To comprehensively enhance the professional competence of primary and secondary school teachers in mental health education and promote the implementation of scientific and standardized psychological counseling techniques in school settings, on January 8, 2026, two specialized training sessions—"Application of Structured Psychological Counseling Techniques" and "Self-Awareness and Exploration through Sandplay Therapy"—were successfully held. These sessions were jointly organized by the Beijing Changier Education Foundation and the Beijing Xingyu Fusheng Charity Foundation, with strong support from the Dujiangyan Municipal Education and Sports Bureau, and were specifically designed for primary and secondary school teachers in Dujiangyan. This event adopted a "dual-track, precision-targeted" approach, focusing on different psychological counseling pathways and attracting over 100 frontline teachers and key psychology staff from 49 schools in Dujiangyan. Through systematic instruction, hands-on practice, and case study discussions, it effectively strengthened teachers' foundational competencies in psychological education.

Structured psychological counseling: bringing a framework to psychological counseling

The training, guided by the principles of "practical application and implementation first", systematically delivered the core concepts and standardized procedures of structured psychological counseling techniques. The curriculum innovatively employs a four-dimensional model of "theoretical essentials + case deconstruction + simulated practice + group discussion" to provide an in-depth exploration of the technology's key features: "standardized processes, clearly defined objectives, and transparent steps." It offers comprehensive analysis across five typical educational scenarios—individual counseling, classroom group guidance, preliminary psychological crisis intervention, classroom integration, and home-school collaboration—complete with real-world cases and adaptive techniques.

In the hands-on session, participating teachers gained immersive mastery of the "five-stage universal process"—establishing rapport, focusing on problems, building consensus on solutions, implementing actions, and conducting reviews—through role-playing and group exercises. Many teachers have reported that structured techniques serve as a "psychological counseling map", transforming previously vague and difficult-to-approach student mental health work into a systematic process, significantly enhancing both the effectiveness of counseling and their confidence in providing it.

Sandplay therapy workshop: discovering yourself in a miniature world

Another training session, led by guest sandplay therapist Ms. Deng Juan, focused on the theme "Self-Discovery and Exploration through Sandplay". It guided teachers to enter the world of sandplay from dual perspectives—as both participants and facilitators. The training draws upon Jungian analytical psychology and the concept of "free and protected space" to explore the symbolic meanings and therapeutic mechanisms of sandplay therapy.

Teachers first experienced sandtray creation firsthand as "players", engaging in dialogue with sand objects in a tranquil and focused atmosphere to release and become aware of their own emotions. Subsequently, through simulated counseling interactions, they learned how to create a safe environment, ask open-ended questions, and practice non-judgmental listening. The sandbox has evolved beyond a professional counseling tool into a dynamic medium through which teachers can understand students' inner worlds, foster classroom cohesion, and inspire creativity, opening a window of "non-verbal communication" in mental health education.

Dual-track integration: empowering education in practice

Although the two training sessions employed different approaches, they both addressed the "student-centered" educational philosophy and the practical needs of teachers' professional development:

From "knowing How" to "knowing when": Structured techniques provide a replicable and easy-to-implement working framework, while sandplay deepens emotional understanding and symbolic expression capabilities. Together, they complement each other, broadening teachers' toolkit for responding to diverse students and situations.

From "helping others" to "cultivating oneself": Training not only enhances skills but also emphasizes teachers' psychological self-awareness and personal growth. Particularly in sandplay experiences, teachers must first complete their own self-exploration before they can accompany students with greater clarity and emotional stability;

From "single-point intervention" to "systematic integration": The methods learned can be flexibly applied across multiple settings including individual counseling, group activities, classroom instruction, and home-school communication, enabling schools to build a sustainable mental health education system.

Working together to support students' mental well-being

This training represents a deep collaboration between Beijing Changier Education Foundation and Beijing Xingyu Fusheng Charity Foundation in the field of mental health teacher empowerment, with full guidance and support from the Dujiangyan Education and Sports Bureau. All parties continue to integrate professional resources and public welfare efforts, committed to bringing practical and cutting-edge mental health education concepts and methods to local primary and secondary schools, and to supporting teachers as vital guardians of students' psychological well-being.

Moving forward, all parties will continue to conduct systematic and progressive teacher training programs, working together to integrate mental health education into daily school life in a more scientific, standardized, and effective way, thereby paving a warm and solid path toward psychological well-being for the healthy growth of children and adolescents.

Education starts from the heart, and we journey together.