HEAL Training and Certification in Equine-Facilitated Psychotherapy & Learning
March 23, 2025 Happy Spring!
Is 2025 your year to experience the power of the HEAL Model, or even become Certified as a Facilitator ?
A note from HEAL Founder and Director Leigh Shambo, MSW, LMHC:
Just scheduled! Live, in-person HEAL Bronze Certification Training, June 6-8, 2025 at Heavenly Horses in Richmond, IL (near WI border).
In our abstracted modern world, many of us long for a more connected life. A greater sense of connection with others, and even more importantly, connection with ourselves and our purpose. I do!! So I hope you’ll come join myself, and HEAL Graduate Kathleen Muglia, at Heavenly Horses in Richmond Illinois for HEAL Keys to Connection in person workshop, June 6-8, 2025! Heavenly Horses encourages a faith -based understanding of horse activities, and the HEAL Model, which they employ in educational, therapeutic and horsemanship activities. This will be of special interest to those interested in integrating spiritual growth with emotional and relationship health. This workshop will award the HEAL Bronze Certification. The cost is $799. Look for the sign up banner above and click on the link! I hope to see you there! Peace, Leigh
Our HEAL Online Certification programs, Keys to Connection (Bronze level) and Advanced Learning Professional (or ALPS, the Silver level), are more popular than ever! The online programs require that you have horses to work with on your own. If you don’t have a horse or horses, you may elect to wait and take the Keys to Connection (Bronze) in-person, 3-day training, which is offered 1-2 times annually. Watch this space for details!
Reach out to me with your interest and questions! I hope to meet you whether it’s in person or through an on-line course.
Sincerely, Leigh leigh@humanequinealliance.com – text or call 760-258-5515.
It can be difficult to travel to an in-person training, especially for horse owners! Would you like to learn from home, with your own horse or horses as your partners? Check out the popular and cost-effective HEAL on-line Certification courses (a hybrid of online + independent experiential learning), listed below. The on-line courses have these advantages:
- Start virtually anytime, with a flexible, self-paced schedule
- Learn EFPL by working with your own herd and practice site
- Individualized, in-depth, with Leigh Shambo, MSW, LMHC, Founder/Director of HEAL
- Customized to your practice setting, your horses, your scope of services (psychotherapy or learning)
To sign up, go to our Shop page and choose Keys to Connection. We’ll be in touch to schedule your first session!
Testimonials:
“Choosing the most valuable parts of this course would be difficult, due to the fact that everything flows together beautifully. The book and lessons can be revisited easily, and the sessions filled with professional information and personal support based on Leigh’s extensive experience.”
“I wouldn’t change anything, the course is perfectly paced out and gives time every week to work on the tasks with the horse.”
HEAL Certification Trainings
If you are considering HEAL for certification, thank you for your interest. Certification is an established best practice for professionals who partner with horses to provide people with psychotherapy (EFP), and/or learning (EFL) services. Certification in HEAL demonstrates your commitment and preparation to provide safe, effective and transformative EFPL services. Scroll down for more information!
Call or email any time! Sincerely, Leigh 760-258-5515 leigh@humanequinealliance.com
For trainings in the US, inquire to HEAL founder Leigh Shambo, leigh@humanequinealliance.com PH: 1(760) 258-5515. Would you like to bring HEAL to your area? If you would like to host a HEAL workshop at your equestrian site (or in partnership with a suitable site), reach out to Leigh for details..
For in-person workshops and trainings in Norway please contact Jeanette Lysell j-lysel@online.no
ONLINE TRAINING & CERTIFICATION in EQUINE-FACILITATED THERAPY AND LEARNING
WITH LEIGH SHAMBO leigh@humanequinealliance.com for detailed course brochure(s)
HEAL-Basic EFPL Certification (Bronze) Keys to Connection
HEAL-Basic (bronze) certification* is awarded to candidates who have credentials as a helping professional or horse specialist, AND who successfully complete all hours and exercises in the HEAL foundational course Keys to Connection. The course may be taken on-line or in-person, comprises 21 hours or more of instruction plus experiential exercises in the HEAL model. This is an entry-level certification and is a certificate of completion; it does not imply an endorsement from HEAL and those who complete the course are not listed on the HEAL website.
*The Keys to Connection Course, taken in person or on-line, is a prerequisite for the advanced trainings ALPS or FTP.
Keys to Connection Bronze: Price $799.00
Heal-Advanced EFPL Certification (Silver) ALPS course on-line
HEAL-ALPS Advanced Learning Professional Series – (Silver) EFPL Certification is awarded to professional Therapists, Counselors, and professional Educators including coaches, who complete all of the modules – a series of 10 with associated assignments and mentoring in all aspects for providing and guiding a client’s therapy or educational course with the HEAL Model™. The coursework is taken online with HEAL founder Leigh Shambo, and significant equine experiential learning experience is completed at home with close mentoring. This Advanced certification from HEAL takes from 3-5 months to complete. ALPS graduates are listed on the HEAL website, and are endorsed as “HEAL-certified facilitators”. Silver is equivalent to the Gold certification which is a mainly in-person program (described below). Successful completion of the foundation level course Keys to Connection is a prerequisite for entering the Silver ‘ALPS’ or Gold Facililitator Training Program.
‘ALPS ‘ Silver certification -Price: $2499
HEAL-Facilitator EFPL Certification (Gold)
HEAL-FTP (gold) certification -the original HEAL Facilitator Training Program (FTP), is a post-graduate certification program for therapists and educators with Masters’ level or equivalent education and experience in helping or teaching professions. The HEAL FTP is a 5 month program, requiring one full week of on-site participation at the beginning, and one full week of on-site particupation as the final week, with a semester of distance learning activities in between the on-site portions. HEAL-FTP graduates are listed on the HEAL website and are “HEAL-certified facilitators”. The next cohort of HEAL FTP is currently scheduled for 2025 in Norway. Competion of Keys to Connection is a prerequisite for acceptance in HEAL FTP.
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After 20 (well-reviewed!) years of in-person EFPL Certifications & Trainings, Leigh Shambo has grown the HEAL Model’s strength and possibilities yet again by developing the first Online Trainings for EFPL, with experiential portions completed by students working with their own horse(s) at their home site. Scroll down to see our 2021 offerings! For more information email Leigh!
HEAL Online Trainings
New On-line HEAL courses, taught personally by HEAL Founder Leigh Shambo [available year-round] are economical and travel-free. Best for students who have their own horses to work with. Course modules consist of face-to-face video conferences, with a mix of presentations and individualized discussion & practical applications of methods. Participants must have adequate internet connection, and access to horses in a quiet, safe setting to complete the HEAL therapeutic/learning exercises.
About HEAL Educational Offerings Online
- All on-line programs will be arranged by private contract with HEAL Founder & Director Leigh Shambo. leigh@humanequinealliance.com or 760-258-5515
- Every effort will be made to tailor the schedule and timing of modules to participant convenience. In group classes, sessions will be recorded for viewing in case of a missed session. The schedule may be weekly, bi-monthly or monthly.
- The entire tuition is due in advance, unless special arrangements are made in advance.
- Group discounts (8% each for 2; 12% each for 3; 16% each for 4) require that the group is registered and paid in advance for all the program sessions. Payment and cancellation policies may be found on HEAL website.
- HEAL assumes no responsibility or liability when students work with their own horses/clients/students using the HEAL material, even when the student becomes certified as a HEAL Facilitator.
Intro HEAL Class or Consultation Online
Consultation in Equine-Facilitated Psychotherapy. Answer your questions about certification for equine- facilitated or assisted- therapy and education. You’ll find help and support for refining your vision and developing your practice! You can also schedule an overview of the HEAL Model of EFPL in a 1-hour video-conference, which includes ‘homework’ to try with your own horse!
Scheduled at your convenience, an informative Zoom conference on the HEAL Model! It’s a brief but comprehensive overview of HEAL and the 6 Keys to Relationship. Taught personally by Leigh Shambo, founder of HEAL and author of the book “The Listening Heart; the limbic path beyond office therapy“. Includes practice ideas and suggestions for building a stronger bond with your horse. Open to all.
Price: $99 for individual; discounts apply when provided to a group of up to 4 learners.
“I have explored other models but am extremely grateful to have found the HEAL method. I appreciate the clinically sound aspects of this model but even more, I appreciate the integrity with which it is written, taught and implemented.”
~C. Curry, Montana
Open To All! The Experiential HEAL Model™ Foundation Course
7 Two-hour modules with ‘hands on’ homework AND personalized mentorship & feedback
This 7-module course (usually completed in 2-6 month time frame) provides an in-depth cognitive and experiential grasp of the HEAL Model, with its “Six Keys to Relationship.” Based on our popular 3-day workshop, it is open to professionals, personal growth and horse lovers, who can complete the experiential horse activities on their own. Each module is comprised of 2 separate video class sessions, with the experiential horse work done by the student in between. Mentoring of sessions is enabled by the 2nd conference and student write-ups. Students receive a complimentary copy of “The Listening Heart” by Leigh Shambo in addition to course learning materials. Total 14 hours of instruction including mentoring and support for experiential exercises. Certificate of completion issued when course is finished.
Price:
Online course 7 Modules Keys to Connection : $799.
In-person workshop 3 Days Keys to Connection, from $875 (pricing varies by venue)
(you may pay $275 deposit, with $600 balance due prior to workshop start)
“The weekend was life-changing for me; it’s been a long time (forever) since I cried as much and laughed as deeply as I did that weekend.”
~Vanessa
HEAL Advanced Learning Professional Series (ALPS)
This training is available by application for educators, therapists, counselors, life coaches, and equestrian therapeutic instructors, and certain non-professional educators. The Keys to Connection curriculum is a necessary prerequisite to ALPS. ALPS has 10 modules (usually completed in 5-10 months), covering the HEAL Model in theory and practice, with a strong focus on facilitating the core exercises, and variations, for therapy and programs. Group facilitation, and applications related your practice niche, are also covered. ALPS students have the option to facilitate EFPL sessions for their course homework (the other option is practicing the exercises on your own to build confidence). There will be some scholarly readings assigned relating to EFPL. Completion of ALPS earns the designation “HEAL Certified Facilitator,” along with a listing on the HEAL website. As an added bonus, participants receive a year of follow up mentoring and consultation with Leigh Shambo! Over 20 hours of course instruction, up to 10 hours of mentoring, and facilitation skills for a full complement of EFPL exercises. At your convenience!
Price: $2499 for individual; discounts apply when provided to a group of up to 4 learners.
“I wanted to express again what a wonderful weekend it was at the workshop! It was so great to come together with like-minded people, willing to try and embrace our ‘authentic selves’ and explore what it means for each of us.”
~J. Mitchell
HEAL On-Site, In-person Courses and Training
HEAL’s popular courses and trainings, offered in the US and other countries for over 15 years, have received consistently positive reviews for over 15 years.
Note: It may be possible to arrange a HEAL workshop in your area if you have a suitable site and are willing to organize a group of learners.
On-line course, session cancellations:A cancellation fee is charged to make up on-line course sessions canceled with less than 24 hour notice. Thank you in advance for your cooperation. The fee may be waived for unforeseen health or safety emergencies.
Refund and Cancellation Policy:
This policy applies to programs administered by HEAL and Leigh Shambo directly. Other HEAL-designated instructors, and outside program organizers, are responsible for their own registration policies, including cancellations and refunds. If cancellation is for online course, unused fees which have been paid in advance, are refundable (less a $50 processing fee).
For ALL in-person workshops, the deposit only becomes non-refundable 10 days prior to workshop, unless we can fill your reserved spot. Any remaining tuition will be refunded less an administrative fee.