Ryan D. Foster, PhD, LPC-S, CHST
Founder & Director

Ryan D. Foster, PhD

LPC-S · CHST · Counselor Educator · Author
PhD in Counseling Licensed Professional Counselor – Supervisor Certified Humanistic Sandtray Therapist Professor, Tarleton State University Routledge Author

Dr. Ryan D. Foster is a counselor educator, author, researcher, and clinician whose work sits at the intersection of humanistic theory, experiential therapy, and the training of mental health professionals. He is the developer of Humanistic Sandtray Therapy and the founder of the Humanistic Sandtray Therapy Institute.

He has been a full-time counselor educator since 2010 and currently serves as Professor and Interim Department Head in the Department of Counseling at Tarleton State University's Fort Worth campus (Texas A&M University System).

Train with Ryan
In Ryan's Own Words

How I Came to Humanistic Sandtray Therapy

I'm a humanistic psychotherapist, professor, and a self-identified nerd — sometimes bordering on dork. I first encountered sandtray therapy as a graduate student at Texas State University, where I took a sandtray class with Dr. Linda Homeyer. At the time, I had no idea she was a globally recognized expert in the field. She was the first — but not the last — professor I had who used her own book for the class.

A few years later, I had the honor of training under Dr. Steve Armstrong, who became my clinical supervisor and had developed the Humanistic Sandtray Therapy method. I became a Certified Humanistic Sandtray Therapist and eventually a co-trainer and supervisor. Dr. Armstrong and I continually redeveloped and expanded the philosophy and approach driving HST together.

Unfortunately, Steve's sudden passing in 2022 led me on a path of soul-searching and grief work. With the blessing of his wife, I made the decision to carry on his work — to continue training others in HST and to keep expanding its philosophical underpinnings and clinical practice.

Training clinicians in HST and serving clients at my private practice in Fort Worth are my most professionally fulfilling experiences. I am deeply honored to carry on Steve's legacy. My hope is that practitioners and their clients are able to experience the therapeutic power of Humanistic Sandtray Therapy — just as I did when I first discovered it.

"My hope is that practitioners and their clients are able to experience the therapeutic power of Humanistic Sandtray Therapy."

— Ryan D. Foster, PhD
Scholarly Identity

A Career Built on Humanistic Values

Ryan's work spans clinical practice, counselor education, research, and training — all grounded in a deep commitment to humanistic philosophy and the growth of the whole person.

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Developer of Humanistic Sandtray Therapy

Ryan is the originator of the HST approach — a synthesis of person-centered and Gestalt theories applied to sandtray therapy. His work has shaped how practitioners around the world conceptualize and facilitate sandtray as a humanistic modality.

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Routledge Author

His book Humanistic Sandtray Therapy, published by Routledge, is the definitive scholarly and clinical text on the approach — endorsed by leading figures in the field including Terry Kottman and Linda Homeyer.

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Counselor Educator

With a student-centered teaching philosophy organized around information, elucidation, exploration, and transformation, Ryan has trained hundreds of counselors-in-training since entering full-time faculty life in 2010.

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Researcher & Innovator

Ryan's research portfolio includes the NDEVR-Grief project — a cross-institutional VR and AI bereavement intervention — and the proposed ETHER Center for experiential therapies research, including sandtray, TTRPG, and virtual reality modalities.

Academic & Clinical Roles

Leadership Across Education & Practice

In addition to his work at HSTI, Ryan holds a number of active roles in counselor education, clinical training, and institutional leadership at Tarleton State University.

  • Professor & Interim Department HeadDepartment of Counseling, Tarleton State University – Fort Worth
  • DirectorHumanistic Sandtray Therapy Institute (HSTI)
  • Editorial Board MemberTwo peer-reviewed counseling journals
  • Licensed Professional Counselor – SupervisorState of Texas
  • Individual CounselorAdults, including sandtray therapy – Fort Worth, TX private practice
15+
Years as Counselor Educator
20+
Peer-Reviewed Publications
50+
National & State Presentations
Education
  • PhD in CounselingCounselor Education & Supervision
  • Master's in CounselingClinical Mental Health
Licensure & Credentials
Humanistic Sandtray Therapy book cover

Humanistic Sandtray Therapy
Ryan D. Foster, PhD

Published by Routledge
The Definitive Text

Humanistic Sandtray Therapy

Published by Routledge, Humanistic Sandtray Therapy is the foundational text for practitioners seeking to understand and apply Ryan's approach in clinical practice. It provides comprehensive theoretical grounding, practical guidance, and a richly humanistic vision for sandtray work with diverse clients.

The book serves as the scholarly backbone of all HSTI training programs and the CHST credential pathway — and stands as the defining contribution of Ryan's scholarly career to date.

"A must-read for any sandtray therapist seeking to deepen their theoretical grounding and clinical practice."

— Terry Kottman, PhD, Founder of Adlerian Play Therapy

"Foster brings a fresh and deeply humanistic lens to sandtray therapy that is both scholarly and accessible."

— Linda Homeyer, PhD, Co-author of Sandtray Therapy: A Practical Manual
Research & Scholarship

A Research Agenda Rooted in Healing & Transformation

Ryan's scholarship centers on two interconnected threads: the clinical science of humanistic sandtray therapy, and the intersection of transpersonal experiences — particularly near-death experiences — with grief, transformation, and counseling practice. His work spans peer-reviewed journals, books, book chapters, and national and international presentations.

Research Spotlight · Sandtray Therapy

Humanistic Sandtray Therapy

Ryan is the developer of Humanistic Sandtray Therapy and author of its definitive Routledge text. His sandtray scholarship includes empirical, theoretical, and applied work — from foundational articles on HST's humanistic underpinnings to a landmark meta-analysis of sand therapy outcomes.

  • Holliman & Foster (2023). Meta-analytic investigation of sand therapy formats and presenting problems. Journal of Child and Adolescent Counseling.
  • Foster (2023). Humanistic sandtray therapy: Theoretical underpinnings and practical applications. World Journal for Sand Therapy Practice.
  • Armstrong, Brown, & Foster (2015). Humanistic sandtray therapy with preadolescents. Journal of Child and Adolescent Counseling.
  • Foster, R. D. (2025). Humanistic sandtray therapy: The definitive guide to philosophy, therapeutic conditions, and the real relationship. Routledge.
  • Multiple Routledge book chapters on HST with children, adolescents, adults, and groups.
Research Spotlight · Transpersonal & Near-Death Experiences

Near-Death Experiences, Grief & Transformation

Ryan's doctoral dissertation examined the effects of NDE learning on grief — a thread he has continued for over 15 years. His transpersonal scholarship spans grief intervention, spontaneous mediumship experiences, and cutting-edge VR simulation of near-death states.

  • Khandan, Ennemoser, Foster et al. (2025). VR intervention to reduce death anxiety via near-death experience simulation. Frontiers in Virtual Reality.
  • Foster, Maxwell, & Butler (2020). Coping with cancer: Effects of learning about near-death experiences. Journal of Near-Death Studies.
  • Foster, Kahoe, & Nardelli (2018). Spontaneous mediumship experiences among NDErs. Journal of Near-Death Studies.
  • Foster & Holden (2014). Eternal connection: Effects of learning about NDEs on adult grief. Journal of Loss and Trauma.
  • Foster, James, & Holden (2009). Practical applications of NDE research. In The Handbook of Near-Death Experiences (Praeger/ABC-CLIO).
  • Foster (PI) et al. (Under Review). Continuing bonds: VR- and AI-supported NDE intervention for bereavement-related depression. Texas A&M System REF Grant ($250,000).
Get in Touch

Connect with Ryan

Whether you're interested in HST training, supervision, consultation, speaking engagements, or scholarly collaboration — Ryan would love to hear from you.

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