Equine-Assisted Expressive Arts Therapy Level One Certificate training comprises 20 hours of therapeutic horsemanship and experiential learning through an established 6-unit curriculum and corresponding expressive arts exercises (Sykes & Warson, 2021) and principles of psychotherapy and counseling. Attendees will receive a copy of the equine-assisted expressive arts therapy curriculum on site. This training is limited to 15 eligible participants will be held at Legacy Stables https://www.legacystables.com/index.html in Fort Collins, Colorado.
PLEASE NOTE: This training is by application only. If you are accepted, you will receive a link to a separate course site where you can pay the registration fee of $499 and access course materials and additional information.
Participants in this Certificate Course are also required to enroll in the Equine-Assisted Expressive Arts Therapy Live Webinar Series that takes place on June 3, June 10, and June 24, 2021. You can register for that webinar series on this Learning Center Site under "Courses."
The equine experiential learning curriculum entails:
1. Predator vs. Prey: Size/body language, vocabulary, humbleness, position in the world, and brain functioning
2. Dependency / Yours/ Theirs: Expectations of roles and importance of self vs. others
3. Work Together / Non-aggressive: How-when to move to control
4. Mean It / Don't Be Mean / Set Limits: Healthy limits, safety vs. need vs. want
5. Fear / We All Have It: Using the neocortex to make choices
6. Bring It Together / Control: Round pen/line work to demonstrate
The expressive arts component will be woven into curriculum combining bilateral gestures and art making; visual journaling exercises; fiber arts, nature art; sound, music; breath; and storytelling (lesson plans provided as part of the curriculum).
The Facilitators: Elizabeth Warson and Dawn Sykes have been collaborators since 2016 as therapeutic riding instructors for Colorado Division of Youth Corrections, Crime Victim Compensation, individual/family clients, and school-based groups. Both facilitators have a lifetime of work with horses and share a passion for fabric/fiber arts.
Dawn Sykes is the owner and operator of Legacy Stables (1996-present), an equine boarding and training facility. Dawn has bred and trained Morgan horses, showed English Pleasure and English Driving. As a certified and licensed teacher (1986-2021), Dawn was a facilitator for the Discovery program (national school-based model), trained in William Glasser’s Choice Theory, and developed an equine science/therapeutic riding program for the Poudre School District. Dawn’s fabric arts have been exhibited in national and international competitions.
Elizabeth Warson, PhD
Dawn Sykes
Because participation in this course is limited to 15 learners, the instructors are accepting applications to insure each participant meets the necessary qualifications for this certificate training. When you register for this course, you will be able to download the required application and upload it to the course site for review.
Training Content and What to Expect
Upload Your Application for Training Here
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Continuing Education Information
Counselors/National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC). Trauma-Informed Practices and Expressive Arts Therapy Institute has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 6557. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC are clearly identified. Trauma-Informed Practices and Expressive Arts Therapy Institute is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.
Texas State Board of Examiners of Professional Counselors. Trauma-Informed Practices and Expressive Arts Therapy Institute is an Approved Continuing Education Provider by the Texas State Board of Examiners of Professional Counselors. Our Texas Provider Number is 2318.
Art Therapy Credentials Board [ATCB]. The ATCB recognizes a variety of CEC activities, including those in the areas of professional and mental health counseling. These activities are clearly outlined in their recertification standards provided to all ATR-BCs in their recertification year and on their website. A minimum of six CECs must be earned in the area of ethics each cycle. If you are licensed as an art therapist in your state, please check with your state board to verify what types of CEC activities are acceptable for license renewal.
California Marriage and Family Therapists, Social Workers and Professional Counselors. As of July 1, 2015, the State of California /Board of Behavioral Sciences [BBS] amended its regulations for continuing education providers to include National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) as a "board-recognized approval agency." If you are licensed as a marriage and family therapist, social worker, educational psychologist or professional clinical counselor in California, NBCC Approved Continuing Education Providers are recognized by the BBS to fulfill continuing education requirements. As of July 1, 2015, required CE hours can be accumulated through self-study and distance learning.
In order to obtain your certificate of continuing education, you will be required to complete short online assignments, the required attendance hours, and the course evaluation questions. Upon completion, you will automatically receive your certificate.
