Raven Rock Ranch in Redmond has announced that it will host an international learning program in equine therapy offered by the nonprofit institute Human-Equine Alliances for Learning, or HEAL, beginning in May 2015.

The HEAL training attracts professional educators, counselors, therapists and life coaches from around the world, preparing them to incorporate the alternative therapy known as “equine-facilitated psychotherapy and learning,” or EFPL, into their work with clients.

In EFPL, participants work with horses as a way of learning about themselves and gaining successful experience in relationships.

“Raven Rock Ranch is a perfect fit for our work in teaching the HEAL model — which is a specific way of facilitating EFPL for the benefit of our human clients,” explains Leigh Shambo, licensed clinical counselor and president of HEAL. “The HEAL model provides an environment that is empowering to both human and horse. Psychologically, this is a model that is helpful for healing the effects trauma.”

Shambo is the author of research studies on EFPL and also author of the book “The Listening Heart” about the HEAL model.

The pairing of the HEAL model with Raven Rock Ranch as the venue is no accident.

“Our ranch serves kids who have experienced trauma in some way — emotional trauma,” says Sandy Matts, the founder (along with husband Tim) of Raven Rock Ranch. “Either they’ve been abused, or bullied, or… some other difficult thing. But the good news is: I get to try to help them out of that difficult spot.”

The strategy at Raven Rock is to pair a rescued horse with an at-risk child. The experience of connecting to the horse gives each child a starting place to reconnect with the community. There is no cost for Raven Rock students, as the ranch is 100 percent supported by donations. For more information on Raven Rock Ranch, visit www.ravenrockranch.org. For more information on HEAL and its training programs, visit www.humanequinealliance.org.