Bio

Amanda Slugoski has her Master's Degree in Counselling Psychology with a specialization in Equine-Assisted Mental Health. She is a Registered Provisional Psychologist with the College of Alberta Psychologists, is a member in good standing of the Psychologists` Association of Alberta, and has completed advanced certified E.M.D.R training.

In addition to her work with Equinox Therapeutic and Consulting Services, Amanda also owns Horse Powered Solutions, through which she facilitates equine-assisted corporate and personal development workshops in Canada and the United States. She has also co-founded Arivaca Nature School, located in Arivaca, Arizona, which utilizes animal and nature-assisted therapeutic programming to support adults with developmental disabilities. To learn more about these programs, please visit www.horsepoweredsolutions.com and www.arivacanatureschool.com, respectively.

Amanda’s clinical training has primarily been based in cognitive behavioral theory; however, she draws from numerous perspectives including humanistic, gestalt, social learning, systems, and ecological theories in both her corporate and clinical work.

As a dedicated horseperson who has ridden and loved horses all her life, Amanda has trained horses professionally and taught riding instruction for the last thirteen years, both in Canada and in the United States. She has twice represented Canada in international showjumping and dressage competitions. Along with riding her own horses and teaching, she currently is a Pony Club examiner and a horse show judge.

Speaking Engagements/Trainings

"Clinical training in Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy: emphasis on Eating Disorders and Dissociative Identity Disorder", February 11-12, 2012, Arizona, USA

"Learning From Horses to Learn About Ourselves - An Introduction to Equine-Assisted Mental Health", September 24, 2011, Body, Soul, and Spirit Exposition

"Workshop on Introducing Equine-Assisted Mental Health: An Experiential Approach To Psychological and Emotional Wellness", September 10, 2011, Festival of Health and Wellness

"Five Day Training Intensive in Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy", July 11-15, 2011, Edmonton

"Explaining Trauma Therapy: An Introduction to How Trauma Works", Spring 2011, Nor Med Therapies, Sherwood Park

"An Introduction to Equine-Assisted Mental Health", December 2, 2010, WELCA

"Introducing Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP) as a branch of Animal-Assisted Therapy (AAT)", November 16, 2010, King's University College

"Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy", October 26, 2010, Canadian Association of Drug Treatment Court Professionals National Conference