VISTAS Online is an innovative publication produced for ACA by Dr. Garry R. Walz and Dr. Jeanne C. Bleuer of Counseling Outfitters, LLC. Its purpose is to provide a means of capturing the ideas, information and experiences generated by the annual ACA Conference and selected ACA Division Conferences. Papers on a program or practice that has been validated through research or experience may also be submitted. This digital collection of peer-reviewed articles is authored by counselors, for counselors. VISTAS Online contains the full text of over 900 proprietary counseling articles published from 2004 to 2017.
2016
Equine-Assisted Practicum in Counselor Supervision
Cheryl C. Meola and Shari M. Sias
2016
Counselors-in-training often experience performance anxiety and have difficulty with emotional boundary setting when working with clients during their practicum experience. Both of these issues can impact the building of positive therapeutic relationships. Clinical supervision can assist in the reduction of counselor-in-training anxiety and in the setting of appropriate boundaries. However, due to the evaluative nature of supervision, counselors-in-training may be reluctant to discuss these issues during practicum supervision. The use of equine-assisted learning as part of a practicum course may enhance the development of skills and decrease problem areas for counselors-in-training.
Keywords: equine-assisted learning, supervision, counselors-in-training, performance anxiety in counseling, emotional boundaries, therapeutic relationships