Gestalt Equine Psychotherapy
Australia
PRACTITIONER TRAINING - Equine Assisted Psychotherapy
1 year Foundation Training in GEP & 2 Year Advanced GEP Certification
Our Training intends to provide a comprehensive and competency-based understanding and practice in Equine Assisted/Facilitated Psychotherapy and Learning - from a gestalt therapy and mindfulness psychotherapy perspective - Gestalt Equine Psychotherapy (GEP). Come and learn with our beautiful herd of horses in wonderful Daylesford, Victoria....
"Grow yourself personally and professionally in this innovative practitioner training with Horses inspiring and leading the way".
This is the only intensive and comprehensive training available of it's kind in Australia, and one of only a few available worldwide.
Grow, Deepen, Inspire and Heal Yourself and your clients."
***Places are available for our Practitioner Training program beginning in March, April, September, October and December 2012 - read on for information.
***International Training with the Gestalt Equine Institute of the Rockies (GEIR) is available from Australia GEPA in January 6-9 "Breath and Body Work in EAP" and January 12-15 "Working with Couples and Families in EAP". Call Meg to book your place ASAP.
It will be :
- Experiential and Process oriented
- Theoretically grounded & rich
- Practitioner and Practice Oriented
- Research based - contemporary research utilised in for example Trauma work and Attachment work.
- Integrating the Horses as co-facilitators, teachers, and supports for building true Awareness and Contact
- Relational and Relationship-based learning
It is offered as Supplementary training for -
- Psychotherapists
- Mental Health Practitioners - Psychologists, Mental Health Social Workers...
- Life Coaches
- Counsellors
- Horsemen, Horsewomen and HorseTrainers
- Eagala, Epona, EGE & EFL practitoners
So that you can strengthen your existing skills and competencies, and expand your range of services into offering 'Equine Assisted Psychotherapy/ Learning' programs and sessions for diverse clients.
Foundation Training will include -
- 3 - 4 Day intensives
- Required Supervison sessions integrating learnings - 2 per Intensive
- Integration papers per Intensive and Final Assessment
- Horsemanship Individual Plan - identifying and developing Horsemanship competencies
- Comprehensive Reading Pack and Handbook for the Years Training
- Optional Monthly GEP Study Groups - experiential and theoretically based sessions -to continue your growth and support.
Please Note - The Foundation Training Program has been designed so that you can enter the training program at any training Intensive. It is a rotating cycle of entrance - you do not need to enter the program at Intensive 1. Participants will cover the same course material regardless of when they enter the training program. For example, you may enter at Intensive 2, then go on to complete Intensive 3 and Intensive 1, to complete Foundation GEP Certification.
You will learn :
Overview of Gestalt Therapy (GT) and Mindfulness Principles and Practice
Overview of Equine Psychotherapy/Learning field and practices - EAP/EAL, EFP/EFL, EGE, EFLC
GEP - theory, practice and process
The GEP approach
I-Thou Horsemanship, Horse Psychology and Herd behaviour, Horses in GEP processes
GEP Applications with individuals, couples, families, groups, clinical and personal growth, corporate work
Theory of Change in GT and GEP
Ethics and Horse Welfare in Equine Psychotherapy and Learning field and GEP
Intensive 1 - Awareness and Phenomenological Practice in GEP -
Awareness training and Zones of Awareness
Phenomenological practice - 4 practitioner skills and process approach
GEP- Growth through Awareness with horses
Intensive 2 - Therapeutic Relationship and Contact in GEP
GT theory and practice of Contact, Contact Styles,
Therapeutic Relationship, Dialogic Relation (I Thou and I It), with humans and horse
Cycle of Experience and Self Regulation with humans and horses
GEP - Relationship and Growth through Contact with horses
Intensive 3 - Experiments and 3 Phases of GEP
Core processes of Psychotherapy - GT and GEP
Beginning, middle and closure of sessions - GEP theoretical map
Pacing, Attuning
GEP - Growth through Experiencing and Experiments with Horses
Practitioner Training Dates 2012 -
Intensive 1 - 6,7,8,9 March 2012
Intensive 2 - 11,12,13,14 Setember 2012
Intensive 3 - 11,12,13,14 December 2012
Intensive 3 - April 17,18, 19, 20th 2012 - One of :Trauma, Attachment, Couples/Families, Child/Adolescent, Groups, Addictions
Advanced Training Intensive - October 30 - Nov 2nd 2012- One of above Intensives (Open for Professional Development to public)
Handbook and Reading Included, Lunch Included. (You will love our comprehensive GEP Handbook available each Intensive)
Application Form - please email Meg regarding your interest in attending the training and receive your Application Form.
megginkirby99@gmail.com. Preference will be given to people intending to complete all 3 intensives in Foundation Training.
Deposit - $200 is required to confirm your place, one month prior to attendance.
GEPA Professional Standards and Ethics :
GEPA's mission - we are committed to setting the standard for professional excellence in competency, safety and ethics in growing practitioners and their client's health and wellbeing, and, promoting the health, safety and wellbeing of horses.
Training Learning Objectives -
- To understand the theory and practice of GEP and different models of EAP and EFP
- To understand and apply the Experiential and Experimental approach of GEP
- To understand ethical issues and professional standards of practice and safety practices with horses and clients
- To develop basic competencies in the gestalt therapeutic process with horses - GEP - establishing a therapeutic relationship, developing awareness and supporting healthy contact and relationship capacities
- To develop assessment, process and closure skills in GEP
- To create appropriate and graded experiments to offer clients based on assessment, client presentation and feedback, with professionalism and sensitivity
- To understand and be guided by self awareness and 'self as therapist', understanding the impact of practitioner core themes, patterns and countertransference in GEP
- To understand horse psychology, herd behaviour and appreciate the relational dynamics that horses bring to the GEP process
- To understand the relationship between practitoners and their horses, and the impact on safety and efficacy of the work for clients, horses and practitoners.
- To develop core competencies in horsemanship, therapeutic and group process, and the GEP process.
- To understand and practice I - Thou Horsemanship
- To identify practitoner limitations, underdeveloped areas and be committed to personal and professional growth
ADVANCED TRAINING IN GEP -
Trainees can progress on to receive Advanced GEP Certification by attending further training in 3 Specialisations, (in conjunction with 2 Supervision sessions each Intensive) -
- Trauma and Working with the Body
- Addictions
- Attachment and Developmental Work
- Working with Couples and Families
- Working with Corporate groups and Organisations
- Working with Children and Adolescents
Each Specialisation will be 4 day Intensives, and dates will become available throughout the year.
You are welcome to attend Intensives as Professional Development, without attending Foundation or Advanced Program.
Register your Interest in above Intensives to request a particular field of study/intensive.
Certification available -
Completion of 1 st year Foundation Program in Gestalt Equine Psychotherapy
Completion of Advanced Program in Gestalt Equine Psychotherapy
Given the field of Equine Psychotherapy and Learning is currently not monitored in Australia - it is the responsibility of each person wanting to offer services in this growing field to feel and be competent , to know their personal and professional competencies and limitations, and be practicing from a well trained, professional and ethical driven model of practice. This program is designed to support you as a practitioner to be personally and professionally competent in working with horses and humans for the purpose of human growth and development, where the horses are honoured as teacher and co-facilitator. We will support and challenge you to grow and feel 'held' as you grow into grounded and authentic practitioners.
Facilitators are Meg Kirby, GEP founder in Australia and experienced practitioner, Gestalt Therapist/Psychotherapist, Mental Health Social Worker, and I-Thou horsewoman, and, Noel Haarburger, Psychologist, experienced Gestalt Therapy Practitioner Trainer and Therapist, and Trauma Specialist, with a passion for horses, Spirituality and learning. Both Meg and Noel are experienced psychotherapists, group facilitators, and registered professionals whom live and learn with horses as part of their extended family, and have been doing so for well over a decade. The journey continues...
All enquiries and Applications are very welcome - Meg Kirby on 0425 371 729, megginkirby99@gmail.com
September 2011 GEPA Training Group
Jan 2011 GEIR Training Group
GEIR Joan Rieger, GEPA Meggin Kirby
GEIR Duey Freeman, GEPA Noel Haarburger
GEIR Australia Training Group 2010