PATH Intl. Equine Specialist in Mental Health & Learning Workshop and Horsemanship Skills Test

Dates: March 22-25, 2021

REGISTRATION IS CURRENTLY FULL

Hosted by: Healing Reins Therapeutic Riding Center in Bend, Oregon
Registration Deadline: February 1, 2021

Costs: $625
$500 (Workshop)
$125 (Test)

Join PATH Intl’s Leslie McCullough (PhD, LCSW, LSOTP, PATH TRI, ESMHL) and Trish Broersma (MS, LMT,
PATH TRI, ESMHL) for a 3-day ESMHL Workshop and Horsemanship Exam.

About the Workshop:

Provides specialized training for experienced equestrians, instructors, or mental health professionals and educators who are interested in equine-facilitated mental health and education programs. The workshop will not count toward certification for anyone except an equine specialist.
Is taught by a mental health professional and an equine specialist, using a combination of lectures, demonstrations, role-plays, and hands-on exercises with equines.
Focuses on the specific role of the equine handler (equine specialist) when assisting or collaborating with the mental health counselor or educator in designing safe, mutually respectful, and effective activities to enhance participant outcomes, determining specific equine handling methods as well as understanding students with mental health and/or learning issues.
Teaches participants how to create and maintain a therapeutic and educational environment, including a review of current PATH Intl. standards as they relate to equine-facilitated psychotherapy programs.
Includes demonstrations and exercises to increase awareness of equine behavior and how the behavior might enhance or endanger those in a therapy session.
Emphasizes keeping the equines and all participants in the session safe at all times.
Gives particular attention to assessing the equine’s response to student behaviors and needs.
Facilitates the collaboration between the mental health professional/educator and the equine specialist.
Gives participants the opportunity to look at treatment plans with a health professional and develop lesson plans based on client goals.

Workshop Learning Goals:

Create a therapeutic environment
Understand equine care and management and ethical treatment of the equine-facilitated mental health and/or learning equine
Understand how to maintain the association’s code of ethics and standards, including the ethical treatment of the equine
Design appropriate exercises based on the IEP (individual education plan) or mental health treatment plan
Collaborate with other members of the team (mental health or education professional and the equine) to meet treatment goals or the individual education plan goals.

VOCATIONAL PROFILE OF AN EQUINE SPECIALIST IN MENTAL HEALTH & LEARNING

A PATH Intl. Equine Specialist in Mental Health and Learning (ESMHL) ensures the safety and well-being of the equine participating in equine-facilitated mental health and learning sessions. She/he serves as the equine expert during equine/human interactions. The ESMHL works with mental health or education providers delivering services, incorporating equines in their practice, within the scope of their profession. An ESMHL must be knowledgeable in horsemanship and understands how to collaborate with a mental health therapist and/or educator to best meet the client’s needs and keep the lesson safe. ESMHLs also have a general knowledge of mental health and education processes. ESMHLs have a thorough understanding of the ways equine behavior affect human responses and evaluate the role of the equine during the mental health or education sessions they supervise. The ESMHL maintains responsibility for the equine, assesses the equine’s response to any interactions, and prohibits or stops any activity that compromises the well-being of the equine. She/he ensures that equine interactions within the session are safe.

LEARN MORE HERE ON HOW TO BECOME A PATH INTL. ESMHL

APPLICATION PROCESS:

❏ Be 21 years of age or older

❏ Be a PATH Intl. member

❏ Obtain adult & child CPR and first aid certifications (100% online courses are be accepted)

❏ Submit accommodation request (if applicable)

❏ Attend a PATH Intl. on-site Equine Specialist in Mental Health and Learning workshop (valid for two years)

❏ Complete Horsemanship Skills Test (valid for one year)

Visit PATH International’s ESMHL Certification Program Handbook HERE.

Healing Reins is the only PATH International Premier Accredited Therapeutic Riding Center east of the Cascades in Oregon and provides an ideal spot for your workshop experience this summer. If you have any questions, please contact Jess Lydon, Community Relations Manager, at 541-382-9410, or e-mail her directly.

Accommodations are available at Comfort Inn Suites in Bend: 541-617-9696.

For more information about activities in Bend, please go to visitbend.com or call Visit Bend at 877-245-8484.

Cancellation and Refund Policy:

Healing Reins reserves the right to cancel the workshop by February 1, 2021, if we do not have 12 paid attendees and/or because of COVID19 state restrictions. Anyone signed up prior to the cancellation date will receive a full refund.

Refund Policy: Healing Reins will provide a 100% refund if the participant cancels before February 1, 2021.
COVID19 Protocol: Healing Reins Therapeutic Riding Center has taken safety steps to ensure participants, staff and visitors are safe.

Healing Reins Therapeutic Riding Center (the course location) is located at:
60575 Billadeau Rd., Bend, OR 97702
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 5593, Bend, OR 97708