DreamPower Horsemanship & Operation Freedom Paws Create Innovative Workshop for Therapy Dogs

SAN MARTIN, Calif. - Feb. 22, 2016 - PRLog -- DreamPower Horsemanship and Operation Freedom Paws are teaming up to offer a new program training therapists and therapy dog teams to work in clinical practices. According to Martha McNiel Founder of DreamPower Horsemanship and herself a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, “This is a unique program - we are not aware of another program like it anywhere”.

DreamPower Horsemanship and Operation Freedom Paws have partnered some of their non-profit services to help veterans and others with disabilities find a new normal.  Mary Cortani, founder of Operation Freedom Paws, is a certified Army Master Instructor of Canine Education as well as an American Kennel Club Certified Canine Good Citizen© Evaluator. With Mary’s dog handling experience and Martha’s background in Psychology, they make a formidable team in this one of a kind workshop offered to pre- and post- licensed therapists (psychotherapists, occupational, speech and language, and recreation therapists), with or without a canine partner, who would like to learn more about canine-assisted therapy.

This workshop is a two course program in which people can get an intro to canine assisted therapy and certify their dog (if they have their own) as a AKC Canine Good Citizen and then take the secondary course for advanced training in how to train and utilize a therapy dog in their practice.  Each Level consists of twelve, two-hour classes. Each class contains one hour of classroom training for the therapist and one hour of dog training/handling specific to working as a therapy dog.

Level 1 "Introduction to Working with Therapy Dogs in Canine-Assisted Therapy" begins March 2^nd and 3^rd of next week and will offer 12 classes, 24 hours of training, 24 continuing education unit's (BBS PCE 4267) and will culminate with the dog's Canine Good Citizen Certificate. Level 2 class will continue after the completion of Level 1.  Therapist-dog teams that successfully complete Level 2 will be certified as Therapy Dog Teams by Operation Freedom Paws.

Space is limited so register at https://CATW.eventbrite.com

More about the Workshop
Each class session will include 1 hour of classroom learning (led by Martha McNiel, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist) and 1 hour of dog training/handling skills (led by Mary Cortani, Certified Army Master of Canine Education). Dog training will focus on the specific skills needed for effective and safe canine-assisted therapy. Classes will meet Wed. 10-12 (beg. March 2) and Thurs. 7-9 pm (beg. March 3) at the Operation Freedom Paws Canine Education Center in San Martin. Each class is limited to 12 participants. Registration is now open at this link. https://CATW.eventbrite.com. This course meets the requirements for 24 CEU's from the CA Board of Behavioral Sciences (PCE #4267).

About Operation Freedom Paws
Founded in January 2010, Operation Freedom Paws is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that matches dogs with individuals who have Post Traumatic Stress (PTS), Complex-Post Traumatic Stress (CPTS) and/or Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) symptoms, or other physical, neurological, psychological or mobility needs.

We train the individual to train their own dog, and then certify them together as a service dog team in a 48-week program. Most of the dogs come from rescue shelters. This unique opportunity leverages the ability of the canine-human relationship to help our clients regain their sense of purpose, worth and value to society and their community.

About Dream Power Horsemanship
DreamPower is a 501(c)3 non-profit building lives filled with dreams, and the power to make dreams come true. In 2015, DreamPower provided therapeutic services to 730 participants in 18 different equine-assisted or therapeutic programs.

Working with horses provides a wonderful opportunity to engage in therapeutic activities outside of a traditional therapeutic environment. Reaching for a ball while seated on a calm horse can help make physical activity fun for a disabled child.  Learning to halter a horse in an open pasture can make an urban teen who has issues listening to authority figures pay attention.  Seeing how a horse responds to body movements and tone of voice can help reinforce the power of calm, assertive behavior over a tendency toward aggressive or anxious engagements. And of course it opens the heart when a person of any age or ability begins to feel the mutual respect that occurs when a horse and person come to know and trust and communicate with each other, whether in the saddle or on the ground.