer (then Canada, later Switzerland), Martin Kalff (Switzerland), Adriana Mazzarella (Italy) and Claudio Risé (Italy). The European presenters at the inaugural conference became  honorary board members, along with Kay Bradway and Estelle Weinrib (US).

Through CAST’s membership in ISST, an allied organization of the International Association for Analytical Psychology (IAAP) founded by C.G. Jung, CAST/ISST certified members are able to attend IAAP Congresses.

2024 Team

Board of Directors

  • Director: Johanna Beyers
  • Director: Alexandra Fidyk
  • Director, Executive Committee: Maria Iosue
  • Director, Executive Committee: Jennifer Leaf
  • Director: Olga Lipadatova
  • Director: Emma Eun Lim
  • Director, Executive Committee: Carmen Oprea
  • Director, Executive Committee: Sylvia Simonyi-Elmer

Officers

Additionally

  • Teaching Member Co-Chairs: Beatrice Donald and Catherine Ellis
  • Representative to the ISST: Sylvia Simonyi-Elmer

Honorary Board Members

  • Kay Bradway †
  • Paola Carducci †
  • Martin Kalff
  • Adriana Mazzarella †
  • Claudio Rise
  • Estelle Weinrib †

Honorary CAST Lifetime Members

  • Nehama Baum †
  • Barbara Dalziel
  • Maria Iosue
  • Olga Lipadatova
  • Joan Németh
  • Yvon Rivière
  • Sylvia Simonyi-Elmer
  • Denise Tanguay
  • Brenda Weinberg

You can find out more about our lifetime members on the Faculty page.

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