Dr. Emily Keller

03/11/2026

New Blog Post: Rupture and Repair isn't Just for the Playroom

For a person who takes pride in starting and ending sessions on time, this mistake was truly disorienting.

During a recent session, I heard my next client outside the door. I looked at the clock and felt confused. “What are they doing here so early?” I wondered. After all, I was only 20 minutes into a 45-minute session with a child. Then, it dawned on me: They weren’t early, I was actually late! I realized that I went out to the waiting room to meet the child I was with 30 minutes late. I was even more confused because I had never done anything like this.

Then, I realized what had happened.

Read more: https://wondermentfamilytherapy.com/rupture-and-repair-isnt-just-for-the-playroom/

03/11/2026

Parents, this is a great frame for nurturing.

03/11/2026

6 contact CEs in East Bay, CA.

Leslie Baker
April 18

Leslie Baker is hosting a training; Choosing Your Theoretical Home in Play Therapy: A philosophical and Clinical Guide for Play Therapists. Come join us for a day of fun and learning! If you have any questions, please reach out to outreach@calplaytherapy.org

Date: April 18, 2026
Time: 9:00 AM - 4:30 PM (registration starting around 8:30 AM)
Location 6680 Regional St. Dublin, CA 94568

Register here!
https://www.calplaytherapy.org/event/2026-04-18-choosing-your-theoretical-home-in-play-therapy-a-philosophical-clinical-guide-for-play-therapists-103/register

03/09/2026

Join me for "From Illness to Integration: The Universal Metaphors of Healing in Sandtray Therapy"
In this session, Dr. Keller explores universal metaphors of healing through sandtray case studies centered on illness. One case follows a child’s journey; another traces a family’s experience. Both illuminate how illness can function as a border—separating self from self and self from others, disrupting identity, attachment, and relational stability.

Through symbolic exploration in the sand, practitioners will examine how metaphor supports integration and relational repair. These powerful cases highlight the global language of sand and symbol as a pathway toward healing—sometimes through endurance, meaning-making, and transformation amid profound physical and emotional challenges.

🎯 Learning Objectives:
• Explore healing metaphors in sandtray through child and family case studies
• Examine illness as a symbolic and relational “border”
• Apply sandtray metaphor to support integration and relational repair

https://worldsandtherapy.org/page/AnnualConference

Sand Across the Globe 2026

From Illness to Integration: The Universal Metaphors of Healing in Sandtray Therapy
Presenter: Dr. Emily Keller, PhD, LPCC, RPT-S™, RST C/T

📅 Friday, June 26, 2026

• 6:00–9:00 PM EDT
• 5:00–8:00 PM CDT
• 4:00–7:00 PM MDT
• 3:00–6:00 PM PDT (California – Live)
• 2:00–5:00 PM AKDT
• 12:00–3:00 PM HST
• 8:00–11:00 AM AEST (June 27)
• 7:00–10:00 AM JST / KST (June 27)
• 6:00–9:00 AM SGT / CST (June 27)

📍 Virtual Only – Live Interactive Webinar
🎓 3.0 CE Hours
✅ NBCC & APT Approved
📚 Intermediate Level

✨ Description:
In this session, Dr. Keller explores universal metaphors of healing through sandtray case studies centered on illness. One case follows a child’s journey; another traces a family’s experience. Both illuminate how illness can function as a border—separating self from self and self from others, disrupting identity, attachment, and relational stability.

Through symbolic exploration in the sand, practitioners will examine how metaphor supports integration and relational repair. These powerful cases highlight the global language of sand and symbol as a pathway toward healing—sometimes through endurance, meaning-making, and transformation amid profound physical and emotional challenges.

🎯 Learning Objectives:
• Explore healing metaphors in sandtray through child and family case studies
• Examine illness as a symbolic and relational “border”
• Apply sandtray metaphor to support integration and relational repair

🌟 Presenter Spotlight:
Dr. Emily Keller is a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor, Registered Play Therapist Supervisor™, and Registered Sand Therapist Consultant/Trainer. She brings depth, clarity, and compassion to her clinical work, integrating sandtray, symbolism, and relational healing processes across developmental stages and family systems.

Many sands. Many stories. One shared ground for healing.

🔗 Register: https://worldsandtherapy.org/page/AnnualConference

03/07/2026

Sometime, I feel sad that humans have such widespread conflict. My husband reminds me that we are living through history. So, I ask, how can we do so with a bit more joy and delight in the beauty that is here? And how can we build more of it? So that one day, we, adults and leaders, stop fighting and use our words. You know, the way we want our children use their words.

03/03/2026

Under-rated parenting tip: Teach children to ask directly for what they want.

More to come on this topic.

03/03/2026

Don’t take it from me …

During her Monday appearance on "TODAY," the Bay Area's gold medalist shared some advice with parents who might be pushing their kids to stick with their sport. http://nbcbay.com/xURFwEH

02/26/2026

Free CEs for APT members!

02/26/2026

Ask me about this event!

✨ In-Person Registration is Open – Livermore/Pleasanton, California ✨

The World Association of Sand Therapy Professionals invites you to join us in Pleasanton for the 2026 Sand Across the Globe Conference — where connection is experienced face-to-face in shared space.

June 26–27, 2026
Attend Day 1, Day 2, or both
WASTP members receive discounted registration

In-person seating is limited to preserve depth, presence, and meaningful engagement.

Many sands. Many stories. One shared ground for healing.

🌄 Join us in Livermore/Pleasanton.
🔗 Register here: https://world-association-of-sand-therapy-professionals.ce-go.com/wastp-conference-2026-pleasanton-california

02/25/2026

Children don’t automatically become responsible thinkers who are confident and autonomous when they leave our homes. The roots are in early childhood.

02/25/2026

As my second son is preparing to wrap up his high school years, and wondering how to keep piano in his life wherever he goes, I am reminded of all the times we coerced him to practice: None.

He chose to play piano. He had multiple starts and stops. And he often practiced the bare minimum. Then, during a lesson, he asked his teacher to focus on theory. He stopped playing others’ music and started making his own.

Now, he will play hours a day. And all hours of the day. He has paid gigs. He plays with a jazz group. He plays for an improv group. The piano brings him challenge and joy.

I’m writing this as a therapist and as a mom who focused on raising children with an internal locus of control. One of the hardest parts, other than all the repetition in the younger years, was trusting the process.

In order to truly let go of placing an agenda on our children (through punishment, coercion, shame, etc.), my husband and I had to trust that theirs would emerge. So far, it is working beautifully.

Children need space to play and create so they can discover who they truly are. They need support for developing their autonomy and willingness to cooperate.

This is my focus in play therapy.