Introduction to Equine-Partnered Play Therapy 
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January 24, 2020
The registration deadline is January 17th, 2019.

This workshop will include experiential, hands-on interaction with our equine play therapy partners!
Equine-Partnered Play Therapy (“EPPT”) is a unique play therapy model for children aged three to nine years old. The special relationship between children and animals has been documented throughout history. EPPT is evidence-informed and based on the principles of child-centered play therapy (CCPT). The EPPT model is the first of its kind to blend CCPT and Equine Assisted Counseling. CCPT is based on the belief that, unlike adults, children are not able to talk through their problems. Instead, children see and explore the world through play. A child in play therapy will express thoughts, feelings, needs, and wants through toys used in play.

The presence of the equines provides several benefits to the child including: the opportunity for the child to express difficult feelings through the equines; providing and receiving nurturing from the equines; and receiving feedback from the equines to ground the session in reality. In EPPT, the equines are treated like group members, enabling the child to improve social skills while receiving feedback from the equines. The therapeutic benefits of EPPT include gains in self-control, decision-making, personal responsibility, self-direction, self-expression, self-respect, and self-acceptance.  

The EPPT model is facilitated by a treatment team comprised of a play therapist and equine specialist. There are many considerations in order to safely, ethically, and effectively integrate the equines into a play therapy session including creating a play area in which equines can be included, adapting CCPT facilitative responses for EPPT, establishing a safe physical and emotional environment for both equines and child, identifying and setting appropriate limits, and attending to group dynamics between the horse and child.

​The EPPT Model has been featured in world-renowned expert in animal assisted therapy, Dr. Cynthia Chandler’s, newest textbook, Animal Assisted Therapy in Counseling.

Learning Objectives:

  1. Describe the basic tenets of child-centered play therapy (CCPT).
  2. Discuss the nature of equines and equine behavior as related to play therapy.
  3. Observe and identify best practices in Equine-Partnered Play Therapy (EPPT).

Presenter Information:

Hallie Sheade, Ph.D., LPC, RPT
Dr. Sheade runs a private practice, Equine Connection Counseling, devoted solely to the practice of equine assisted counseling with children, teenagers, and adults outside of Fort Worth, TX. Dr. Sheade received her doctoral training in animal assisted therapy and play therapy at the University of North Texas. By adapting best practices in traditional psychotherapy, Dr. Sheade pioneered two innovative models, Relational Equine-Partnered Counseling (REPC) and Equine-Partnered Play Therapy (EPPT), for the practice of EAC. Dr. Sheade is committed to furthering the field of EAC by authoring manuscripts, presenting at local, national, and international conferences, and by training interns in the practice of EAC. She has also received a contract with an academic publisher to author a textbook on equine assisted counseling. Furthermore, Dr. Sheade is also an equine professional and has almost 30 years experience with horses. Dr. Sheade has achieved certification through PATH Intl. as both a Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor (CTRI) and Equine Specialist in Mental Health and Learning (ESMHL). Furthermore, Dr. Sheade is a Faculty Candidate for PATH Intl. ESMHL workshops to train and evaluate equine specialists.

Schedule

Important Things to Know
8:30am-9:00am: Registration and Continental Breakfast

9:00am-10:15am: Instructional time (experiential and classroom)

10:15am-10:30am: Break

10:30am-12:15pm: Instructional time (experiential and classroom)
  • Please dress for the weather as we will be spending our time outdoors and/or in a barn classroom.
  • If it's a cold day, please make sure to bring gloves, hats, coat, etc
  • Dress comfortably with clothes that you don't mind getting dirty.
  • Flat, closed-toe shoes with sturdy soles are recommended.

Registration Information

Registration Fee: $75.00*

  • Includes 3 direct contact hours. We are APT Approved Provider 17-512. See Continuing Education Information on other licenses/certifications below.
  • No partial CE credit will be provided.
  • Attendees must attend the event in its entirety 
  • Attendees must register and pay in advance
  • Space is limited to 20 attendees.
  • Registration deadline is January 17, 2020

*Students are eligible for a reduced registration fee of $60.00 with valid student ID shown at check-in.

Registration is now closed. Please contact us to learn about future training dates.

Location

The Ranch at Windy Point
5800b Monroe Hwy., Cresson, TX 76035


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Cresson is located west of Fort Worth and about halfway between Benbrook and Granbury. Detailed directions will be provided following registration.

Continuing Education (CE/CEU) Information

The Equine-Partnered Play Therapy training workshop qualifies for 13.5 Contact CEUs.

The criteria that is used when Equine Connection Counseling plans its trainings is designed to fulfill the requirements for both the State of Texas'
Licensing Boards as well as Association for Play Therapy's criteria. While we do not apply for our trainings to be pre-approved by all of the
licensures, if you will look under the specifications for each licensure you will see that our trainings qualify to be used as CEs with most of
them. We will provide you with any needed documentation regarding attendance and workshop information (including learning objectives) if needed. There are more specifications concerning this criteria listed under each type of licensure.

National Professional Organizations/Licensures - Mental Health

Association for Play Therapy - APT Approved Provider 17-512
Please note: Play therapy credit will not be awarded to non-mental health professionals. Non-mental health professionals will receive a separate participation certificate to claim CEU credit through other organizations (e.g. PATH Intl.).

National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) - http://www.nbcc.org/resources/nccs/earnce
According the CE workshop requirements for NBCC:

"Continuing education is an integral part of professional practice. There are many ways you can earn continuing education credit. Any of the following activities will qualify for continuing education clock hours to recertify your board certification, as long as the activity relates to an approved content area." The EPPT training workshop is designed to fall under NBCC's Approved Content Area of Counseling Theory/Practice and the Counseling Relationship.
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"NBCC ACEP approval is not required; however, the courses must meet NBCC guidelines for continuing education. A certificate, verification form or letter verifying attendance is required for documentation. The documentation must include your name, date attended, hours completed, program title and signature of presenter/provider."

Texas Professional Licensures - Mental Health

Licensed Professional Counselors (LPC)
Effective February 28, 2019, Texas no longer issues Continuing Education Provider licenses. This continuing education event complies with board rules described in 22 Texas Administrative Code §681.141-147.

Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFT)
Effective May 26, 2019, Texas changed LMFT continuing education requirements. This continuing education event complies with board rules described in Subchapter K for continuing education.

Licensed Social Workers
As this training is facilitated by an Association for Play Therapy Approved Provider, we have automatic status as an approved provider for this training. The board rules are described in §781.511 Requirements for Continuing Education Providers.

Licensed Psychologists
According to the rule set forth by the Texas State Board of Psychologists, the Board does not pre-approve professional development credit. The EPPT training workshop falls under the category of "other formally organized groups providing professional development that is directly related to the practice of psychology. Examples of such providers include: public or private institutions, professional associations, and training institutes devoted to the study or practice of particular areas or fields of psychology; and professional associations relating to other mental health professions such as psychiatry, counseling, or social work." Please reference Rule 461.11 for more information.

Professional Organizations - Equine Professionals 

Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship (PATH) International - https://www.pathintl.org/resources-education/education/continuing-education
PATH Intl. does not pre-approve or require pre-approved CEs for the ESMHL certification. The EPPT training qualifies for General Continuing Education.

Cancellation Policy

Please note that registrants will receive a full refund, minus a $10.00 processing fee, if cancelled up to 2 weeks prior to the training. Registrants will be refunded 50% for cancellations less than 2 weeks.

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