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

Format

2 day workshop that is broken up into 5.25 hour days for a total of 10.5 hours. Workshop will be broken up with a classroom learning portion as well as a hands on demonstrations each day. Lunch is provided each day.

CE credit

10.5 Hours

Cost

$450 for Professionals and $375 for Graduate Students

Location

Renewing Hope Ranch in Morrison, CO

Presenters

Brandy Burch PsyD, PMH-C and Rebecca Winn MA, LPC, NCC, GEP

Registration

Registration form and paperwork coming soon

NBCC Approved Continuing Education Provider

Renewing Hope Ranch
NBCC Approved Continuing Education Provider™
ACEP No. 8091

Renewing Hope Ranch has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 8091. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. Renewing Hope Ranch is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.

Agenda

TimeTopic/Activity DescriptionMethodHours
9:30a-10aNetworking N/A 0
10a-12:15pDay 1: Discussion of Right Brain to Right Brain Connection

Day 2: Discussion of “Horse Magic”

Lecture/Q&A2.25
12:15-1pLunchN/A0
1p-1:45pSmall Group ActivityDemonstration.75
1:45p-3:30pExperiential Demonstration with HorsesDemonstration1.75
3:30p-4pClosing and QuestionsQ & A.5
4:00-4:30pNetworkingN/A0
5.25 hours / day

Total: 10.5 Hours