Part of our vision at Healing Hooves is to provide other professionals and volunteers with information, resources and direction in the area of equine facilitated mental health.
Healing Hooves offers nationally approved independent training workshops leading into a national certification process being developed by CanTRA. We also have a publication providing resources, research, program materials and other information.
Resources
In response to requests from other professionals Healing Hooves has developed a publication: An Introduction to Equine Facilitated Mental Health. This book is essentially a compilation of research, program materials and articles about Equine Facilitated Mental Health, Animal Assisted Therapy and the Human Animal Bond. Available in pdf format, this publication is regularly updated to include the most recent material available. You can request an order form by contacting us at sue@healinghooves.ca
Workshops
1. Explorations in Equine Facilitated Wellness
This small group experiential workshop provides an introduction to the growing field of Equine Facilitated Wellness. While it now also serves as the first step in the EFW-Canada and CanTRA certification program (details below), this workshop has been offered at Healing Hooves for the past eight years and is the first step for anyone interested in leaning about EFW and/ or about incorporating animals into their work.
See below for more details and current dates
2. Focus Training in Equine Facilitated Wellness.
The next step in the CanTRA certification program and the EFW training experience is a small group intensive and interactive training opportunity for people who want to explore in more depth the many different aspects of working in the field of EFW. It is offered over 2 separate sessions of six days, with one day off mid week for rest and integration.
This training includes opportunities to apply the theories learned to different client populations and scenarios through real life case studies, practice work with the horses, personal growth opportunities and interactions with Healing Hooves volunteers and former clients.
This training is firmly grounded in and explores the developmental and attachment based approach and paradigm (taught and developed by Dr. Gordon Neufeld www.gordonneufeld.com) which has been integrated into the approach at Healing Hooves. Relevant aspects of Centered riding, T-Touch, Connected riding and Natural horsemanship are also incorporated into this training.
See below for more details and current dates
Background
Healing Hooves started offering workshops in 2001 in response to the increasing number of phone calls and e-mails we were receiving from people who wanted to learn more about Equine Facilitated Counselling. Over the past eight years these workshops have grown from an informal one day workshop to a four day Exploration workshop and a two week long second phase focused training involving a team of professionals (both two and four legged!).
All of the Healing Hooves workshops are pre approved by and earn Continuing Education Units with The Canadian Counselling Association (CCA). The training workshops have also been used by participants to earn Continuing Education Units with many other professional bodies.
Independent National Certification Process in EFW
The Healing Hooves workshops have all been adopted and approved by CanTRA (Canadian Therapeutic Riding Association) as an integral part of the EFW-Canada certification program in Equine Facilitated Wellness for mental health/ education professionals and horse professionals. This process, and other training options, are explored and discussed in depth during the exploration workshop.
The Healing Hooves training experiences stand on their own and will benefit anyone looking to explore Equine Facilitated Wellness or Animal Assisted Therapy.
1. Explorations in Equine Facilitated Mental Health
Pre Approved by the CCA for 32 CEU hours
Adopted and approved by CanTRA as an integral part of the EFW-Canada certification program for mental health/ education professionals and horse professionals
This small group (maximum of 12 people) experiential four day workshop provides an introduction to the growing field of Equine Facilitated Wellness. While it now also serves as the first step in the proposed EFW-Canada certification program, this workshop has been offered at Healing Hooves for the past eight years and is the first step for anyone who is interested in learning about EFW. This workshop is the pre requisite for the Healing Hooves Focus Training a (described below).
This workshop will benefit anyone looking to explore incorporating animals into their work, and covers the following:
* Safety and risk management
* The human animal bond
* Body awareness and self awareness
* Ethics (including ethics from the perspective of the horse/ other animal)
* Importance of the relationship
* Introduction to a developmental and attachment based approach to counselling within EFMH
* Role of the horse as a sentient being and partner
* Scope of practice
* Experiential exercises
* Case studies
* Industry standards, training and certification programs, including those evolving through EFMH-Canada.
Participants will leave with an individualized action plan, mission and vision statements and practical options to pursue immediately. Workshop topics will be covered through a mix of discussions, presentations, demonstrations and hands on experiential exercises. Completion of this course serves as the pre requisite for entering the Healing Hooves Focus Training program described below.
Dates: May 23-26: Workshop Full
Cost: $800 plus GST
Location: Healing Hooves, near Calgary, AB.
Fee includes lunch and refreshments each day, comprehensive advanced reading materials, and CEU documentation.
2. Healing Hooves Focus Training in Equine Facilitated Wellness
Pre Approved by the CCA for 80 CEU hours
Adopted and approved by CanTRA as an integral part of the EFW-Canada certification program
The next step is a small group (maximum of 8 people) intensive and interactive training opportunity for people who have already completed a CanTRA approved Exploration workshop and want to explore in more depth the many different aspects of working in the field of EFW. It is offered over 2 separate sessions of six days, with one day off mid week for rest and integration.
Includes opportunities to apply the theories learned to different client populations and scenarios through real life case studies, practice work with the horses, personal growth opportunities and interactions with Healing Hooves volunteers and former clients.
This training is firmly grounded in and explores the developmental and attachment based approach and paradigm (taught and developed by Dr. Gordon Neufeld www.gordonneufeld.com) which has been integrated into the approach at Healing Hooves. Relevant aspects of Centered riding, T-Touch, Connected riding and Natural horsemanship are also incorporated into this training.
The learning objectives from this training include:
- Application of the 'theory' learned in the Exploration workshop to real life client scenarios
- Opportunities for personal growth work and increased self awareness through EFW exercises and interactions with the horses
- Exploration of Dr. Gordon Neufeld's attachment and developmental approach to counselling and working with families, and its application and relevance to EFW
- Exploration of the importance of the relationship and its application and relevance to EFW
- Increased understanding of working with children, teenagers and their families in an EFW setting
- Application of EFW with specific populations and needs including attachment disorders, trauma, abuse, eating disorders, family violence, anxiety, parent-child conflict and high risk behaviours.
- Exploration aspects of Centered riding, T-Touch, Connected riding and Natural horsemanship and their application to EFW (session are instructed by an advanced instructor in these fields)
- Exploration of practical aspects of EFW including equipment, suitable horses and facilities, insurance, and financial viability
- Further exploration of safety, risk management and ethical considerations
This program will include presentation and discussion of theoretical information, demonstrations, hands-on exercises with the horses, practice with each other, practice with Healing Hooves volunteers/ former clients, discussion, handouts, DVD viewing, and reading.
Training Dates: June 21-26 and September 13-18
Total Cost: $2,500 plus GST
Location: Healing Hooves, near Calgary, AB
Fee includes lunch and refreshments each day, comprehensive reading materials, textbooks, and CEU documentation.
Contact us at sue@healinghooves.ca to confirm availability and to request a registration form