Working with Trauma in EAP & EAL

This training is a specialist, advanced training in understanding and working with clients with Trauma, in the context of EAP and EAL practice. It will teach you a best practice, 3 Stage Trauma Model that covers the core principles of safe and effective trauma practice, supporting survivors of acute and complex trauma.

Discussing these trauma principles in the context of Equine Assisted Practice will give you practical strategies for engaging our equine friends in helping clients to reduce Autonomic Nervous System arousal, challenge unhelpful trauma generated beliefs, and to renegotiate trauma in safe and effective ways.

The intensive will integrate principles from our EPI model and AWARE Therapy™ approach, Gestalt Therapy’s holistic emphasis on mindful awareness, resource building, the paradoxical theory of change, re-embodiment and working relationally. Students will learn Peter Levine’s Somatic Experiencing (SE), Pat Ogden’s Sensory-motor psychotherapy, and Dr Bruce Perry’s approaches to working with trauma. We will also overview attachment, and particularly disorganised attachment.

Who is this training for?

This training is for you if you have already completed our EAL or EAP training and have a specialist interest in working with clients with trauma or in understanding your own trauma. General public are welcome to apply and applications will be considered on a case by case basis.

How is the training delivered?

The program is delivered in-person in collaboration with our herd, who are our co-facilitators, at EPI HQ near Daylesford in Victoria.

What is the format of the training?

The format this training will be based on the use of equine experiential exercises, skills-based practice sessions, small group conversations, theory presentations, use of case material and discussions in the large group.

What are the Learning Objectives?

• Gain an understanding of a 3-stage trauma model that helps clients renegotiate trauma without becoming re-traumatised.
• Understand the definition of trauma, what a traumatic event is, and the psycho-biological process that leads to the development of post-traumatic stress responses.
• Understand the mediating factors that hinder or support the development of post trauma symptoms.
• Develop a solid understanding of the somatic, emotional and cognitive resources a client requires to help negotiate trauma and how to cultivate these.
• Learn how to work effectively with the issues of shame, guilt and self-criticism that often accompany traumatic symptoms.
• Learn how to use awareness and somatic mindfulness as a tool to complete, transform and integrate traumatic memories.
• Understand how to take a more active and directive role in therapy – through the use of psycho-education, pacing, resource building and ‘relational modulation’ of client’s autonomic nervous system.
• Understand the purpose of memory work, and requisite skills for processing traumatic memories without re-traumatisation.

You will also gain an understanding of a number of useful equine experiments that:

• Support the client to integrate traumatic memories and their effects to clients in a safe way.
• Understand how to support clients to use bottom up and top down strategies for traumatic processing and symptom reduction.
• Understand how to identify client’s different attachment styles and to apply appropriate equine experiments.

What is the Investment?

5 Days Training $1,800 plus GST

Why Train with Us?

We are uniquely placed as the first comprehensive Australian model of equine assisted practice - EAP (psychotherapy) and EAL (experiential learning) - since 2011. Our sister branch Animal Assisted Psychotherapy International has set a high bar for Animal Assisted Treatment - psychotherapy (AAP) and Animal Assisted Education - psycho-social learning (AAL) education and Training. Founder Meg Kirby is co-author of a recent peer-reviewed published article on best practice terminology recommendations for the international Animal Assisted Services sector of research and practice.

Celebrating our 13th year of training in equine assisted practice, animal assisted therapy and ecotherapy, we are an established private training organisation with an international reputation for excellence, high professional standards, and advocates for animal welfare, wellbeing and enrichment protocols.

Who is our trainer?

This specialist training is facilitated by our senior trainer, Noel Haarburger, who has experience of well over 25 years in the therapy field (clinical, psychotherapy, personal development, leadership).

Noel Haarburger
Psychologist, Psychotherapist, Gestalt Therapy Trainer, Trauma Specialist and Assistant with Somatic Experiencing Australia and Diamond Heart student.

Noel is an experienced senior trainer, psychotherapist, group facilitators supervisor and registered mental health professional who lives and learns with a herd of 12 horses, 1 dog, 4 cats as part of his extended family.