Equine and nature-assisted environments offer something rare in professional practice: time, quiet, reciprocity, and access to the living world. This workshop introduces equine and nature-based approaches as evidence-informed pathways for anti-oppressive, disability-inclusive, and environmentally just social work practice.
According to the CDC, 1 in 4 U.S. adults lives with a disability. Accessible, nature-based settings offer a different kind of therapeutic space, one where connection, power, and purpose can be restored outside of clinical hierarchies.
Guided by the NASW Code of Ethics, CSWE competencies, and the Liberatory Consciousness Framework (Love), this workshop integrates the pedagogy of silence, embodied presence, and Social Emotional Learning (CASEL) as tools for reducing hierarchy and sharing power across micro, mezzo, and macro levels of practice.
The Equine-in-Nature-Assisted Social Work (ENASW) model serves youth and adults experiencing trauma, neurodivergent individuals, those facing systemic oppression, and practitioners seeking sustainable self-care. Participants leave with practical activities to build presence, emotional regulation, and trust, along with a clear framework for recognizing when systems harm and for supporting repair.
To earn CE credit, social workers must log in at the scheduled time, attend the entire course, and complete an online course evaluation. Certificates of completion will be emailed within 10 business days of course completion.
At the conclusion of this webinar, participants will be able to:
Define equine-in-nature assisted social work and describe its intersection with anti-oppressive social work practice across micro, mezzo, and macro levels
Apply core social work frameworks, including the biophilia hypothesis, attention restoration theory, polyvagal theory, and the Liberatory Consciousness Framework (Love), to equine and nature-based practice settings.
Practice the pedagogy of silence as a tool for embodied presence, deep listening, and relational attunement with clients, colleagues, and self.
Identify ethical considerations and professional boundaries specific to equine-in-nature assisted social work, guided by the NASW Code of Ethics, CSWE competencies, PATH International standards, and CASEL.
Apply at least two nature-based strategies for building presence, emotional regulation, and trust into direct practice, supervision, or professional development.
9:30 am - Introductions/Agenda/Learning objectives
Opening Meditation
Land Acknowledgment
9:45 am - Literature review
Defining ENASW: Equine-in-Nature-Assisted Social Work
10:00 am - Testing and applying theory and practice concepts
Biophilia Hypothesis
Systems Theory
Person in Environment theory
Attention Restoration Theory
Strengths-based perspective
Somatic Learning/Polyvagal Theory
Social Emotional Learning (CASEL)
Anti-Oppressive theory
Liberatory Consciousness theory
11:00 am - Breakout session 1: Observing Jon & Ned
What do you hear, see, notice, and feel
Being Present, noticing, paying attention
11:15 am - Breakout session 2
Video of Snoopy Session: Silent vs Talking
Pedagogy of silence, nonverbal communication
11:30 am - Breakout session 3: Asset Mapping
Breakout groups work on asset mapping activity
11:50 am - Review
12:20 pm - Conclusion/Q&A