Many therapists realize the importance of animal interactions in their clients’ lives. Bringing horses into the psychotherapy and counseling setting in an ethical and effective way requires a specialized skillset. The Equine-Assisted Mental Health (EAMH) practitioner certificate program is open to master and doctoral-level mental health professionals and graduate students who want to enhance their clinical practice through incorporating interactions with horses and the equine environment into psychotherapy. You will receive the education, training, and supervision/consultation necessary for ethical practice within your scope, including techniques tailored to your clinical interests and the clients you serve.
Want to learn more about the EAMH practitioner certificate? Check out our Digication page!
An Emphasis on Human-Horse Interactions
The Equine-Assisted Mental Health Practitioner program emphasizes science-based understanding of human-horse interactions and equine behavior, welfare and training. You’ll learn to integrate interactions with horses and their environment into your clinical work, within your theoretical framework and population interests.
Theory, Ethics, Research and Knowledge
A thorough understanding of theoretical foundations and state of research helps practitioners understand how equine interactions and the equine environment are included within psychotherapy and counseling. Advanced knowledge in this area underpins competent practice, builds connections to the larger mental health community and facilitates cross-disciplinary communication.
Delivering Treatment and Considerations for Your Practice
Delivering treatment that effectively and ethically incorporates equine interactions as a therapy technique requires treatment planning specific to the populations and theoretical approaches the practitioner is trained in, intentionality, risk management, facility and environmental considerations, and sound business practices.
Equine-Related Competencies
A core part of competent practice is in-depth understanding of horses, their welfare, behavior, needs and communication, as well as selection, assessment, management and training of therapy horses to create a healthy and sustainable environment for all involved. Careful consideration of the ethics surrounding horses as part of mental health services is necessary, both specific to the therapeutic environment and the therapist-client relationship, and to broader human-horse interactions.
A Program for Working Professionals
The Equine-Assisted Mental Health Practitioner Certificate equips you with the ability to assess clients, horses and treatment sites for suitability. You will develop advanced skill in incorporating interactions with horses and the equine environment into your psychotherapy or counseling practice. Meeting client treatment needs in multiple ways will enhance and extend your work in an agency, private practice or other mental health setting. The program is designed for completion alongside full-time work or studies.
52
The certificate earns 52 continuing education units documented on a University of Denver transcript.
13
There are 2 cohorts per year with only 13 students each to ensure a high-quality learning environment.
150
More than 150 therapists from 3 continents have completed the EAMH program since 2015.
Program Format
The 10-month certificate program includes courses, projects, three residential workshops, client work, and additional trainings. You will progress through the program sequentially together with a peer cohort — just 13 students — and complete coursework with weekly deadlines. Experiential activities and client work provides hands-on application of coursework. As you move through the program, faculty will offer guidance, feedback, and individual consultation.
Courses and Projects
Courses are delivered online through Canvas, an award-winning learning platform. In addition to coursework, there are seven projects spread across the duration of the 10-month program. Assignments and projects are based on engagement – peer-to-peer and to instructor, and in your community.
Residential Workshops
Residential workshops provide an opportunity for intensive hands-on skill building and feedback.
- Residential Workshop 1 focuses on direct engagement in a variety of ways horses can be part of treatment while developing understanding about designing interactions that align with client goals. Principles of experiential practice are introduced and modeled.
- Residential Workshop 2 focuses on skill development and other practitioner competencies such as risk management and treatment planning through role-play and other forms of experiential engagement.
- Residential Workshop 3 focuses on advanced applications of equine interactions in therapy session with hands-on practice.
Supervised Client Work
You’ll complete the required 50 hours of client work in your own community. Consultation/supervision will be provided by your site contact and by program faculty. You may complete all hours at a single site or split hours between multiple sites. It is possible to use hours with your own clients for this requirement.
Additional Training
You’ll strengthen your knowledge and skill in a tailored way through 50 hours of additional training in mental health, horses and/or clinical work with equine interactions.
Application Information
Currently accepting waitlist applications for Fall 2024.
Alumni Testimonial, Macie Dominique
“The in-person weekends were by far the most impactful. I met lifelong friends and colleagues and learned valuable, practical lessons while working with the [horses]. Getting to see Nina work was amazing and I will always treasure those weekends!”
Alumni Testimonial, Vicki Kirsch
“My most useful experiences included activities during the workshops when we were able to practice treatment modalities live. This practice and the feedback provided gave me a solid footing in growing my practice. Working with the cohort both online and in person provided an intelligent and caring learning environment within which to learn. It was very important to me to study with someone doing research and practicing in the field and [EAMH instructor], Nina Ekholm Fry provided this.”
Alumni Testimonial, Jeanne Floerke
“I really enjoyed the practical workshops; integrating what we learned in the program and meeting the different participants with varied backgrounds and experience was also an important learning experience for me. There [are] so many different ways to do things and it can still be therapeutic.”
Certificate Faculty & Staff
Alumni Stories
School Counseling in Western Colorado
Jennifer Dietrich uses the comprehensive knowledge and experiences she gained in the Equine-Assisted Mental Health Practitioner Certificate in her work as a school counselor and in private practice.
Integrating Equines into Psychotherapy with Children
Jeanne Floerke, a licensed clinical psychologist specializing in work with children with medical illnesses, earned the Equine-Assisted Mental Health Practitioner (EAMH) Certificate in 2022. In her practice, Floerke offers inpatient, pediatric consultation for medical teams and outpatient treatment for children and adults.
EAMH Alumni Integrates Equines into Private Practice and Nonprofit Work
Macie Dominique, a 2017 graduate of IHACPro’s Equine-Assisted Mental Health Practitioner Certificate (EAMH), completely shifted her professional path after realizing her passion involved integrating animals into her professional work. In both of her professional settings, her therapeutic work is supported with equine, canine, and farm animal interactions.