Event Registration

Sierra Tucson Alumni Relations presents: Did That Horse Really Just Bump Into Me?

Description:

Healthy Boundaries – understanding what they are and how to make them – is a challenge for all individuals and families in recovery.  At times, the ability to be able to make and keep them can be critical to maintaining abstinence, mental health, and stability.  An addiction can impact the entire family, so understanding boundaries is key for both the recovering individual and for the important people in their lives.  What exactly do we mean by boundaries, and what does a herd of horses have to teach us?

Horse have an ability to protect themselves from danger and live in the social hierarchy of a herd.  They do this by drawing upon an inner wisdom to be able to take care of themselves. They learn boundaries in a herd as soon as they are born, and the survival of a herd is dependent upon this.  Humans can learn a great deal about social and interpersonal interactions from their animal friends.  Horse and humans have lived together for centuries and have learned to coexist for their mutual benefit. As a result, horses can recognize human facial expressions and they are acutely aware of emotional states and the intentions of the humans.  In this way they have much to teach us about staying safe in groups and how to buffer the possible threats to sobriety and personal integrity.

Goals & learning Objectives:

The goal of this workshop is to improve your understanding of boundaries and learn tools to increase your effectiveness at setting and keeping them.  In this workshop we will work with the horses to:

• Understand the meaning of personal boundaries
• Learn how to protect ourselves from breaches to those boundaries
• Learn how boundaries can promote self-care
• Understand the critical importance of maintaining and respecting boundaries in recovery

All of these goals will be accomplished by working therapeutically with the horses.  The facilitators are trained in Equine Assisted Psychotherapy and are both certified as Advanced providers.

AGENDA: 

8.30-9.00        Registration and Check In

9.00-10.30      Activity

10.30-11.00   Break

11.00-12.30   Activity

12.30-1.00      Wrap-Up

1.00                 Opportunity for lunch & further discussion

Attire:

Please wear covered toed shoes (no flip flops or sandals) Wear clothing that you don’t mind getting dirty and covered with horse hair and dust.  Recommended to bring sunscreen.

Presenters:

Alison W. Johnson, PsyD, SPS Director, is an EAGALA Advanced Certified Equine Psychotherapist. She specializes in the treatment of children, adolescents, adults, addictions, eating disorders, mood disorders, and personal growth.

Her colleague who will be assisting in the live demonstration is Sharon Mitchell, MSW.  She is also an Advanced Certified Equine Specialist and PATH International (formerly NARHA) Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor, she has more than 40 years of professional and recreational experience with horses. She was nationally recognized for program design implementation in the field of social work, and she is an Authorized Provider for the New Jersey Department of Developmental Disabilities.

Both presenters have been working together as a team to provide Equine Assisted Therapy for the last 12 years.

Register today, space is limited!

Cancellation Policy:  Refunds provided up to 6/18/19

Rain date Saturday, June 29th. Workshop participants will be notified within 24 hours if the workshop is rescheduled.

Contact: Laura Wagner, Alumni & Community Outreach Coordinator
Telephone: (520) 310-3782
Email: Laura.Wagner@SierraTucson.com