CPD Post-Graduate Course For Professionals:
Equine Assisted Services (EAS) for
Individuals with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

The program is designed to equip EAS practitioners with the essential skills and knowledge to help clients with PTSD overcome the barriers created by their trauma and move toward resilience and potential post-traumatic growth.
Practitioners will learn how to guide clients in applying insights gained from their equine experiences to reconnect with their potential and embrace the possibilities of a positive future.

This mission will be implemented as a two-faceted program that will:
1. Train EAS practitioners to assess and address the unique needs of individuals living with post-trauma.
2. Provide a customized EAS program for trauma survivors and their families, designed to help them transition from a state of stagnation to one of growth and change.

OVERARCHING GOALS
The overriding goal is to train practitioners through authentic practice to:
• Understand what constitutes PTSD and how it affects trauma survivors and their families
• Identify the key characteristics of chronic PTSD and recognize when an individual is trapped in this prolonged stage.
• Learn EAS strategies that will help move the client forward
• Partner with the horse in providing those traumatized with a specialized EAS program

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
1. Health Professional or Equine Specialist
2. Riding Instructor or Therapeutic Riding Instructor qualifications/EAS Practitioner with accreditation
3. Minimum age: 21
4. Eight practice sessions that take place in a professional riding center with insurance coverage for challenged riders. Candidates must have insurance to work with and ride horses.
Proof of these qualifications and insurance must be submitted before the sessions can begin. Candidates will be responsible for covering any costs associated with these sessions.

COURSE STRUCTURE
Theory:
One 3-hour online session each week for 12 weeks (one evening or one weekend session).

Supervised Practice:
Two 1.5-hour group online sessions.
Eight practice sessions with one client.

COST: 1200 USD including 200 USD registration fee
THE FIRST COURSE WILL BEGIN FEBRUARY 2025

For the Continued Professional Development (CPD) Certificate from the UK, Dr. Shkedi requires the following for evaluation:

1. Eight session plans for the practice sessions each followed with comprehensive feedback.
2. Three 10-minute videos documenting the client’s progress. In each video the candidate and client must always be visible, and the sound should be clear and easily audible.
3. A 5000-word case study of a specific post-traumatic client, which can be performed by two candidates if requested.
4. A signed portfolio/logbook

Successful candidates will receive a Continued Professional Development (CPD) Certificate  from the UK upon completion of the course.

Pay by credit card (Visa or MasterCard): Click on register single participant below – payment and attendee details will be requested at checkout.

IF YOU ARE UNABLE TO ATTEND: Contact us as soon as possible by email. 

Cancellations made 21 business days or more before the start of the course will result in the refund of the course cost minus the registration fee.

No refund will be issued for cancellations made later than 21 business days before the start of the course.

A full refund will be issued if Anita cancels the course due to unexpected circumstances.

I’m not sure I can fully put this into words but I’ll give it ago!
Last year when I went to the HETI congress, I met in person the lovely Anita Shkedi, listening to her lectures and then welcoming her to NZ sparked an interest in PTSD and Equine Assisted Services. Earlier this year I was invited to complete a continuing professional development course through Anita on PTSD. I was initially daunted by this as it was at a post graduate standard, and there was a mountain of work to complete including session plans, reflections and a case study. Every Thursday for 12 weeks I attended zoom lectures but then with daylight savings ending and time zone differences I’d start my day at 3am, do my zoom lectures before starting my day job (not sure how I did it!) but today I’m super excited to announce that I am the first one in NZ to hold my certificate in Equine Assisted Services and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. This now means I have the added skill set to work with a wider range of clients in the field of equine assisted services both here in NZ and in the rest of the world.
I also need to extend a heartfelt thank you to my small group of friends and family who have always had my back, cheered me on, celebrated the highs and lows with me and brought me coffee when the mornings were tough.
I’ve got today off work and I’ll try not to think about work, do any emails but to just enjoy this feeling of success.

Register Single Participant

Contact Anita for more information.