The Science of Equine Assisted Psychotherapy
Brandy and Rebecca began creating this workshop to help deepen people’s understanding on the basic science and practice of how equine therapy enhances the therapeutic process. We wanted to help people understand not only the neuroscience of people but how that intersects with equine neurobiology in therapy. We have had countless experiences where understanding the neurobiology, science, and the understanding of the nervous system has helped guide the process of therapy and enhance the beauty of the therapy process.
Who is this workshop for?
This introductory workshop is for mental health professionals (in or out of the equine therapy field) and counseling students curious about equine-assisted services. Who are….
- Interested in entering into the equine-assisted therapy field.
- Wanting to deepen their understanding of how equine-assisted psychotherapy enhances and supports the therapeutic process.
- Interested in learning neurobiology of horses and the similarities and differences
- Wanting to understand how horses can help facilitate in a mental health therapy session.
- Wanting to figure out which service they can specialize in or how to refer clients to equine assisted services.
What will the objectives be for this program?
- Define interpersonal neurobiology and describe how it relates to mental health and equine-assisted psychotherapy
- Differentiate between left- and right-hemispheric brain processing, and identify how horses activate right-hemisphere functioning through nonverbal cues, emotional attunement, and embodied presence
- Explain the role of neural plasticity and how new, emotionally significant experiences within equine-assisted psychotherapy can promote the growth and rewiring of neural networks associated with safety, connection, and resilience
- Gain understanding regarding the science of energy as it relates to the heart-brain connection
- Identify the significance of the nervous system within equine-assisted psychotherapy
Details
5 hour workshop: workshop will be broken up with a classroom learning portion as well as a hands on demonstration learning portion
Cost: $250 for Professionals and $175 for Graduate Students
Location: Renewing Hope Ranch in Morrison, CO
Presenters: Brandy Burch PsyD, PMH-C and Rebecca Winn MA, LPC, NCC, GEP
Agenda for Introduction to Equine Psychotherapy Basics:
| Time | Topic/Activity Description | Method | Hours |
| 8:30-9a | Networking | N/A | 0 |
| 9a-10:30a | Discussion of Right Brain to Right Brain Connection | Lecture/Q&A | 1.5 |
| 10:30-10:45 | Break | N/A | 0 |
| 10:45-12:15p | Discussion of “Horse Magic” | Lecture/Q&A | 1.5 |
| 12:15-1p | Lunch | N/A | 0 |
| 1:00-1:30 | Small Equine Group Activity | Demonstration | .5 |
| 1:30p-2:45p | Experiential Demonstration with Horses | Demonstration | 1.25 |
| 2:45p-3p | Closing and Questions | Q & A | .25 |
Total: 5 Hours
Registration Form and Paperwork – sent from Rebecca