Dr Madeleine De Little worked with children and adults for 40 years as a teacher, a community worker, a recreation leader, and a counsellor. She had extensive training in counselling, play therapy and in particular sand tray therapy and the Satir Model.
Madeleine was the research chair of the Satir Institute of the Pacific and a faculty member of the Banmen China Satir and a faculty member of the Banmen Satir China Management Centre.
In 2008 at a retreat in Vancouver, Dr John Banmen asked the participants to focus their time together on what was our purpose on this earth. Madeleine made a decision that developing, and teaching “Satir in the Sand Tray” and helping victims of relational trauma was and continues to be, her purpose.
She went on to design and teach Neuroscience and Satir in the Sand Tray to Satir Institutes and other organizations both locally in Canada and Internationally.
Madeleine then wrote "Where Words Can't Reach: Neuroscience and the Satir Model in the Sand Tray.2nd Edition" This book is intended for students and qualified counsellors and is currently translated into Mandarin.
As if that was not enough, Madeleine went on to complete her PhD in the personal growth of counsellors when learning the Neuroscience and Satir in the Sand Tray. The findings showed the profound and lasting personal changes that happened for the participants.
Madeleine specialized in trauma and she worked primarily with adults who had experienced complex acute life-changing trauma. Currently, her Associates and NSST Trained Counsellors continue her work specifically with children, families and teens who are experiencing anxiety, depression, loss of a loved one or going through family separation.
Madeleine dabbled in media production with a 13-week radio show about Shame interviewing professionals and individuals who have experienced profound collective shame. The show is called "Shedding light on your Dark Side" and the episodes are in podcast form and can be accessed on this website under “My Radio Show/ Podcast.” Madeleine also did a podcast for all front line workers in the USA with regard to Covid19 and the impact on them in terms of moral injury and impacts on relationships, the nervous system and the body.
Dr De Little was the 2021 Recipient of the Canadian Counsellor and Psychotherapy (CCPA) Counsellor Practioner Award.
Madeleine’s legacy created a network of trained NSST Therapists who are available to teach workshops, and conduct trainings or Supervision for NSST.
Further information about Dr De Little can be found throughout this website and through her resources and media.