Modules & Requirements
The Gestalt Equine Institute of the Rockies offers two certifications:
Both 'Gestalt Equine Psychotherapy' and 'Gestalt Equine Studies' certificates arise from the same training and requirements. Each module is a combination of students in both certificate programs.
The reason for the two certifications lies in the fact that the word 'psychotherapy' is a protected word and may not be used by non-therapists.
If you receive a certificate in 'Gestalt Equine Studies' and later become a professional therapist, we will change your certificate to 'Gestalt Equine Psychotherapy' to reflect your development.
The reason for the two certifications lies in the fact that the word 'psychotherapy' is a protected word and may not be used by non-therapists.
If you receive a certificate in 'Gestalt Equine Studies' and later become a professional therapist, we will change your certificate to 'Gestalt Equine Psychotherapy' to reflect your development.
8 Module Topics & Certification Requirements:
**You must be accepted into the program to be placed on the waiting list. This requires completing the on-line application and an interview to see if we are a good and mutual fit.**
The following is a comprehensive description of the training program for either certification:
1. The core of the program consists of 8 training intensives or modules. Each of these intensives are 4 days long starting on Wednesday and going through Saturday. You are required to complete 8 intensives for a certificate. If you completed all 8 consecutively, it would take you two years to complete our program.
2. The 8 module topics include:
3. Though each module holds a primary focus, they will all weave in the following:
4. For certification you are required to complete 16 hours of individual supervision with any of our faculty members. This time will be spent assessing and honing equine skills, discussing your clients/students, consulting on the application of equine and nature therapy to your specific context, deepening your understanding of Gestalt therapy and/or to help you apply this work. The 16 hours are to be spread out among the 2 year process - 8 hours each year. We have found in the past that this individual connection is very helpful in your growth as a therapist or instructor. Supervision sessions are at an additional cost of $125/hour to meet with Duey, and $100/hour to meet with other faculty members.
5. We ask you to do readings and integrate these into the work you do in the intensives.
6. For certification you are required to complete 2 assessments: 1) Gestalt theory assessment 2) Equine and relational horsemanship assessment.
7. Final Project - At your last module, you will complete a final project on a topic of your choice and present it to the group. The final project is intended to help you deepen this work in an area of interest to you, and also to help you take your work out into the world.
8. Program Cost: $995 per module + the 16 hours of individual supervision
The following is a comprehensive description of the training program for either certification:
1. The core of the program consists of 8 training intensives or modules. Each of these intensives are 4 days long starting on Wednesday and going through Saturday. You are required to complete 8 intensives for a certificate. If you completed all 8 consecutively, it would take you two years to complete our program.
2. The 8 module topics include:
- Introduction to Gestalt and GEP (August 2024)
- Contact Boundaries for Humans and Horses (November 2024)
- The Therapeutic Circle and Gestalt Experiment (February 2025)
- Developmental Theory & Attachment for humans and horses (May 2025)
- Land, Nature, and Equine Applications to Therapy and Facilitation (August 2025)
- Somatic Processes: Body and Breath of Humans, Horses and Earth (November 2023)
- Working with Families (February 2024)
- Relational Horsemanship & Ethics (May 2024)
3. Though each module holds a primary focus, they will all weave in the following:
- Gestalt theory, practice, history and community building
- Gestalt equine therapy, theory, and practice
- Emotional developmental theory and practice and how to integrate this with Gestalt Equine Psychotherapy (GEP)™
- Experiential practice therapy sessions with the other students and the horses either in the group or dyads
- Nature awareness, principles, knowledge and interventions to blend with equine therapy.
- Relational Horsemanship, horse knowledge and care
- Special knowledge: such as Horse nutrition, Vet care, Farrier work
- Ground and mounted work
4. For certification you are required to complete 16 hours of individual supervision with any of our faculty members. This time will be spent assessing and honing equine skills, discussing your clients/students, consulting on the application of equine and nature therapy to your specific context, deepening your understanding of Gestalt therapy and/or to help you apply this work. The 16 hours are to be spread out among the 2 year process - 8 hours each year. We have found in the past that this individual connection is very helpful in your growth as a therapist or instructor. Supervision sessions are at an additional cost of $125/hour to meet with Duey, and $100/hour to meet with other faculty members.
5. We ask you to do readings and integrate these into the work you do in the intensives.
6. For certification you are required to complete 2 assessments: 1) Gestalt theory assessment 2) Equine and relational horsemanship assessment.
7. Final Project - At your last module, you will complete a final project on a topic of your choice and present it to the group. The final project is intended to help you deepen this work in an area of interest to you, and also to help you take your work out into the world.
8. Program Cost: $995 per module + the 16 hours of individual supervision