Police Department Wellness Program
Earn cpt credits while Enhancing Your Skills and Combating Burnout
The experiential approach of equine therapy requires participants to take an active role in how they use certain skills for those they protect; enhances better awareness while doing their job; teaches mindfulness and grounding techniques; and encourages taking care of themselves emotionally while on the job to prevent burnout. This program is appropriate for officers as well as other department personnel. Hope Meadows is an approved CPT provider - approved by the State of Ohio Peace Officer Training Commission.
Equine-assisted counseling and life skills programs offer a holistic approach to supporting the well-being and resilience of first responders, addressing the following physical, emotional, and social needs in a supportive and therapeutic environment.
Stress reduction: First responders often face high levels of stress and trauma in their work. Interacting with horses in a therapeutic setting can help reduce stress levels and promote relaxation, offering a valuable outlet for emotional release and self-care.
Emotional regulation: Working with horses requires patience, empathy, and effective communication, which can help first responders develop and practice skills for regulating their own emotions. Learning to manage emotions in the presence of horses can translate to better coping strategies in high-pressure situations on the job.
Team building and communication: Many equine-assisted activities involve working collaboratively with others to achieve common goals. For first responders, this can enhance teamwork skills and improve communication within their units or teams, fostering a sense of trust and cohesion.
Resilience and adaptability: Horses are sensitive animals that respond to nonverbal cues and energy. Learning to adapt to the horses' reactions and behaviors can help first responders develop resilience and flexibility in their approach to challenging situations, both on the job and in their personal lives.
Self-awareness and personal growth: Interacting with horses can provide first responders with opportunities for self-reflection and personal growth. By observing how horses respond to their actions and behaviors, they can gain insight into their own strengths, weaknesses, and areas for improvement.
Coping skills: Equine-assisted therapy can teach first responders practical coping skills for managing stress, anxiety, and trauma-related symptoms. These skills can include mindfulness techniques, relaxation exercises, and strategies for self-soothing in difficult situations.
Wellness programs are offered at no cost to participants. New open groups are added periodically.
“Great therapy. Should be mandatory for all first responders.”
We add new dates regularly for our Police Department Wellness Equine Assisted Therapy Groups. If our current group schedule does not meet your needs, please send a request below to be notified about our upcoming programming options!