Industry Trend: Therapies Beyond a Pill
Winston Churchill once said, “There is something about the outside of a horse that is good for the inside of a man.”
Churchill was talking about the benefits of horseback riding, but his comment goes deeper than just physical exercise. Being around animals has been shown to be good for the mind, too.
According to the Journal Annals of Long-Term Care, the therapeutic potential of the relationship between animals and humans was first recognized and explored in the 1800s by Florence Nightingale, who found that pets reduced anxiety in psychiatric patients and children. As early as the 1930s, Freud was known to bring his dog to therapy sessions.
However, it wasn’t until the second half of the 20th century that psychotherapists began more deeply exploring the ways in which the human-animal relationship could be used to benefit the therapy process. Finally, in the late 1980s, the first programs to certify animals for therapy arose.
Now, it is an industry trend; animals can be found in therapeutic programs in a variety of settings, from hospitals, to treatment programs for children with psychiatric issues, to substance abuse programs and more.
Together, Thorncroft Therapeutic Riding and Equestrian Center and Paws for People will help us explore how “Animal Assisted Therapies” can be utilized to improve the cognitive, physical, emotional, and social well-being of attendees both in the workplace and at home. Discover the benefits of animal assisted therapy for personal and professional growth. The workshop sessions will include the following topics:
Balance and Motion, presented by Terri Long, MPT
This presentation will be a hands on experience to educate the attendees on how the horse can positively affect your posture, balance and presence. Participants will learn how to become more aware of their body in space both on and off the horse. Participants will learn how to improve their core strength and postural alignment which in turn improves their overall presence – at home and at work. Good posture and a strong stance projects openness and a willingness to work. Poor posture has been ranked as one of the top mistakes that contribute to a bad first impression.
Perception and Relationships, presented by Kristen DeMarco, Executive director, Gateway Horseworks
As highly perceptive and intuitive prey animals, horses read their environment with precision in order to keep them and their herd safe. Horses can provide a mirror for humans to better understand our own actions, intentions, and communication styles and skills. This activity will focus on our perceptions of ourselves, other’s perceptions of us and how to use this insight to better understand how to achieve congruence in our professional and personal relationships.
Recognizing and Managing Stress, presented by Lynne Robinson, Executive Director and Founder of PAWS
As stress is defined as “a state of mental or emotional strain or tension resulting from adverse or very demanding circumstances,” and is very prevalent in today’s society. Stress can manifest itself in many different areas of life, from student exam periods, to heavy workload times (think the accountant in April), or even in tragic circumstances, such as the death of a loved one or associate, or threats to one’s safety and well-being. This activity will focus on how to recognize stress, internally and externally and how canine therapy can help alleviate stress people experience in many different situations. By simply being a presence onsite, therapy companions can lift spirits, decrease anxiety and bring a measured positive focus to the day.
Agenda
5:30 - 6:00 PM Networking and hors d'oeuvres
6:00 - 6:30 PM HBA welcome and workshop instructions
6:30 - 7:30 PM Three 15-minute workshops and Q & A
7:30 - 8:00 PM Closing remarks and networking
Special instructions: Free parking
Registration information
Event is open to: HBA members and nonmembers
Online registration deadline: 23 October 2018
Onsite (walk-in) registration: Is allowed
*To register onsite, please arrive a few minutes early and be prepared to use a smartphone or
other mobile device to register. Please note that payment is due prior to the start of the event
and cash is NOT accepted as payment. Please show your emailed receipt as proof of registration.
This event is nonrefundable.
Learning Objectives
1. Improve overall presence by focusing on core strength and postural alignment.
2. Understand your own actions, intentions, and communication styles and skills.
3. Identify strategies for recognizing stress within the office and/or colleagues.
Pricing
| Regular registration | $40.00 / €34.00 | $60.00 / €51.00 |
Members receive up to 50 percent discount
Event Policies
Photography Policy
By registering for this event, you acknowledge that you may be photographed, videotaped, and/or audio-taped during the meeting and hereby give permission for your image, voice, or survey comments to be used in education, training, promotion, and/or trade and communications media by the Healthcare Businesswomen's Association in any and all media throughout the world, without restriction as to frequency or duration of usage.
COVID-19 Policy
The HBA requires that all persons who participate in in-person events do so at their own risk and that each participant agrees to the following agreement before taking part in the activity and urges all participants to act in such a manner as to protect their own safety and the safety of others.
By registering for this event, I fully understand that my participation in the program is purely voluntary. I desire to participate and agree to act reasonably and prudently under the circumstances. I further understand that any HBA volunteers participating in the activity will act individually and will not represent the HBA. As a condition to my participation the activity, I waive and release the HBA and their officers, employees, and agents from any claim that I may have for any damage to property or injury to my person that may result in whole or in part from my participation.
Special Needs Policy
The HBA will make reasonable modifications to policies and programs to ensure that people with special needs can enjoy all of its programs. Contact us if you require special accommodations for this event.