This page is due to be updated! We are keeping this information here for now, but please contact liaison@equusoma.com for the most recent information that aligns with the new policy manual that we released on October 31, 2022.
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EQUUSOMA® students must complete a certain number of credit hours beyond attending the training modules in order to complete the EQUUSOMA® program. These consist of personal sessions of Somatic Experiencing® (to experience the method as a recipient in support of integrating the learning at a deeper level) as well as consultations (to discuss practical application of the concepts, cases, and curriculum development from an EQUUSOMA® standpoint).
To become an approved provider of personal sessions and consultations that students hire independently, please ensure you meet the eligibility criteria below.
Level 1 Approval Criteria
Personal Session Providers
Sessions Without Horses
- Be a Somatic Experiencing® Practitioner and approved session provider at the advanced level through Somatic Experiencing® International. Please see SEI’s criteria for being an approved session provider at this level, OR:
- Be a Somatic Experiencing® Practitioner and approved session provider at the beginning or intermediate level through Somatic Experiencing® International AND have assisted for EQUUSOMA® Fundamentals I and II at least once.
- Be a Somatic Experiencing Practitioner® and an approved training assistant through Somatic Experiencing® International, AND have assisted for SE through at least one round of Beginning to Advanced, AND have assisted for EQUUSOMA® Fundamentals I and II at least twice.
Sessions With Horses
If a Level 1 student wishes to experience their personal sessions of Somatic Experiencing® in the company of horses (whether their own or that of the provider), the provider must either:
- Be an EQUUSOMA® faculty member or faculty-in-training, OR:
- Be a Somatic Experiencing® Practitioner with advanced level provider status through Somatic Experiencing® International, and have been involved in a horse-human interaction profession for at least 3 years (e.g., equine-assisted/facilitated psychotherapy or learning, equine behaviour consultation, riding instructor, horsemanship training, equine bodyworker, equine energy worker, animal communicator, etc.), OR:
- Be a Somatic Experiencing® Practitioner and approved session provider at the beginning or intermediate level through Somatic Experiencing® International AND have assisted for EQUUSOMA® Fundamentals I and II at least once.
Note: Prospective providers who do not meet these criteria or who meet partial requirements for criteria 2 and 3 above (for e.g., an SEP who is an approved training assistant with SEI who has not yet achieved approved provider status, with 1 year of experience in a horse-human profession, who has assisted for Fundamentals I and II) may be considered for conditional approval on a case-by-case basis in situations where there are no other available options to do personal SE sessions with horses in person. However, students may opt to do these sessions with their own horse by video call with an approved provider located in a different area.
Consultation Providers
Individual Consultations
Individual consultations are 1:1 with an approved consultation provider that must either:
- Be an EQUUSOMA® faculty member or faculty-in-training, OR:
- Be a Somatic Experiencing® Practitioner with advanced level personal provider status through Somatic Experiencing® International, AND have been involved in a horse-human interaction profession for at least 3 years (e.g., equine-assisted/facilitated psychotherapy or learning, equine behaviour consultation, riding instructor, horsemanship training, equine bodyworker, equine energy worker, animal communicator, etc.), AND have assisted for Level 1 EQUUSOMA® Fundamentals I and II at least once.
Note: Since EQUUSOMA® is about the in-depth application of Somatic Experiencing® and other areas of study to various horse-human contexts, consultation providers MUST be familiar with the EQUUSOMA® curriculum. Until September 2021, we have allowed students to complete their consultations with anyone who combines Somatic Experiencing® and horses in some capacity. These hours will still be honoured. As of October 2021, however, students must complete their consultations with individuals that meet the criteria above.
Individuals that were previously granted approval to offer consultations who have not yet assisted for EQUUSOMA® and are not yet familiar with the EQUUSOMA® curriculum must either:
- Assist for EQUUSOMA® Level 1 online in 2022, OR:
- Purchase access to our Level 1 Fundamentals I and II training videos for review, and complete a curriculum review with Sarah Schlote (hourly rate applies).
Group Consultations
Group consultations are specifically for students to work on their Level 1 assignment. As of September 2021, only faculty or faculty-in-training may provide group consultations to support student curriculum development until further notice. Students who completed their group consultations to date with someone who is not faculty will not need to re-do this process as this decision was made afterwards.
Level 2 Approval Criteria
Personal Session Providers
The personal sessions at Level 2 must be in the company of horses, whether the student’s horses or those of the provider or the facility where the provider offers services. This means that the provider must either:
- Be an EQUUSOMA® faculty member or faculty-in-training, OR:
- Be a Somatic Experiencing® Practitioner with advanced level provider status through Somatic Experiencing® International, AND have been involved in a horse-human interaction profession for at least 3 years (e.g., equine-assisted/facilitated psychotherapy or learning, equine behaviour consultation, riding instructor, horsemanship training, equine bodyworker, equine energy worker, animal communicator, etc.) AND have assisted at Level 1 EQUUSOMA® Fundamentals I and II at least once, OR:
- Be a Somatic Experiencing® Practitioner and approved session provider at the beginning or intermediate level through Somatic Experiencing® International AND have assisted for EQUUSOMA® Fundamentals I and II at least twice.
Note: Prospective providers who do not meet these criteria or who meet partial requirements for criteria 2 and 3 above (for e.g., an SEP who is an approved training assistant with SEI who has not yet achieved approved provider status, with 1 year of experience in a horse-human profession, who has assisted for Fundamentals I and II) may be considered for conditional approval on a case-by-case basis in situations where there are no other available options to do personal SE sessions with horses in person. However, students may opt to do these sessions with their own horse by video call with an approved provider located in a different area.
Consultation Providers
Individual Consultations
Individual consultations are 1:1 with an approved consultation provider that must either:
- Be an EQUUSOMA® faculty member or faculty-in-training, OR:
- Be a Somatic Experiencing® Practitioner with advanced level personal provider status through Somatic Experiencing® International, AND have been involved in a horse-human interaction profession for at least 3 years (e.g., equine-assisted/facilitated psychotherapy or learning, equine behaviour consultation, riding instructor, horsemanship training, equine bodyworker, equine energy worker, animal communicator, etc.), AND have assisted for Level 1 EQUUSOMA® Fundamentals I and II at least once each, AND have assisted for Level 2 EQUUSOMA® Practical Intensives I and II at least once.
Group Consultations
Group consultations are specifically for students to work on their Level 2 assignment. As of September 2021, only faculty or faculty-in-training may provide group consultations to support student curriculum development until further notice.
Approved Provider Agreement
Approved Provider Agreement – North American Letter Format
Approved Provider Agreement – International A4 Format