Self-Paced Online Equine Assisted Therapy Training
Begin August 2024The Equine Psychotherapy Institute has helped hundreds of professionals, counsellors, therapists, horse people and animal trainers achieve their dreams, and do what they Love – incorporating horses, animals and nature into services helping others learn, grow, and heal.
join our community of change makers
This isn’t just any training! Our internationally-renowned Equine Assisted Psychotherapy & Equine Assisted Learning Training Program is one of the most comprehensive programs available worldwide.
Our training has supported hundreds of practitioners to step into the career of their dreams – helping people alongside the horses they love.
Will this be you?
Take the first step toward your dream career in Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP) or Equine Assisted Learning (EAL)
Complete the entire program from the comfort of your own home, at a time that suits You
Watch hours of real EAP & EAP sessions to enhance your learning and grow your confidence
Unlimited Access to Online Learning Portal & EPI Training Manual – chock full of theory lectures, practice lectures & skill demonstrations
Includes our Internationally-renowned Equine Studies program – over $800 worth of learning materials – for FREE!
Learn a model of Equine Assisted Practice that supports true and lasting change for clients
Learn from REAL Practitioners, experienced in this work and approach
Training includes 6x Individual Support Sessions to help you step into practice & begin making a difference right away
Join our growing community of over 800 practitioners and receive the support & guidance from those who have travelled this path successfully
YOUR LEARNING MATERIALS
WHAT OUR STUDENTS ARE SAYING
My overall experience with The EPI and their model is one of utmost satisfaction and fulfilment both personally and professionally. From an administrative point of view, their staff are friendly, skilled and efficient professionals who promptly attend to all technical and administrative matters. They are dedicated to resolve any issues, present or arising, to everyone’s satisfaction in a professional and ethical manner.
Ivana, Psychologist
I could not recommend these teachings highly enough. Meg and the course was so effective and engaging. I felt both challenged and supported professionally and personally, and I have come away feeling very motivated. I feel very moved to have had this opportunity to pause and build greater awareness.
Ella, Social Worker
Suzanne, Counsellor
INVESTMENT
$6000
(Plus GST)
Paid up front
$2000
(Plus GST)
Paid in 3 installments
“The best time to begin was yesterday. The next best time to begin is today!”
IS THIS YOU?
You have been waiting and wanting to complete our internationally renowned Equine Assisted Psychotherapy & Equine Assisted Learning Training (because it aligns with your values and is one of the most comprehensive on the international training market) however, the timing has never been quite right for you.
You live in Australia, New Zealand, UK, Europe, USA, Canada, Hawaii, Hong Kong or elsewhere and have internet!
You have access to your horses (or family, friend, or colleague’s horses with whom you are keen to build a relationship).
You are ready to do work you truly love that makes a difference.
You are a motivated person, an independent learner, and you are ready to step into action and maintain action.
TELL ME MORE!
WHAT IS EQUINE ASSISTED PSYCHOTHERAPY (EAP)?
EAP is an innovative approach to clinical practice and psychotherapy where clients are invited into safe relational experiences with horses to address therapeutic goals. It is a fast-growing modality across Australia and the globe. EAP is engaging and effective for diverse clients including adults, children, adolescents, organisations, and specialist client groups such as Aboriginal youth, veterans, and clients with trauma, anxiety, depression, and addictions.
Who is EAP Training for?
If you are a psychologist, counsellor, mental health worker, or social worker who love horses, then becoming an EAP practitioner might be the next step in your career.
WHAT IS EQUINE ASSISTED Learning (EAL)?
EAL is a unique approach to experiential learning, where clients are offered safe experiences with horses for the purpose of learning social-emotional skills, personal development, and professional development skills (e.g. leadership and team building). EAL is a fast-growing modality across Australia and the globe. National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) clients benefit greatly from EAL services as do children, adolescents and adults.
Who is EAL Training for?
If you love horses and helping people, then becoming an EAL practitioner might be the next step in expanding your career horizons.
This course is suitable for teachers, coaches, integration aides, disability support workers, horse riding coaches, and anyone with a love of horses and people.
As an EAL practitioner, you would provide opportunities for clients to develop their skills in a safe and engaging, natural environment. This a fulfilling and fast-growing approach to learning and personal or professional development.
If you ARE a registered mental health professional, you may be suited to our Equine Assisted Psychotherapy program.
HOW IS THE TRAINING DELIVERED?
There are three different ways to complete our Foundation Training. Please get in touch if you need any help finding the best delivery option for you.
40 Class Self-Paced Online Equine Assisted Foundation Training. Each Monday, for 40 weeks, we will email your Class Topic and Focus exercises for you to complete at your own pace.
Best for: Independent, self-motivated learners, looking for flexibility in their study.
40-Week live Online Equine Assisted Foundation Training. This training is facilitated live, via Zoom and runs for three hours each week for 40 weeks.
Best for: Those who learn best in their own space, with time to process & integrate teachings but benefit from more interaction.
In-Person 15-Day Immersion Training. This is offered as a three-week immersion training, in February each year, at The Equine Psychotherapy Institute headquarters in Daylesford area, Victoria.
Best for: Resilient learners looking to connect with others, who learn best in-person, in a supportive, interactive group environment, in a highly-focused way.
What are the Learning Objectives?
- To understand the theory and practice of the EPI Model and the AWARE Approach™.
- To understand and apply the psychotherapy, experiential learning and creative principles and practices underpinning the EPI Model and the AWARE Approach™.
- To understand ethical issues and professional standards of practice and safety practices with horses and clients.
- To develop assessment, process and closure skills.
- To review and apply counselling micro-skills, including somatic, emotional, cognitive, relational and behavioural interventions.
- To create appropriate and graded experiments to offer diverse clients and client groups based on assessment and client presentation, with professionalism and sensitivity.
- To understand and apply stage 1 trauma skills.
- To offer trauma-informed equine assisted practice.
- To apply a developmental lens in understanding symptoms, presenting behaviours, patterns.
- To develop skills in working with unconscious processes including working with fixed cognitive, behavioural and relational patterns.
- To understand and apply relational practice in the context of equine assisted practice.
- To articulate clear therapeutic or learning goals and design appropriate equine experiments to meet client need/presentation.
- To understand and be guided by self-awareness and ‘self as therapist’, understanding the impact of practitioner core themes, patterns and countertransference.
- To understand horse psychology and physiology, herd behaviour and appreciate the relational dynamics that horses bring to the process.
- To understand the relationship between practitioners and their horses and the impact on safety and efficacy of the work for clients, horses and practitioners.
- To develop core competencies in horse safety, horsemanship, therapeutic process and group process.
- To understand and practice I–Thou Horse-person-ship™.
- To understand and practice the EPI Horse Wisdom ® program.
- To identify practitioner limitations and be committed to continuing personal and professional growth and development.
- To begin your successful EAP or EAL practice with basic business orientation.
What can you expect from the training journey?
Experiential – It is an experiential and process-oriented training.
Professional and Ethical – Students develop professional practice and ethical boundaries to conduct safe, appropriate equine assisted practice.
Personal – Personal work is an integral part of the Foundation Training.
Theoretical – Theoretically grounded.
Practice-based – Practitioner and practice oriented.
Research focused – We encourage research and evaluation of programs.
Horses as Teachers – Including the horses as co-facilitators, assistants, teachers and supports for client change.
Relational – The model is Relational and grounded in relationship-based learning.
Experimental – Includes Liberty, Ground-based and Mounted experiences with horses for the purpose of supporting client change.
WHAT SUPPORT WILL YOU RECEIVE?
Throughout your training, you will be supported by Meg Kirby, Head of Learning, Social Worker & creator of The EPI Model, the Aware Approach™ and I-Thou Horsepersonship. You will also receive individualised support from EAP and EAL Practitioners, qualified trainers & Equine Specialists.
As an Institute Alumni, you will receive benefits and support such as:
- EPI Online Network Group
- EPI Closed Facebook Group
- EPI Supervision
- EPI Model Psychotherapy (as needed)
- Ongoing Professional Development opportunities – Advanced / Specialist Training, Conferences, Assisting in training etc.
- Lifetime access to the EPI Community of Practitioners
WHY TRAIN WITH US?
We are uniquely placed given our training is pitched at the standard you would expect from a post graduate training. The standard of training is high, aimed at a post degree level or equivalent.
We are celebrating 13 years of training in EAP! We are an established training organisation and have been successfully training hundreds of practitioners since 2011.
We have a unique approach to EAP. Our EPI Model is a psychotherapy model, that is fundamentally founded on ethical practice with both clients and horses. Our faculty is highly qualified and experienced in EAL and EAP, and live and breathe this work.
This training program is designed to support you as a practitioner to be personally and professionally competent in working with horses and humans for the purpose of human growth, development and healing, where the horses are honoured as teacher, assistant and co-facilitator.
We will support and challenge you to grow and feel ‘held’ as you grow into grounded and authentic practitioners. Our program sets a high standard for students, practitioners and the wider international community.
As a graduate of our training, you can choose to join our EPI community of practitioners and get access to ongoing support, supervision and advanced, high quality specialist psychotherapy training.
