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1 Year Online Equine Assisted Training –

EAP & EAL Foundation Training

 

LIVE and INTERACTIVE

EAP Students are registered allied health, mental health and clinical professionals (psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, counsellors, psychotherapists, mental health occupational therapists and credentialed nurses).

EAL Students are teachers, disability support workers, youth workers, horse riding instructors, coaches, organisational consultants, and people interested in helping people learn new skills, with the horses as engaging partners in the process.

animal assisted therapy dog

Who is this Online EAP / EAL training for?

This unique training is available for both Australian and English-speaking International students.

This program incorporates our successful Foundation 15-day intensive EAP/ EAL Training Program and offers an engaging and accessible online format over 40 weeks, perfect for those fitting their study in around work, family and other commitments.

ecotherapy plant

How is the training delivered?

Our online EAP/EAL Foundation Training is delivered live every week on Zoom, by our senior trainer and EPI founder, Meggin Kirby.

Over a total of 120 Contact Hours (plus approximately 80 Accrued Learning Hours), you will learn a sophisticated and comprehensive model of equine assisted practice.

ecotherapy tree

What are the Learning Objectives?

For EAP Learning Objectives, click here.

For EAL Learning Objectives, click here.

ecotherapy rock
What happens in EAL sessions

What are the online training requirements?

  • Attendance is a Completion Requirement as online classes are live and are not recorded.
  • Students must be available to attend up to 40 weeks of training. Please note class size dictates final training length.
  • You need a reliable internet connection, computer or laptop, private study/desk for online class attendance, and safe access to your horse/herd for practicals.
  • You need IT skills or access to support to upload videos for assessment, participate and interact virtually.
  • You will need to set aside 3 hours for classes in privacy and without distraction, as well as additional time for weekly reading and homework (as well as time for assessment and completion requirements – i.e. integration papers during training and exam at completion of training).
  • Students must participate in classes using a laptop or similar device with camera enabled. Participating on a phone is not suitable due to the activities involved in training.
  • This is a relationally-based training with a large focus upon personal development and it is expected that students are able to attend online classes with 100% presence and focus.
ecotherapy tree
ecotherapy tree
ecotherapy tree

What will you learn?

  • The core competencies of Equine Assisted Practice, specifically Equine Assisted Psychotherapy and Equine Assisted Learning, including Theory and Practice
  • Equine Studies, I- Thou Horse-person-ship, Horse safety and Safety guidelines
  • The unique dynamics that occur in equine assisted psychotherapy and equine assisted learning
  • An overview of The Equine Psychotherapy Institute (EPI) Model, a unique relational, trauma-informed, experiential, ethical and horse-wisdom based model founded in psychotherapy theory and practice and neuroscience.
  • Underpinning Psychotherapy theory including gestalt therapy, awareness and mindfulness, phenomenology, developmental, trauma-informed, and somatic experiencing, principles and practices.
  • Practice methodology, including somatic, emotional, cognitive, behavioural, brain-body, relationship-focused methodology.
  • The ‘what’ and ‘how’ in EAP and EAL processes – the theoretical and experiential foundations, including applications at liberty, on-line and led mounted sessions with horses.
  • The Role of the Horse and Nature in contributing to client change.
  • I-Thou Horse-person-ship and the 8 Keys to including horses in psychotherapy and experiential learning.
  • An Introduction to different applications – working with individuals and groups.
  • EPI Model theory of change – this includes understanding how people grow and change generally, and how change happens therapeutically in equine-assisted processes.
  • EPI Code of Ethics, Ethical practice and Horse Welfare.
  • Introduction to Business and Professional practice in the context of equine assisted practice, and much, much more!
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What are the 2024 Completion Requirements?

  • Attend a minimum of 37 of the 40 weekly classes, with your camera on
  • Complete at least 5 EAP/ EAL Clinical/Practice Sessions and keep case notes
  • Complete 6 Phone / Online Education Support and Supervision Sessions with EPI Supervisor
  • Completion of Self-Paced Virtual Equine Studies course (included in course fees)
  • Includes Required Reading and active participation during training

All must be completed within 12 months of the commencement of training.

* If you miss between 3-4 classes, you will be required to attend additional Mentoring Sessions to catch up on the material. Students who miss 5 or more classes will need to repeat the module, at their expense.

What is the Investment?

Online EAP / EAL Training: $6,000 plus GST ($6,600 inc. GST) – payable as three payments of $2,000 plus GST 

Training includes 120 hours of training and 6 x Education Support and Supervision Sessions

Online Equine Studies Program to be completed within 12 months (included as part of your course fees)

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What support will you get?

After completion of training students/practitioners will:

  • Join EPI Online Network Group
  • Join EPI Closed Facebook Group
  • Access EPI Supervision
  • Access EPI Model Psychotherapy (as needed)
  • Access ongoing Professional Development opportunities – Advanced / Specialist Training, Conferences, Assisting in training etc.
  • Have lifetime access to the EPI Community of Practitioners

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.