Course Description

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 10 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 $599 and access course materials and additional information.

Participants in this Certificate Course are also required to enroll in the Nature-Based Expressive Arts Therapy Live Webinar Series [dates to be announced] 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. 

Instructor(s)

Institute Faculty | Supervisor Elizabeth Warson, PhD

Elizabeth Warson, PhD, ATR-BC, LPC, NCC, EMDR III, EXAT, EAP II, is a trailblazing force in the integration of equine-assisted therapy and expressive arts. As the founder of American Indian Art Therapy, her work stems from extensive faculty research at George Washington University and Eastern Virginia Medical School. Currently based in northern Colorado, Elizabeth operates Healing Pathways LLC, where she combines EMDR with art and horses, drawing on her expertise as a certified EMDR practitioner and consultant, Registered Art Therapist-Board Certified, certified Eagala professional and an EquiLateral trained equine-assisted EMDR therapist. As a faculty member at the Trauma-Informed Practices & Expressive Arts Therapy Institute, Elizabeth teaches both in-person and online courses focused on polyvagal-informed, equine-assisted, nature-based, bilateral stimulation, and sensorimotor-informed expressive arts therapy. Her research interests span stress and pain reduction interventions for Native American cancer survivors, culturally responsive practices, and trauma-informed methods. Her significant contributions include receiving a 2010 National Endowment for the Arts grant for her community-driven Coharie Heritage Empowerment Project, emphasizing cultural preservation. Elizabeth’s academic journey includes a BFA from the Cleveland Institute of Art, an MA in Art Therapy from Vermont College, and a PhD in Interdisciplinary Studies from Colorado State University. She has presented extensively at regional and national conferences, focusing on medical art therapy and culturally-responsive interventions, and has published over 20 peer-reviewed articles and book chapters. Recently, she co-authored E.Qi: Equine & Expressive Arts Inspired Qigong with collaborator Sifu Kurtis Tilley. In addition to her therapeutic work, Elizabeth is a professional artist whose sculptural pieces have been exhibited both nationally and internationally, earning her an Ohio Arts Council fellowship award. Her multifaceted approach bridges art, counseling, and equine therapy, creating impactful experiences for individuals and communities alike.

Apply for September 2021 Cohort

Spaces Are Limited! Submit Your Application Soon!

Because participation in this course is limited to 10 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. 

Course curriculum

    1. Training Content and What to Expect

    2. Upload Your Application for Training Here

About this course

  • Free
  • 2 lessons
  • 0 hours of video content

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Continuing Education

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.