Falconry & Animal-Assisted Therapy: Integrating Nature-Based Interventions in Clinical Practice

About this training

This immersive 4-hour Continuing Education program offers mental health professionals a unique opportunity to explore the therapeutic potential of falconry and bird-assisted interventions (BAI) within a comprehensive framework of Animal-Assisted Therapy (AAT). Detailed Description: The session begins with a hands-on, 2-hour experiential practicum in Chester County (location pending) with Master Falconer Courtney Douds, where participants will engage directly with a falcon and an owl, fostering a profound connection with nature and observing human-animal dynamics firsthand. This interactive demonstration features falcons and an owl. It includes a lesson in raptor natural history and the origins of this ancient hunting craft, free-flight demonstrations, a simulated hunt demonstration, and an opportunity for these majestic birds of prey to land on your gloved hand. This direct experience serves as the foundation for a subsequent didactic "lunch and learn" session. At our lunch and learn, we will explore the historical and cultural origins of falconry, recognized by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity with roots stretching back over 4,000 years to the steppes of Mongolia and the Arabian Peninsula. By understanding falconry as a "primitive partnership" born of survival and deep cross-cultural tradition, clinicians will gain a broader perspective on the human-animal bond. We will delve into the foundational principles of BAI, the unique therapeutic mechanisms of human-raptor bonds, and the four domains of holistic well-being (personal, relational, environmental, and existential). The program also reviews current peer-reviewed research, discusses ethical considerations for incorporating unconventional species in AAT, and engages in peer-to-peer practice for facilitating client reflections using the provided digital Relational Ecology Map workbook. This program is designed to meet ASWB cultural competency requirements by examining the global heritage and diverse cultural contexts of nature-based interventions. The program concludes with a group debrief and integration strategies, equipping clinicians with practical skills to explore animal relationships with their clients and integrate nature-based interventions into their clinical practice. Date and Time: Friday, August 28, 2026 9:45am-2:30pm Schedule: 9:45 Arrival 10-12 Falconry at Chester County location 12-12:15 Travel to Lunch location or rest as lunch arrives 12:15-2:30 Lunch & Learn Lunch: Lunch is included. You will get some choices to pick from as we get closer to the date. CEs: ACE statement: Wanderhome Retreats, 2794, is approved as an ACE provider to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE provider approval period: 6/26/26-6/26/27. Social workers completing this course receive 4 clinical continuing education credits. Those interested in falconry but not CEs are still welcome!