EMBRACE Is Getting EAP Certified!

Since 2015 EMBRACE has operated to help participants bring relationships alive through a Christ-centered experience. The experiences provided by our ministry has been largely Holy Spirit led through sessions designed by staff with decades of horse experience and discipleship. While our methods have been highly effective, the continual flow of participants with dual mental diagnosis and in various stages of substance abuse recovery has led our staff to seek higher training in order to better serve future participants with even more intentionality.

There are several variations of Equine Assisted Psychotherapy, or EAP, and not all of them are the same. Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association (EAGALA) and the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship (PATH) are among the largest and most popular associations, but EMBRACE has elected to take a different, though equally reputable, avenue more appropriate for our ministry and mission. After extensive research and interviews, EMBRACE has elected to obtain the Faith-Based Equine Assisted Philosophies (FBEAP) certification through Unbridled Faith (www.unbridledfaith.org), similar to our sister ministry, Crystal Peaks Youth Ranch in Bend, Oregon.

This EAP model offers ground and certain mounted exercises, as well as experiential healing, deliverance, communication, teambuilding, and personal growth experiences. FBEAP offers techniques to teach individuals how to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit. Equine nonverbal communication, herd behavior, and equine development, demonstrate successful interaction as an example for human relations (www.unbridledfaith.org/the-faqs/). We are elated the founder of FBEAP, Elaine Davis, has accepted our offer to host a seminar. We are even more excited to open this opportunity for certification to the public!

There is no physical or educational prerequisite to attend this seminar and receive this certification, but at this time there is no option to audit the seminar. The seminar will take place over three full days, July 19, 20 and 21. EMBRACE has operated under a 100% volunteer staff since its inception in 2015. Due to our limited budget, we are holding a fundraiser in order to increase the opportunity for all of our horse session leaders to obtain this certification. The more volunteer staff who have the ability to provide this certified therapeutic service to participants, the more people we can serve.

For details about this fundraiser, cost of attending the seminar and more, visit our website, www.embraceequineministry.org and stay tuned for our April newsletter with updates!

Want to learn more about what's happening with EMBRACE? Visit our website and sign up for our monthly newsletter where you'll get a horse training tip from our horse session leaders, see pictures from our sessions and more!