Do you want to help your clients, and yourself, find new levels of understanding, insight, healing and growth? Incorporating interactions and relationships with animals into your approach and environment, through Equine Facilitated Wellness (‘EFW’) and Animal Assisted Therapy (‘AAT’), can do just that.
Part of our vision at Healing Hooves is to provide other professionals and volunteers with information, resources and direction in the areas of EFW and AAT.
Healing Hooves training workshops have long been recognized andpre approved by the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association (CCPA). They have also met continuing education and other certification requirements for many other professional bodies, for many years. A number of these models are explored at trainings, including the new CanadianNational Association for Equine Facilitated Wellness (NAEFW) model.
Sue McIntosh is a Certified Canadian Counsellor and a Certified NAEFW Trainer with fifteen years experience in these fields. We have been offering trainings at Healing Hooves for over ten years.
While our trainings are designed to meet the NAEFW core requirements, as per Canadian and International best standards for certification, Healing Hooves is independent of and separate from all professional associations developing and implementing certification programs.
The Healing Hooves approach is firmly grounded in the developmental and attachment based paradigm of Dr Gordon Neufeld, with whom Sue McIntosh has extensive training and is acting faculty member.
Key aspects of Centred Riding, Connected Riding, Connected groundwork and T-TEAM have been integrated into the Healing Hooves approach and are taught at trainings by our long time equine coach Sue Falkner March.
Resources
We are excited to announce that our therapeutic children's stories, which we have been incorporating into the work at Healing Hooves for many years, are available for purchase. You can buy just one story or (most cost effective) buy them as a package. You can order your copy directly through the publisher: www.blurb.ca or e-mail us at sue@healinghooves.ca for more information.
In response to requests from other professionals Healing Hooves has developed
a collection of articles about Equine Facilitated Mental Health, Animal Assisted Therapy
and the Human Animal Bond aimed at adolescents, parents, caregivers and professionals. Again you can order one or more article of your choice or order them all as a package. You can
order your copy directly through the publisher: www.blurb.ca or e-mail us at sue@healinghooves.ca for more information.
Workshops
1. Explorations in Equine Facilitated Wellness and Animal Assisted Therapy - New Distance Learning Component!
This small group experiential workshop explores the growing fields of Equine Facilitated Wellness and Animal Assisted Therapy. This workshop has been offered at Healing Hooves for the past more than ten years and is the first step for anyone interested in learning more about EFW and AAT and/ or about incorporating animals into their work. While this workshop introduces the work of Dr. Gordon Neufeld and its application to EFW / AAT (the underlying approach at Healing Hooves), and is designed to meet national certification requirements, its focus is broad, and the aim is to explore and introduce a wide range of approaches and theories within the EFW/ AAT fields.
See below for more details and current dates
2. Focus Training in Equine Facilitated Wellness and Animal Assisted Therapy.
The next step in 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 an additional distance learning component.
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 and TEAM, Connected groundwork and riding, and natural horsemanship are also incorporated into this training.See below for more details and current dates
3. Personal Development Workshops.
Come join us on a journey of personal discovery, development and growth with our team of two and four legged healers and guides. So often a day - or perhaps just a moment - with a horse can provide breakthroughs, insight and healing where years of more traditional work has not. We invite you to come experience the acceptance, rest, empathy and joy that so many others have told us they first felt in the presence of a horse.
Our Personal Development workshops focus on a wide range of themes tailored to the specific needs and goals of each group. These may include: Finding emotional rest, boundaries and assertiveness, leadership, dependency and needs, anxiety and alarm, feeling safe, frustration, emotional expression, and understanding sensitivity.
See below for more details and current dates
4. Integration Training:
October 7-12, 2013
The final step of the NAEFW certification process, this small group training helps you start and/ or enhance your practice in the EFW/ AAT fields through consolidating your learning to date, identifying and addressing any gaps in that learning, and finalising your EFW scope of practice and certification package. Most importantly of all we give you lots of guided and supported practice working with the horses, clients and each other. While the primary context in terms of certification requirements is the NAEFW model, there will be flexibility to discuss other models that you may be working towards. The week will include some individual mentoring time which will count towards the mentoring requirement for NAEFW certification. We also review the NAEFW requirements for grand parenting, mentor and trainer as applicable.
Background
Part of our vision at Healing Hooves is to provide information, resources and direction in the areas of EFW and AAT. As such we have now been developing and offering training workshops for well over a decade. Healing Hooves training workshops have long been recognized and pre approved by the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association. They have also met continuing education and other certification requirements for many other professional bodies, for many years. A number of these models are explored at trainings, including the new Canadian National Association for Equine Facilitated Wellness (NAEFW) model. While our trainings are designed to meet the NAEFW core requirements, as per Canadian and International best standards for certification, Healing Hooves is independent of and separate from all professional associations developing and implementing certification programs.
The Healing Hooves approach is firmly grounded in the developmental and attachment based paradigm of Dr Gordon Neufeld, with whom Sue McIntosh has extensive training and is acting faculty member.
We are frequently asked whether participants will be 'certified' after completing Healing Hooves Training. From the outset - and we have been offering training for over ten years! - we have resisted pressure to do this. We concur with and follow Canadian and international best standards on certification - International Standard ISO/IEC 17024 - that certification should come from independent and nationally recognised professional associations - and not from the organisations providing the training. This greatly enhances the credibility of the certification earned and better protects the interests of the people and horses we work with. You can read more about this subject in The Certification Conundrum.
There are a number of professional bodies in North America that offer and/ or are developing such certification processes which the Healing Hooves training programs are recognised by and qualify towards. Key among this is the National Association for Equine Facilitated Wellness (NAEFW). These are collaborative non profit initiatives involving a wide range of experienced professionals from all aspects of the field. At the Exploration Workshop we review the current status of the various certification options, including the NAEFW model, and help participants determine the path which best fits their scope of practice and goals in the areas of EFW and AAT.
Detailed Workshop Information and Dates:
1. Explorations in Equine Facilitated Wellness and Animal Assisted Therapy
Pre Approved by the CCPA
This small group experiential workshop, combined with a distance learning component, presents the theory and explores the growing fields of Equine Facilitated Wellness (EFW) and Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT). This workshop has been offered in various formats at Healing Hooves for over ten years and is the first step for anyone interested in learning more about EFW/ AAT. While this workshop introduces the work of Dr. Gordon Neufeld applied to EFW/AAT (the underlying approach at Healing Hooves), is the first training step and presents the national certification model developed by the National Association for Equine Facilitated Wellness, its focus remains broad; the aim is to explore and introduce a wide range of approaches and theories within the EFW/ AAT fields.
This combined training 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/ EFW
* Role of the horse as a sentient being and partner
* Scope of practice
* Experiential exercises
* Case studies
* Industry standards, training and certification programs.
This training includes a comprehensive training manual and materials, 15 hours distance learning component, 15 hours (two days) onsite workshop and optional post workshop assignments. Lunches and refreshments are provided for the onsite portion.
Completion of this course serves as the pre requisite for entering the Healing Hooves Focus Training program described below.
Dates: May 25-26, 2013
Cost: $595 plus GST including Distance Education
Location: Healing Hooves, near Calgary, AB.
2. Focus Training in Equine Facilitated Wellness and Animal Assisted Therapy:
A Developmental and Attachment Based Approach
Pre Approved by the CCPA
This small group intensive training opportunity is for people who have already completed an introductory training. Offered over two sessions of six days, with additional pre and post distance learning components, this training is firmly grounded in and explores the developmental and attachment based paradigm of Dr. Gordon Neufeld integrated into the Healing Hooves approach. Aspects of Centered riding, T-Touch, and Connected groundwork are incorporated, co-facilitated by advanced instructors in these fields. While designed to meet steps 3 and 4 in the NAEFW training program, this training has been offered in various formats at Healing Hooves for the past five years, can be attended as separate weeks, and separately from any particular certification model.
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 (session are co-facilitated by a faculty member from the Neufeld institute)
- 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 of 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 training includes a comprehensive training manual and materials, distance learning component, ten days small group onsite workshop, two days guided integration days, and optional post workshop assignments. Lunches and refreshments are provided for the onsite portions.
Training Dates: June 17-22 and September 16-21, 2013
Total Cost: $1,395 per week or $2,500 for both plus GST (incl. distance learning)
Location: Healing Hooves, near Calgary, AB
3. Personal Development Workshops
Come join us on a journey of personal discovery, development and growth with our team of two and four legged healers and guides. So often a day - or perhaps just a moment - with a horse can provide breakthroughs, insight and healing where years of more traditional work has not. We invite you to come experience the acceptance, rest, empathy and joy that so many others have told us they first felt in the presence of a horse.
Our Personal Development workshops focus on a wide range of themes tailored to the specific needs and goals of each group. These may include: Finding emotional rest, boundaries and assertiveness, leadership, dependency and needs, anxiety and alarm, feeling safe, frustration, emotional expression, and understanding sensitivity.
Workshop Dates: May 4-5, July 20-21, 2013
Total Cost: $425 for one weekend, $750 for two, plus GST
Location: Healing Hooves, near Calgary, AB
4. Integration Training
The final step of the NAEFW certification process, this small group training helps you start and/ or enhance your practice in the EFW/ AAT fields through consolidating your learning to date, identifying and addressing any gaps in that learning, and finalising your EFW scope of practice and certification package. Most importantly of all we give you lots of guided and supported practice working with the horses, clients and each other. While the primary context in terms of certification requirements is the NAEFW model, there will be flexibility to discuss other models that you may be working towards. The week will include some individual mentoring time which will count towards the mentoring requirement for NAEFW certification. We also review the NAEFW requirements for grand parenting, mentor and trainer as applicable.
Workshop Dates: October 7-12, 2013
Total Cost: $1,295 plus GST
Location: Healing Hooves, near Calgary, AB
Contact us at sue@healinghooves.ca to confirm availability and to request a registration form