*Please note, there is a $50 application fee that is due at the time of submission. If accepted into the program, the $50 application fee will be credited towards your tuition. If you are not accepted, the fee will be refunded.
The HERD Institute® offers Equine-Facilitated Psychotherapy Training for Mental Health Practitioners. Our training focuses on the philosophical, theoretical, and experiential process of incorporating equines into working with clients. Through the help of our herd of horses, students will gain a deeper understanding of how their own process impacts on their client relationships. Our certification program is offered as a hybrid model combining online study, live webinars, and in-person practicums.
For US students, The HERD Institute® Foundation EFP Certification is offered with CE approval by the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC)*, the National Association of Social Workers (NASW)**, and the American Psychological Association (APA).***
*The HERD Institute, LLC has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 6845. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. The HERD Institute, LLC is solely responsible for all aspects of the program. The Equine-Facilitated Psychotherapy Certification offers 14 hours of CE per practicum and 3 clock hours of CE per Live Webinar, for a total of 46 hours of CE for the entire certification.
**This program is Approved by the National Association of Social Workers (Approval # 886737814-4317) for 14 continuing education contact hours. This applies to each in-person practicum only.
***APA Division 32, Society for Humanistic Psychology, is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. APA Division 32, Society for Humanistic Psychology maintains responsibility for this program and its content. Our Equine-Facilitated Psychotherapy Certification offers 10 clock hours of CE per practicum and 1 clock hours of CE per Live Webinar, for a total of 26 hours of CE for the entire certification.
Who Can Apply?
The HERD Institute® Equine-Facilitated Psychotherapy (EFP) Foundation Certification is designed to offer training to licensed professional counselors, licensed marriage and family therapists, social workers, psychologists, psychiatrists, and other allied health professionals interested in incorporating horses into their work. Admission to the training program will be at the discretion of the HERD faculty.
What Is The Application Process?
To apply, simply complete our online application form, pay the application fee, and sign our Commitment of Belonging. Once you submit your application and have completed all the necessary application steps, you will be invited to an informal interview, after which your application will be reviewed by our Admissions Team. You will receive a decision within 5 business days of your interview.
What Does The Training Entail?
Our EFP training consists of 5 online courses, 5 live webinars, and 2 in-person practicums. All must be completed for graduation, as well as additional requirements. For more information, please contact us at [email protected]!
What Will You Learn?
The HERD Institute® Foundation EFP Certification Program equips practitioners with the breadth and depth of knowledge, skills, and ethical guidelines required for clinical practice within an equine-facilitated setting. Completion of the program does not equate to state licensure for mental health practice. The program is structured to provide the philosophical, theoretical, and experiential foundations for students to integrate into their own personal philosophy. The aim is to support and inspire a new generation of practitioners to find their own unique style of bringing horses into their clients’ lives to facilitate profound healing and growth.
Topics covered:
How Much Does it Cost?
We offer the following payment options for the Foundation EFP tuition*:
Full Tuition Upfront: $7250
OR
Payment Plan**: $418/month for 18 months
*Tuition is in US Dollars and includes all learning materials for each module, supervision costs plus refreshments, each day during the in-person practicums. It does NOT include travel, accommodation, and lunch each day.
**All payment options include a non-refundable $1,500 deposit. For the payment plans, the $1,500 non-refundable deposit is due up front prior to the beginning of all monthly payments. The $1,500 non-refundable deposit is built into the full tuition upfront cost.
We also offer discounts for the following groups:
If you belong to any of these communities, you are eligible for the discounted rate.
The discounted rates* are as follows:
Full Tuition Upfront: $6162
OR
Payment Plan**: $355/month for 18 months
Are You The Spouse Of An Active Military Member
See if you are eligible for a 20% discount click HERE to get started.
*Please note, there is a $50 application fee that is due at the time of submission. If accepted into the program, the $50 application fee will be credited towards your tuition. If you are not accepted, the fee will be refunded.
| ONLINE MODULE | LIVE WEBINAR |
|---|---|
| July 10th: Existential-Humanistic Principles in EFP | Friday, August 11th: 1 – 4 pm (EST) |
| September 4th: HERD Dynamics (Horses and Humans) | Friday, October 6th: 1 – 4 pm (EST) |
| November 6th: Building Your Practice | Friday, December 8th: 1 – 4 pm (EST) |
| US Practicums |
|---|
| Relational HERD: August 21st – 25th, 2023, Crete, IL |
| Relational HERD: October 16th – 20th, 2023, Orlando, FL |
| ONLINE MODULE | LIVE WEBINAR |
|---|---|
| January 8th, 2024: Foundations of The HERD Equine Facilitated Psychotherapy Model™ | Friday, February 9th, 2024: 1 – 4 pm (EST) |
| March 4th, 2024: Gestalt Theory of Self & Embodiment | Friday, April 5th, 2024: 1 – 4 pm (EST) |
| May 13th, 2024: Existential-Humanistic Principles in EFP | Friday, June 14th, 2024: 1 – 4 pm (EST) |
| July 1st, 2024: Building Your Practice | Friday, August 9th, 2024: 1 – 4 pm (EST) |
| September 2nd, 2024: HERD Dynamics (Horses and Humans) | Friday, October 11th, 2024: 1 – 4 pm (EST) |
| US PRACTICUMS |
|---|
| Compassionate HERD: February 19th – 23rd, 2024, Orlando, FL |
| Compassionate HERD: May 6th – 10th, 2024, Crete, IL |
| Relational HERD: June 24th – 28th, 2024, Crete, IL |
| Relational HERD: October 21st – 25th, 2024, Orlando, FL |
*In order to complete your certification, you must attend all online modules, live webinars, and both the Compassionate HERD and Relational HERD practicums. The practicums can be attended in any order. In order to embed the learning, practicums need to be attended at least a minimum of 4 months apart. You also must have completed an online module and live webinar, prior to attending an in person Practicum.
Start dates for accepted applications are January.
The application deadline for a January start is November 15th.
As part of your certification, we require you to obtain your Equine Health and Emergency First Aid Training Certification. Click the button to find out more information and to see available dates. If these dates don’t fit your schedule, you can find somewhere closer to your location.
Contact us to find out more about scheduling an equine first aid training course in your area.
As a graduate of The HERD Institute®, we are proud to promote your achievements and success. We believe in continuing the support and guidance offered during the training, post certification. A Graduate Membership Fee of $150, to be paid annually on the anniversary of your graduation, brings the benefit of being listed on our website as a graduate of the institute, allowing clients to find you more easily, and acts as a referral point. Continued supervision will also be available at a discounted rate of $65/hour*. Graduates will also be invited to present at conferences, co-author articles, co-facilitate workshops, and/or assist in training certifications as a way of expanding your experience. The HERD Institute® is committed to maintaining contact with our graduates to deepen the connections within the HERD Community. To maintain membership, graduates must also complete 10 hours of Continued Education annually.
And stay up-to-date on any new offerings to aid in your journey.
In THIS HERD… You Really Belong!