IRC status is only available to trainees residing in countries without an ISST Society.

Application process for formal recognition as an ISST Independent Route CandidateIRC *

  • Trainee identifies a Teaching Member whom they wish to have as their IRC Avisor. Alternatively, they may contact the  ISST Secretary or an ISST Teaching Member for advice.
  • The ISST Liaison, ISST TM or DGC can help the trainee identify an ISST Teaching Member willing to serve as trainee’s advisor. 
  • The Liaison may also act as advisor where appropriate.
  • The advisor helps trainees plan the steps needed to become an ISST Candidate. 

*This application process applies only to those living in a country which has no ISST Society.

Role of the Advisor

  • The advisor checks the trainee’s application to assure that it conforms to ISST requirements for candidacy as laid out in the Rules of Procedure Appendix A. 
  • Letters of recommendation from three ISST Teaching Members regarding the trainee’s suitability as an ISST Independent Route Candidate via the Independent Route. The recommendations cannot be provided by the personal process therapist of the applicant.
  • The recommendations are sent directly to the ISST secretary after the IRC application form has been submitted.
  • When the application documents are in order, checked and signed off by the Advisor, the Independent Route Candidate submits their application form along with a CV to the ISST secretary. If the application is approved, the applicant becomes a IRC ISST.
  • The Advisor reviews the IRC’s progress towards certification at least annually.
  • The Advisor has to inform the IRC that Sandplay work must be supervised by an ISST Teaching Member and review this at their regular meetings.

Letters of Recommendation for ISST Candidacy must be from an ISST Teaching Member. The writing of a letter of recommendation is not to be taken lightly and authors should seriously consider their ethical and professional responsibilities in this undertaking. If the person writing a recommendation needs further information they are encouraged to ask the applicant for an interview.

The letter should give a description of how the applicant meets the personal and professional requirements of a prospective ISST member. The following information should be included as a minimum:

  • Capacity for commitment to a long and demanding training
  • Capacity to learn
  • Capacity to think symbolically.
  • Ability to engage constructively with criticism.
  • Evidence of insight into depth psychology.
  • A basic knowledge of sandplay eg. Reading of basic sandplay texts, attended conferences or seminars.
  • Have read and understood the ISST Ethical code