Curriculum Vitae

Dr. BRENDAN HARDING

MB.,BCh,.B.A.O.,M.Ch.,F.R.C.S.I., I.S.S.T..

Diplomat of the International Society of Sandplay Therapy

Psychotherapy Practice

Type of practice

My psychotherapy practice consists mainly of sandplay therapy with adults and some children.
There is also a strong spiritual dimension to the work with certain clients. I give instruction in meditation to individuals and I have led one group in a course in meditation over 8 weeks.
I work with individuals who may be suffering from depression, therapists in training for sandplay, some patients from my surgical practice and clients who are in a process of personal development.

Invited Lectures and Presentations

2025: Dublin. 23 September. Sugarclub Theatre.
The Psychology of Carl Jung.
A Seed Talk Lecture.

2025: Galway. June. Roisin Dubh Theater.
The Psychology of Carl Jung.
A Seed Talk Lecture.

2025: Castlebar, IE. 29 January. Linenhall Theatre.
The Psychology of Carl Jung.
A Seed Talk Lecture.

2020: Dublin. November. Leaders in Healthcare Conference.
Jung, symbols and the Surgeon.
Poster presentation and detailed presentation via poster.

2019: Berlin. September.
Healing hands.
A 75-minute workshop presentation describing the coming together of Sandplay and Surgery.

2018: The Tara Center for Personal Development.
Black Gold and Merlin and the Sacred Space.
2 case presentations.
A 75-minute presentation on the use of therapy and surgery. A unique vision of what is possible in the world of surgery. How surgery was used with therapy in the healing of a man who had been very badly abused as a child and had later suffered from several periods of imprisonment.

2018: London. Spring.
2-day teaching session.

2018: Carrick on Shannon. January. First Fortnight.
Jung Symbols and Songs of the Soul
John Feeley, Eleanor Shanley and myself.

2017: Clifden Arts Week.
Jung Symbols and Songs of the Soul.
A combined presentation with internationally acclaimed classical guitarist John Feeley, and singer Eleanor Shanley, and my own Jungian material.

2017: London. Autumn.
2-day teaching session for BISS.

2015: London. Spring.
2-day teaching session for BISS.

2014: London. Autumn.
2-day teaching session for BISS.

2013: Tampa. Autumn. Sandplay Therapy Institute of America.

2013: Dallas. October. Jung Society of North Texas.
Psyche and Soma.

2013: London. March. British and Irish Sandplay Society.
2-day teaching.

2012: London. November. British and Irish Sandplay Society.
Teaching.

2012: Seoul. October. Korean Association of Sandplay Therapy. Annual meeting.
4-day dream workshops and 2-day presentations.

2012: Toronto. September. Canadian Association of Sandplay Therapy. Annual meeting.
A case presentation on the theme of emergence.

2008: Savannah, GA, USA. ISST Conference, American Association for Sandplay Therapy.
3-hour workshop.
About the case mentioned below to the attendees available.

2007: Cambridge , UK. ISST conference.
A case presentation about the recovery of a woman whose husband became paralysed in an accident 17 years previously.

2003-08: Several hospitals in Northern Ireland.
Myers Briggs Team-Building workshops.
Semi-annual cohorts for nurses from Emergency Room, and surgical department. Half day and full day workshops.

2003-07: London.
Twice per year.
Full day teaching to the British and Irish Society for Sandplay Therapy (BISS).

2001: Seattle. International Society for Sandplay Therapy.
90-minute workshop on the use of Sandplay with Surgical Patients.

2001: Omagh, Northern Ireland. December. The Tara Center for Personal Development.
Full day workshop concerning an introduction to sandplay and training requirements.

1999: Vancouver, BC, Canada. The International Society of Sandplay Therapists (ISST).
The case concerns a man who had repressed memories of severe abuse in childhood.

1999: St. Johns, Newfoundland, Canada. April. The Provincial Employment Assistance Program Conference.
An overview presentation of Jungian psychology and Sandplay Therapy.

1999: Cornerbrook, Newfoundland. The Newfoundland and Labrador Surgical Society.
A special presentation about the value of Sandplay in the management of some surgical patients.

1999: Toronto. The Canadian Association of Sandplay Therapy (CAST) International Conference.
Sandplay and Surgery.

1988: St. Johns, Newfoundland. The Provincial Palliative Care Conference.
The Healing Journey.
Concerning a surgical patient who then used Sandplay to bring about a powerful inner healing as he journeyed toward death.

1998: Rifin, North Wales. The British and Irish Sandplay Society, Northwest Section.
Presentation of a case concerning a man who had been severely abused in childhood by parents and who had been jailed on two occasions.

1997: Gander, Newfoundland. Dr. James Paton Memorial Hospital.
Sandplay and Surgery.

1997: Manchester, UK. British and Irish Sandplay Society (BISS). All Hollows Conference.
The case presented was that of a surgical patient who underwent surgery for cancer of the bowel and then became a client in Sandplay and completed a deep process before his death nine months later.

1995: Stuttgart, DE. International Society for Sandplay Therapy. International Conference.

2003-07: London.
The Madonna under the Earth.
A case presentation.

1994: St. Johns, Newfoundland. Waterford Psychiatric Hospital.
Workshop.
An introduction to Jungian Psychology and Sandplay Therapy.

1994: Toronto. Canadian Association of Sandplay Therapy (CAST).
Presentation of a case.
The meeting was facilitated by Professor Kawai, a psychiatrist and sandplay therapist from Kyoto Japan. He is also a founding member of ISST. This was a case of a young woman who’s search for her mother brought her to my presentation The Madonna under the Earth in Toronto.

1993: Toronto. Canadian Association of Sandplay Therapy (CAST). Inaugural meeting.
Invited to become a founding member and was elected secretary of that organization.

1991: Dublin. St. James University Hospital. Department of Psychiatry.
A presentation on Sandplay.

Psychotherapy Training

Sandplay Training

1989-96: Rhode Island, USA.
Dr. Agnes Bayley (ISST).
My training consisted of 100 hours per year. I also trained in England where Dr. Bayley works for 6 months of the year.

1997-98, 1998-99: Toronto.
Jane Damude-Empey.
Damude-Empey is a Sandplay Therapist and Family Therapist. She is also a Buddhist practitioner who has taken bodhisattva vows.

2004-08:
Robert Lee, Ph.D.
Gestalt training and supervision. Dr. Lee has authored several books on Gestalt therapy and is a member of the Cleveland Institute for Gestalt therapy.

Sensory Work

1989-95: Rhode Island.
Dr. Agnes Bayley (ISST).
Dr. Bayley is well known for what is called pre-sandplay or sensory work. She has given workshops in Ireland for several Health Boards. I have learned these techniques for working with early trauma during my long association with her and incorporate them into my work. These approaches are applicable to adults as well as to children.

Sandplay in Switzerland

1991: Zollikon, CH.
Dr. Martin Kallff (ISST).
A month-long training with Dr. Kaliff and approximately eight other Jungian Analysts from Zurich, Italy, and Germany. This program was organized by the Extension Program of UC Berkeley.

Sandplay Supervision

1989-96: Rhode Island, USA & UK.
Dr. Agnes Bayley (ISST).
2001-03: Toronto.
Dr. N. Hardie.
1997: Manchester, UK.
Mike Falcus (ISST).
1995: Toronto.
Dr. Nehama Baum (ISST).
1995: Connecticut, USA.
Estelle Weinrib (ISST).
1994: Boulder, CO, USA.
Betty Jackson (ISST).

Psychiatric Internship

1974-75: University College, Dublin.
One year of psychiatry and obstetrics.
1991: Dublin, IE. St. James University Hospital.
2-month Internship.
Psychiatric Unit of Our Lady’s Hospital for Sick Children, Crumlin, and the Behaviour Modification Centre at Blanchardstown, Co.
1997: Palo Alto, CA, USA. Consulting Psychologists Press.
Certified Facilitator for Myers Briggs
Permissions dispensed to administer the MBTI.
2003: July. UK.
Step 1 OPP.
Training course for administering the MBTI in the UK.
2005: UK.
Step 2 OPP.
Various workshops related to the use of the Myers Briggs with teams.
2003: April. Edinburg.
EMDR, level one training.

Healing Touch Training

2001: Newfoundland.
Level one training with follow up weekly meeting with Healing Touch Therapists for 4 months.

Publications

(2002, December). The Ferryman. The Journal of Sandplay Therapy.
(2005, July). The Hunter: A Lesson from a patient. The Journal of Sandplay Therapy.
(2007, December). The Grim reaper (the wounded animus). The Journal of Sandplay Therapy.
(1992). Persistent vegetative state: a condition of innocence. .Journal of Humane Medicine.
(2002). Sisyphus dispossessed: a physician loses his stammer. The Journal of Sandplay Therapy, 31(1).
(2021). The boat as symbol of the self. The Journal of Sandplay Therapy, 30 (2).
(2021). Called or uncalled…always present: regina and the sun. The Journal of Sandplay Therapy, 30 (1).

Conferences Attended

2019: September. Berlin. International Society for Sandplay Therapy.
2019: January & June. Santa Barbara, CA, USA. The School of Awakening.
2018: January 16. Monterey, CA, USA. The School of Awakening.
A 6-month online course.
2018: September. Greece. Eckart Tolle.
2011: September. Ottawa. Canadian Association of Sandplay Therapy.
2011: September. Seoul. Korean Association of Sandplay Therapy.
2011: Ascona, CH. Odyssey, International School for Analytical Psychology (ISAP).
2010: June. Gersau, CH. ISAP.
A week-long meeting outside Zurich.
2008: June. Savannah, GA, USA. American Association for Sandplay Therapy.
Biannual conference.
2007: August. Cambridge, UK. International Society for Sandplay Therapy.
International conference.
2007: New York Center for Jungian Studies.
2007: Belfast.
Week-long meeting.
2007: Galway.
2005: New York Center for Jungian Studies.
Week-long meeting.
2004: Kerry.
2003: August. Seattle. International Society for Sandplay Therapy, International conference.
1999: August. Vancouver. International Society for Sandplay Therapy. International Conference.
1999: September. Rhode Island, USA. International Conference.
A gathering of people who have worked with Dr. Agnes Bayley during the last 15 years.
1998: June. Denver. ISST. International Conference: Sandplay and Buddhism.
Facilitated by Dr. Martin Kalff (ISST Switzerland) and Prof. H. Kawai (ISST Japan).
1998: September. Toronto. Canadian Association of Sandplay Therapy. National Conference.
1998: February. Rifin, North Wales, UK. British and Irish Society for Sandplay Therapy (BISST).
1998: April. Asilomar in Monterey, CA, USA. Sandplay Therapists of America, National Conference.
1997: Verona, IT. ISST. International Conference.
1996: Cheshire, UK. BISST. Seminar.
1995: Stuttgart, DE. ISST. International Conference.
1995: Rhode Island, USA. Sensory Work Seminar.
1995 Yorkshire, UK. BISST. Padmore University.
1995: Boulder, CO, USA. Sensory Work Seminar.
1994: Toronto. ISST. Sandplay Workshop. Prof. H. Kawaii.
1993: Toronto. Canadian Association of Sandplay Therapy (CAST). First national and international meeting.
1992: San Francisco. Sandplay Therapists of America (STA). National Conference.

Meditation & Psycho-Spiritual Training

Meditation

1985: Dublin, IE. Transcendental Meditation.
Began meditation practice with a 7-day course.
1987-89: Ireland & Saudi Arabia.
Continued with the practice of Christian meditation in particular using the method of John Main.
1989: India. Shantivanum Ashram.
One month with Fr. Bede Griffith and 10 lay-monks from the Montreal John Main Monastery.
1991: Montreal. John Main Monastery.
Weekend retreat.
1990-92: Sandymount in Dublin, IE. Christian meditation groups.
1995:
Developed interest in meditation practice of Thích Nhat Hạnh and Samatha Vipassana through contact with a Buddhist group in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, and through my own reading.
1995: Gander, NF, CA.
Spent one week with Buddhist Samatha Vipassana meditation instructor.
1997: Winter. Gander, NF, CA.
Facilitated an eight-week meditation course.
1997-99: Gander, NF, CA. St. Joseph’s Convent.
Attended a meditation group based on the work of Anthony de Mello under the direction of Sister Corona Wyse.
2000: Cape Breton, NS, CA. Gampo Abbey.
1-week meditation intensive training with a personal teacher.

Psycho-Spiritual Training

2019: Jan–June. California, USA. School of Awakening.
A 6-month course including a 5-day retreat in Monterey and a second 5-day retreat in Santa Barbara.
2005-18:
Many personal retreats from 3 to 7 days at Moone Abbey Co Kildare.
2019: Jan-June.
Graduate of the School of Awakening. (Eckhart Tolle)
2002: Dzogchen Beara, Cork, IE. Buddhist Retreat Center.
7-day meditation retreat.
1998: Codroy Valley, NF, CA. Hermitage.
7-day retreat with spiritual director Fr. Nick O’Keefe.
1995: Montreal, Quebec, CA. Benedictine Monastery.
Meditation Retreat.
1988: Southern India. Shantivanum Ashram.
One month with Fr. Bede Griffith.
1989: Cork, IE. Carmelite Convent.
The God of Surprises. A 3-day workshop on the book by Gerald Lynch, SJ.
1986: Dublin, IE. Cenacle Retreat House.
3-day workshop on the Shadow (Jung) with Spiritual Director. Sr. Peggy Cronin.
1986:
3-day workshop on The Prayer Aspects of The Myers Briggs Indicator.
1986: Dublin, IE. The Cenacle Retreat House.
Weekend workshop on the writings of Matthew Fox.
1985: Dublin, IE. The Cenacle Retreat House.
Weekend workshop on The Myers Briggs Typology Indicator.
1985: Dublin, IE. Abbey of the Carmelite Monks.
7-day intensive course on Spiritual Pilgrims, a book by Thomas Welsh comparing the works of St. John of the Cross and Teresa of Avila to the individuation process in Jungian psychology.
1984: Dublin, IE. Institute of Psychosynthesis.
3-day workshop.
1984: Dublin, IE. Cenacle Retreat House.
Fully Human Fully Alive. A weekend retreat based on the writings of John Powell. Facilitated by the Sisters of the Cenacle Retreat House.

Membership of Learned Organizations

Canadian Association for Sandplay Therapy.
Founding Member and Current Teaching Member.
The British and Irish Society for Sandplay Therapy.
Teaching Member.
International Society for Sandplay Therapy.
Teaching Member.
American association for Sandplay Therapy.
Associate Member.
Borealis.
Member.
A group of therapists in Northern Ireland who organize further training for therapists, principally in Gestalt Therapy.

Referees

Agnes Bayley Ph,D.,ISST.
Consultant in Child Care
Sakonnet Associates
44 West Main Rd, Little Compton, Rhode Island, 02837 USA.
Dr. Bayley is a social worker and analytical psychotherapist, who works in Britain and Rhode Island. She has a special interest in children and attachment disorders

Nena Hardie, Ph,D., ISST.
431 Brunswick Ave., Toronto, Ontario M5R 2Z2
Dr. Hardie is a clinical psychologist in private practice in Toronto, Ontario, Canada and a lecturer in the Social Sciences and Womens Studies’ at York University Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Sr. P. Cronin
St. Annes Lodge, Taylors Hill, Galway, Ireland.
Sister Cronin is a former Sister Superior of the Sisters of the Cenacle who have houses world-wide, including Canada and Ireland. She is at present a spiritual advisor to an order of Religious in Ireland (until July 03, 2026).