NL Clinical Immersions
Immerse yourself in the practice of Equine Assisted Services and experience
your future.
Clinical Immersions offer the opportunity to shadow deeply experienced and highly skilled NL Certified Therapists and Equine Professionals. We currently offer Clinical Immersions at two locations:
- Pecan Creek Ranch, an organization that offers Natural Lifemanship Equine Assisted Services (EAS) and professional development in Salado, TX (about 50 minutes north of downtown Austin)
- Brookside Ranch, which offers Trauma-Focused Equine Assisted Psychotherapy to individuals and groups in Brookside Village, TX (about 20 minutes south of downtown Houston)
This 2-day customized immersion program is designed for mental health and equine professionals (and others in the healing professions) who have attended the Fundamentals of NL and are committed to incorporating it into their practice.
Natural Lifemanship Certification students may count one clinical immersion towards one of their two group consultation requirements. (A clinical immersion completed with each location will satisfy both group consultation requirements.)
Details:
What: Clinical Immersion (currently offered at Pecan Creek Ranch and Brookside Ranch; more locations will be available in 2025)
When: To be arranged with the facility at a time that works for you
Where: Pecan Creek Ranch in Salado, TX or Brookside Ranch in Brookside Village, TX
Why: This is where you see your training in practice with clients.
Prerequisites: Fundamentals of Natural Lifemanship
This EAS training is for you if:
- You want to incorporate Natural Lifemanship into your practice.
- You want to observe therapy sessions in person and ask questions in real-time.
- You want to see how Trauma Focused-Equine Assisted Psychotherapy is applied in session.
“To watch the sessions unfold in a very peaceful, relaxed manner, waiting for the next thing, waiting for the opportunity and the teachable moment, all of these things took a lot of the pressure off of me being new to this work, understanding that something will happen, something valuable will happen.”
Toni Conner
Equine Professional
What to Expect
Since real sessions are taking place with real clients and horses, there is no way to guarantee what you will observe or experience during your clinical immersion. Each location serves different populations and offers a unique experience. The lists below may help you choose the location that best matches your needs and interests.
Pecan Creek Ranch
- Observe therapy sessions (children/adolescents and families), and discuss observations with the therapy team
- Learn effective co-facilitation methods, including being a part of the team processing of sessions
- Enjoy focused discussion with facilitators regarding implementation of Trauma Focused-Equine Assisted Psychotherapy (TF-EAP) principles in session
- Learn about assessments PCR uses and how to integrate them into treatment
- Learn about quality documentation standards that adhere to insurance standards
- Explore ethical implications and associated work dilemmas within an EAP service settings
- Observe the integration of NL into the fabric of the business
- Learn how to take care of your horses’ welfare with NL principles before, throughout, and after sessions
- Learn how to make connection the focus of every interaction with your horses, such as learning to feed and catch with connection
Brookside Ranch
- Reflect on and set your intentions and goals for the experience
- Schedule a one hour Zoom call with Beverly before and after your clinical immersion
- Spend time with the herd; experience and learn to facilitate Relationship Logic
- Observe therapy sessions with individual clients (adults and/or teenagers)
- Observe group sessions with substance use and addiction recovery groups
- Observe pre-session check-ins and post-session debriefs
- Participate in feeding and care of horses guided by NL principles
- Ask lots of questions
- Get to know the administrative, business, and clinical aspects of running a successful TF-EAP program
“[It helped] seeing all of the different ways the horses let the therapy team know an important issue had been addressed. It was incredible! There were so many different ways the horses were a part of the therapy team and I hadn’t really experienced that before.”
Debbie Blackmon
Therapist and NLC-P, EP student
What Other Participants Have Gained from This Experience
- Guidance and assistance in structuring your own EAS practice.
- Confidence in facilitating a flow between mental health and equine professionals in sessions.
- A deeper understanding of the relationship between mental health professionals, equine professionals, clients, and horses as the therapy progresses.
- A wide variety of experiences of how the horses participate in, guide, and influence sessions.
- New ideas and fresh perspectives for your own practice.
- New insights and practical tools for integrating NL principles into your practice.
- Experiences with horses that lead to personal growth and insights that facilitate further personal growth and professional practice.
- A renewed sense of connection and belonging.
- Lasting support and confidence.
Get to Know Pecan Creek Ranch
Pecan Creek Ranch is an equine-assisted services facility just outside of Salado, TX. Working primarily with children, adolescents, and families, their mission is to transform relationships one connection at a time and unlock a world of joy, worthiness, love, healing, and untapped potential for all. Learn more.
Get to Know Brookside Ranch
Brookside Ranch specializes in Trauma Focused Equine Assisted Psychotherapy (TF-EAP) for individuals and groups using the Natural Lifemanship model. They are located about 20 minutes south of downtown Houston, TX.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Do I have to take prerequisites?
Yes! You must complete the Fundamentals of Natural Lifemanship training prior to attending the clinical immersion. This allows you to have a solid foundation in the work you will observe.
Q: Can this experience be applied to my NL certification requirements?
Yes! You may count a clinical immersion at either location towards one of your two group consultation requirements. If you choose to do a clinical immersion at EACH location, they will satisfy both of your group consultation requirements.
Q: How often is this training offered throughout the year?
This opportunity is scheduled between you and the facility. After payment, you will receive an email with instructions for completing a questionnaire. After you submit the questionnaire you will connect directly with either Pecan Creek or Brookside to work out the dates and other details of your clinical immersion.
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