HEAL Facilitator Training Program

When I was a small child, horses came to have  special meaning to me. They became a presence that assisted a lonely, shy, introverted girl  understand the world and became  a portal to a place of hope, imagination, and a vision for future service of others with similar challenges.  After hearing nothing but my love and desire to not only have a horse but to "be" a horse, my parents purchased  me my beloved "Golden Girl"  when I was 10-years old. She became a friend when I felt no one else understood me and listened patiently and without judgment as I poured out my pain and sorrow into her soft coat.  While studying to become a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, I came in contact with a book entitled, "The Tao of Equus" by Linda Kohanov. Reading this book brought all the pieces together. In the introduction of her book, Kohonav writes, "The Tao of Equus essentially translates as 'the way of the horse', while emphasizing the healing and transformational qualities of this path. Interacting with these animals can be immensely therapeutic physically, mentally, and spiritually, helping people reawaken long-forgotten abilities that are capable of healing the imbalances of modern life." For the first time, I could see a way to meld the two passions in my life into a path of service that made more sense than anything else I had yet to experience.
     I have been a therapist in private practice for several years now and have come across a model for Equine-Facilitated Psychotherapy & Learning (EFPL) that I feel is not only solidly researched based but seems easily integrated into regular counseling practice. I have been accepted into the HEAL (Human Equine Alliances for Learning) Facilitatior Training Program and am asking you to help send me there. Once completed, I look to start a program in my area that will serve individuals as they

work through the model's "6 Keys to Relationship".  This model is designed to help clients increase relational ability, emotional well-being, self-awareness and empowerment through an experiental partnership with the horse

For more information about the HEAL model, check out their website:  http://humanequinealliance.org/

Thank you for checking out my Gofundme site. Keep checking back for more information and updates.. I'd appreciate you sharing it with as many people as possible to increase exposure for this wonderful modality of treatment.