The O.K. Corral Series
Post Office Box 1137
Yerington, Nevada 89447
ph: 775-463-6565
toll free: 866-391-6565
fax: 775-463-6564
admin@okcorralseries.com
Yerington, Nevada 89447
ph: 775-463-6565
toll free: 866-391-6565
fax: 775-463-6564
admin@okcorralseries.com
the original and ultimate training in the practice of EAP and EAL
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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
diagnosable clients. Natural horse and herd behavior are observed and honored as a model for
healthful human behavior. Equine-assisted exercises are designed to elicit metaphors and self-
awareness. These exercises help clients recognize their own behaviors and patterns and create their
own solutions.
The term Equine Assisted Psychotherapy was coined by Greg Kersten in the early 1990s to describe
the exercises he created to work with at-risk and incarcerated youth. The field of Equine Assisted
Psychotherapy continues to grow and adapt to every type of psychotherapy client.
growth experiences to individuals, groups, families, and corporations. Equine nonverbal
communication, herd behavior, and equine development demonstrate successful interaction as an
example for human relations.
Equine Assisted Learning is a valuable component of corporate retreats, church group activities, and
family growth seminars. EAL is not psychotherapy and does not require facilitation by a licensed
mental health professional.
assisted philosophies worldwide.
It is recommended that EAP be facilitated by a team consisting of a licensed mental health professional
and an experienced horse professional. While it is possible for a licensed therapist with significant
horse knowledge to facilitate EAP sessions solo, it is not optimal for observation, objectivity, safety,
and support.
The “team approach” is also recommended in the practice of EAL – with at least one of the facilitators
being an experienced horse professional. A licensed therapist is not required to facilitate EAL. While it
is possible for someone with significant horse knowledge to facilitate EAL sessions solo, it is not
optimal for observation, objectivity, safety, and support.
professionals in the fields of EAP and EAL. Since that time and to this day, other organizations have
arisen that have chosen to use the same terminology for certification programs that differ widely in
philosophy, programming, and regulation.
Absolutely no certification is required to practice EAP or EAL. Licensed psychotherapists can practice
EAP (or whatever they may choose to call it) without ever having been certified by an organization that
sells certification. Anyone at all can practice EAL (or whatever they may choose to call it) without ever
having been certified by an organization that sells certification.
At a minimum, being certified in EAP or EAL by the O.K. Corral means that you have participated in
formal training including exercises, underlying philosophies, and the use of metaphors in correlating
equine and human behavior. You also have the support of a network of practitioners and the O.K.
Corral staff who believe it is beneficial for all of us to help one another prosper in the equine-assisted
fields.
lunches, snacks, and training materials. Discounts are available for early registration, students,
lifetime O.K. Corral members, groups of three or more, and recent active duty military and their
spouses. For more information, click on the link to the "Registration" page above.
After being certified, all additional seminars are available at a reduced rate.
O.K. Corral seminars are powerful, and even life-changing, for many participants due to the personal
investment the participant gives to the seminar and the other participants. Being present, sharing
insights, volunteering for demonstrations, and becoming a team with seminar cohorts creates a sense
of intimacy and safety unique to each seminar. We feel that this “emotional safety” would be
compromised by allowing less-invested spectators into the experience.
We truly believe that the value of the O.K. Corral Series seminars lies in the information that is
instructed during the seminar, rather than the certificate that is awarded at the end of the three days.
For that reason, it would not be fair to the seminar participants to offer a reduced rate to those who do
everything but invest of themselves during the seminar.
Learning Association (EAGALA), and in 2006, he created The O.K. Corral Series, LLC. These
dramatically different organizations certify the majority of equine-assisted professionals worldwide.
Cost is one main difference between The O.K. Corral Series and EAGALA: If you are 40 years old and
plan to hold a basic certification in EAP until the age of 60, the minimum you would pay the
O.K. Corral is $625. The minimum you would pay EAGALA is $6250 (includes the cost of EAGALA’s
required in-house continuing education). The cost of maintaining an EAGALA certification is roughly
TEN TIMES that of the O.K. Corral Series. And the O.K. Corral Series offers the only
certification instructed and endorsed by the Founder of the field.
Two other differences in these organizations involve the actual practice of EAP and EAL. While the
O.K. Corral always recommends a team of two professionals to facilitate equine-assisted work, it does
not sanction or expel practitioners who choose to practice solo.
Additionally, in 2006, EAGALA chose to prohibit mounted activities in equine-assisted work. True to
his vision, Greg Kersten and the O.K. Corral Series believe in the value of certain mounted exercises
and teach them at certification seminars.
As you can see, the main purpose of the O.K. Corral Series is to educate professionals. It is our
position that it is not ethically sound for the same organization to offer both education and regulation,
and to earn money for both aspects.
The table below highlights the difference between the organizations, and it is also advisable to contact
an organization directly with any programmatic questions you may have.
*Based on the EAGALA Website 2006 – present.
seminar. The standard seminar fee is $625. Licensed mental health professionals may choose to
purchase continuing education units (CEUs) for the seminar at an additional fee of $15. Several
discounts are available to groups, students, military veterans and spouses, and those who register 30
days prior to any given seminar.
Founder of the field of Equine Assisted Psychotherapy. Rather than learning from Greg Kersten’s
former students – or their students, you will be educated in equine-assisted philosophy by the person
who is credited for naming the field to describe his work and philosophies.
Education! The O.K. Corral Series views its certification as a degree, rather than a license – that has to
be re-earned year after year. After successful completion of one certification seminar, there are no
ongoing requirements or moneys to be paid to maintain the knowledge you have already acquired.
CEUs! The O.K. Corral offers continuing education units to many professionals for their certification
in EAP/EAL. Typically, professionals earn 24 CEUs for each O.K. Corral seminar they attend.
Meaningful Metaphors! All of the exercises and philosophies taught in O.K. Corral Series seminars
are based on and related back to natural horse and herd behavior. After all, this is how the field arose!
The O.K. Corral teaches more than psychotherapy with horses in the background – at the O.K. Corral
you learn the value of the horses in the process from Greg Kersten whose expertise and experience
with horses will not be lost on you. Concepts like “Pressure/Pain,” “Attention/At Ease,” “Re-Circle,”
and the “Relationship Zones,” to name a few, are based on natural equine behavior – and have
profound applications to our human lives.
Success! The O.K. Corral Series is the only certifying body that actually encourages professionals to
move forward, and even offer seminars in their own specialties. Seminars in “Riding Assisted
Philosophy” and Faith-Based EAP/EAL have been created by folks who earned their certification form
the O.K. Corral Series.
Learning sessions. In order to offer Equine Assisted Psychotherapy, one must be a licensed mental
health professional. It is common for folks who are not therapists to partner with licensed mental
health professionals in their treatment of clients using EAP.
participants are invited to participate in the seminar as much as they are able, and arrangements can
be made for most everyone to participate.
recommend at least $1,000,000 in coverage. This would be in addition to malpractice insurance that
should be carried by licensed mental health professionals in the case of EAP. These days, liability
coverage is easy to find, and ranges from about $80-$200/month for premiums. Typically, the more
familiar your insurer is with EAP/EAL, the more reasonable your rates will be.
several tried and true exercises during your training. Almost any activity in which movement,
nonverbal communication, and an overt goal are present tends to produce useful metaphors.
Remember – not only is an exercise NOT about the overt goal, it’s not even about the exercise. Feel
free to experiment on your own, create exercises, observe, and stay out of the way of the process.
- What is EAP?
- What is EAL?
- Who is doing EAP and EAL?
- What does it mean to be certified in EAP & EAL?
- What does it cost to be certified in EAP & EAL?
- How much does it cost to be certified in EAP & EAL?
- Can I audit a seminar for a reduced price?
- What are the differences among the certifying organizations?
- Why should I be certified in EAP & EAL by the O.K. Corral?
- Do I have to be a therapist to be certified in EAP & EAL?
- Are there any prerequisites to attend and O.K. Corral Certification Seminar?
- Do I need to have special insurance to provide EAP & EAL?
- How do I know what exercises to do with my EAP & EAL clients?
- What is EAP?
diagnosable clients. Natural horse and herd behavior are observed and honored as a model for
healthful human behavior. Equine-assisted exercises are designed to elicit metaphors and self-
awareness. These exercises help clients recognize their own behaviors and patterns and create their
own solutions.
The term Equine Assisted Psychotherapy was coined by Greg Kersten in the early 1990s to describe
the exercises he created to work with at-risk and incarcerated youth. The field of Equine Assisted
Psychotherapy continues to grow and adapt to every type of psychotherapy client.
- What is EAL?
growth experiences to individuals, groups, families, and corporations. Equine nonverbal
communication, herd behavior, and equine development demonstrate successful interaction as an
example for human relations.
Equine Assisted Learning is a valuable component of corporate retreats, church group activities, and
family growth seminars. EAL is not psychotherapy and does not require facilitation by a licensed
mental health professional.
- Who is doing EAP and EAL?
assisted philosophies worldwide.
It is recommended that EAP be facilitated by a team consisting of a licensed mental health professional
and an experienced horse professional. While it is possible for a licensed therapist with significant
horse knowledge to facilitate EAP sessions solo, it is not optimal for observation, objectivity, safety,
and support.
The “team approach” is also recommended in the practice of EAL – with at least one of the facilitators
being an experienced horse professional. A licensed therapist is not required to facilitate EAL. While it
is possible for someone with significant horse knowledge to facilitate EAL sessions solo, it is not
optimal for observation, objectivity, safety, and support.
- What does it mean to be certified in EAP & EAL?
professionals in the fields of EAP and EAL. Since that time and to this day, other organizations have
arisen that have chosen to use the same terminology for certification programs that differ widely in
philosophy, programming, and regulation.
Absolutely no certification is required to practice EAP or EAL. Licensed psychotherapists can practice
EAP (or whatever they may choose to call it) without ever having been certified by an organization that
sells certification. Anyone at all can practice EAL (or whatever they may choose to call it) without ever
having been certified by an organization that sells certification.
At a minimum, being certified in EAP or EAL by the O.K. Corral means that you have participated in
formal training including exercises, underlying philosophies, and the use of metaphors in correlating
equine and human behavior. You also have the support of a network of practitioners and the O.K.
Corral staff who believe it is beneficial for all of us to help one another prosper in the equine-assisted
fields.
- How much does it cost to be certified in EAP & EAL?
lunches, snacks, and training materials. Discounts are available for early registration, students,
lifetime O.K. Corral members, groups of three or more, and recent active duty military and their
spouses. For more information, click on the link to the "Registration" page above.
After being certified, all additional seminars are available at a reduced rate.
- Can I audit a seminar for a reduced price?
O.K. Corral seminars are powerful, and even life-changing, for many participants due to the personal
investment the participant gives to the seminar and the other participants. Being present, sharing
insights, volunteering for demonstrations, and becoming a team with seminar cohorts creates a sense
of intimacy and safety unique to each seminar. We feel that this “emotional safety” would be
compromised by allowing less-invested spectators into the experience.
We truly believe that the value of the O.K. Corral Series seminars lies in the information that is
instructed during the seminar, rather than the certificate that is awarded at the end of the three days.
For that reason, it would not be fair to the seminar participants to offer a reduced rate to those who do
everything but invest of themselves during the seminar.
- What are the differences among the certifying organizations?
Learning Association (EAGALA), and in 2006, he created The O.K. Corral Series, LLC. These
dramatically different organizations certify the majority of equine-assisted professionals worldwide.
Cost is one main difference between The O.K. Corral Series and EAGALA: If you are 40 years old and
plan to hold a basic certification in EAP until the age of 60, the minimum you would pay the
O.K. Corral is $625. The minimum you would pay EAGALA is $6250 (includes the cost of EAGALA’s
required in-house continuing education). The cost of maintaining an EAGALA certification is roughly
TEN TIMES that of the O.K. Corral Series. And the O.K. Corral Series offers the only
certification instructed and endorsed by the Founder of the field.
Two other differences in these organizations involve the actual practice of EAP and EAL. While the
O.K. Corral always recommends a team of two professionals to facilitate equine-assisted work, it does
not sanction or expel practitioners who choose to practice solo.
Additionally, in 2006, EAGALA chose to prohibit mounted activities in equine-assisted work. True to
his vision, Greg Kersten and the O.K. Corral Series believe in the value of certain mounted exercises
and teach them at certification seminars.
As you can see, the main purpose of the O.K. Corral Series is to educate professionals. It is our
position that it is not ethically sound for the same organization to offer both education and regulation,
and to earn money for both aspects.
The table below highlights the difference between the organizations, and it is also advisable to contact
an organization directly with any programmatic questions you may have.
*Based on the EAGALA Website 2006 – present.
- What does it cost to be certified in EAP & EAL?
seminar. The standard seminar fee is $625. Licensed mental health professionals may choose to
purchase continuing education units (CEUs) for the seminar at an additional fee of $15. Several
discounts are available to groups, students, military veterans and spouses, and those who register 30
days prior to any given seminar.
- Why should I be certified in EAP & EAL by the O.K. Corral?
Founder of the field of Equine Assisted Psychotherapy. Rather than learning from Greg Kersten’s
former students – or their students, you will be educated in equine-assisted philosophy by the person
who is credited for naming the field to describe his work and philosophies.
Education! The O.K. Corral Series views its certification as a degree, rather than a license – that has to
be re-earned year after year. After successful completion of one certification seminar, there are no
ongoing requirements or moneys to be paid to maintain the knowledge you have already acquired.
CEUs! The O.K. Corral offers continuing education units to many professionals for their certification
in EAP/EAL. Typically, professionals earn 24 CEUs for each O.K. Corral seminar they attend.
Meaningful Metaphors! All of the exercises and philosophies taught in O.K. Corral Series seminars
are based on and related back to natural horse and herd behavior. After all, this is how the field arose!
The O.K. Corral teaches more than psychotherapy with horses in the background – at the O.K. Corral
you learn the value of the horses in the process from Greg Kersten whose expertise and experience
with horses will not be lost on you. Concepts like “Pressure/Pain,” “Attention/At Ease,” “Re-Circle,”
and the “Relationship Zones,” to name a few, are based on natural equine behavior – and have
profound applications to our human lives.
Success! The O.K. Corral Series is the only certifying body that actually encourages professionals to
move forward, and even offer seminars in their own specialties. Seminars in “Riding Assisted
Philosophy” and Faith-Based EAP/EAL have been created by folks who earned their certification form
the O.K. Corral Series.
- Do I have to be a therapist to be certified in EAP & EAL?
Learning sessions. In order to offer Equine Assisted Psychotherapy, one must be a licensed mental
health professional. It is common for folks who are not therapists to partner with licensed mental
health professionals in their treatment of clients using EAP.
- Are there any prerequisites to attend and O.K. Corral Certification Seminar?
participants are invited to participate in the seminar as much as they are able, and arrangements can
be made for most everyone to participate.
- Do I need to have special insurance to provide EAP & EAL?
recommend at least $1,000,000 in coverage. This would be in addition to malpractice insurance that
should be carried by licensed mental health professionals in the case of EAP. These days, liability
coverage is easy to find, and ranges from about $80-$200/month for premiums. Typically, the more
familiar your insurer is with EAP/EAL, the more reasonable your rates will be.
- How do I know what exercises to do with my EAP & EAL clients?
several tried and true exercises during your training. Almost any activity in which movement,
nonverbal communication, and an overt goal are present tends to produce useful metaphors.
Remember – not only is an exercise NOT about the overt goal, it’s not even about the exercise. Feel
free to experiment on your own, create exercises, observe, and stay out of the way of the process.
If you have any additional questions to add to the FAQ page - feel free to submit them to the O.K. Corral.
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| © 2012 Greg Kersten's O.K. Corral Series |