With Dr. Terri Jennings, Psychologist
This course focuses on designing mounted and unmounted equine assisted activities to enhance the quality of life for individuals of varying ages with anxiety and/or depression.
The instructor will demonstrate a wide array of techniques, and teach how, when, and why they are used for individuals with anxiety and/or depression.
Developing treatment goals, designing interventions, and measuring progress will be linked to hands-on activities during field trips to the ranch.
We will also discuss what to look for when choosing potential equine partners for working with individuals with anxiety/depression.
This course emphasizes the ethical treatment of equines included in therapeutic settings, and the role of the equine as a partner in the treatment process.
Students taking this course will learn to:
- articulate the clinical presentations of anxiety and depression.
- understand the types of equine activities that are appropriate for individuals with anxiety and depression.
- identify the reasons for pairing horses with individuals with anxiety and/or depression for therapeutic benefit.
- identify selection criteria and ethical responsibilities for equines working with these individuals.
- demonstrate knowledge of equine mounted and non-mounted therapies conducted with individuals with anxiety and/or depression with various presentations.
- demonstrate knowledge of how to create connection, compassion, communication, and a sense of control, using mounted and non-mounted activities.
- demonstrate an understanding of the equine as a partner, rather than a tool.
You must be age 18 or over to enroll in this course.
June 5-Aug. 7, 2024 (No class June 19 and July 3.)
Online/In-person: Meets Wed., 5-6 p.m. on Zoom every odd week; meets in-person at a PATH Center, 5-7 p.m., on even weeks
$325 • Class #: 31168
Optional 1 unit credit, PSYC x480, additional fee: $85 • Class #: 31169
Terri Jennings
Dr. Terri Jennings is a licensed psychologist (PY 6802 FL) (PSY2726 CA). She has volunteered, worked and trained in the field of psychology for over 20 years. She received her Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from the University of Miami in 2002. Dr. Jennings founded Healing Hooves Psychotherapy, Inc., in South Florida where for 12 years she provided equine facilitated psychotherapy for children, teens and adults. Dr. Jennings moved to Humboldt County in May of 2014, bringing along her skills, enthusiasm and her therapy horses to create Healing Strides Psychotherapy, Inc. Dr. Jennings became interested in horses as a young girl, just four years old. Although her family could not afford horseback riding lessons, she checked out horse books from the library every week for years and begged her parents to drive by the local barn almost every day. She was able to ride for the first time at the age of 8 on a beautiful paint horse named Sunflower. From that point on she was hooked. Between the occasional trail ride and Girl Scout horse camp in the summer her passion continued to grow. As a teenager her interest in horses waned as she was busy with other things. It wasn't until she was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia in 1998 that she was reacquainted with her love of horses. As she began to spend time each day at the ranch she realized that horses would need to be in her life in order to continue to cope with her disease. Dr. Jennings also realized how horses transformed the lives of many people who frequented the ranch and decided to combine her psychological training with her love of horses. The rest is history.
