Nature-Based, Animal-Assisted Programming Of Various "Levels"
Individual Sessions Nature-Based / Animal-Assisted Learning
- Facilitated by Bob or Nikki (sometimes together if student's needs call for such)
- Clients with mental health-related diagnosis must be supported by a licensed mental health clinician to be enrolled at this level or cleared by such a clinician who supports enrollment with the willingness to provide ongoing supportive mental health care if these services trigger relapse
- if the client does not meet expectation, then s/he is most suitable for Psychotherapy services with Nikki
- See "About Us" for each of our credentials
Group Sessions: Skill Development Groups
- ON-HOLD DUE TO PANDEMIC
- Facilitated by Bob and/or Nikki but often they co-facilitate
- Trust-Building Sessions are usually required before the start of the group. These sessions are facilitated on a rotational basis between Bob & Nikki so the client has the opportunity to develop trust/bond with each of them to ensure emotional and physical safety if group dynamics trigger reactions in youth.
- Clients with mental health-related diagnosis should be supported by a licensed mental health clinician to be enrolled at this level or cleared by such a clinician who supports enrollment with a willingness to provide ongoing supportive mental health care if these services trigger relapse
- if the client does not meet expectation, then s/he could be more suitable for Psychotherapy services with Nikki
HOPE Day Support Services
- ON-HOLD DUE TO PANDEMIC
- Facilitated by Bob or Nikki (generally, this service is facilitated by Bob)
- Clients with mental health-related diagnosis should be supported by a licensed mental health clinician to be enrolled at this level or cleared by such a clinician who supports enrollment with a willingness to provide ongoing supportive mental health care if these services trigger relapse
- if the client does not meet expectation, then s/he could be more suitable for Psychotherapy services with Nikki
Therapeutic Horsemanship Sessions (NOT psychotherapy / non-clinical)
- Facilitated by Bob or Nikki (sometimes together if student's needs call for such)
- Clients with mental health-related diagnosis must be supported by a licensed mental health clinician to be enrolled at this level or cleared by such a clinician who supports enrollment with a willingness to provide ongoing supportive mental health care if these services trigger relapse
- if the client does not meet this expectation, then s/he is most suitable for Psychotherapy services with Nikki
- See "About Us" for each of our credentials
MOST INTENSIVE LEVEL...
ONLY Clinical Level Services that place Nikki in the role as a client's primary Mental Health service provider
Psychotherapy Clinical-Level Services
- Facilitated by Nikki Cohen-Wichner, LMFT - specialty in Trauma-Informed Psychotherapy and Medical Family Therapy
- Bob or Britni often support sessions in the role as Equine Specialist
- Can focus on a variety of relationships:
- Individual Psychotherapy - relationship to self & others through sessions mostly with individuals; however, to support treatment goals Nikki may request to meet with individual and others to guide the journey toward healthier relationships
- Couple Therapy -
- Animal relationships support learning healthy relationship skills for people from all walks and at all stages of life.
- Nikki has extensive experience working with a diversity of relationships including young people just starting their dating journey through the long and winding realm of couple relationship needs that traverse life transition planning (pondering separation, full-form divorce therapy, co-parenting therapy, LGBT relationships, and far more).
- Family Therapy - where "family" is defined by the client, not by society
- Can be provided at these locations...
- On-Farm - DCHS billing as Individual Psychotherapy or Family Therapy
- In-Home - DCHS billing as "In-Home Treatment"
- In-Community - DCHS billing as "In-Home Treatment"
Group Psychotherapy
- ON-HOLD DUE TO PANDEMIC
- Facilitated by IATCP Certified Trauma Clinician / Medical Family Therapist, Nikki Cohen-Wichner, LMFT
More About How Nikki Provides Clinical Level Services At The Forever Farm...
The naturally healing environment of The Forever Farm brings a power all its own to people who face life’s challenges. While I am keenly aware of my limitations and strive to remain within my scope of practice, I do believe nature-based experiential therapy may allow people to find answers within themselves that can remain elusive in traditional therapy.
If you are curious about how her approach to therapy could help you or someone you care about, she recommends scheduling a “Meet & Greet.” Her mantra, “Allow. Allow. Allow.” has guided her to a place of trusting that we are often led to where are meant to be. Trust your intuition about what you need. Doing so is the first step on your journey toward personal authenticity and a life that is congruent to your true beliefs.
Choosing the person to guide you or those you care about on such a journey is a crucial decision. Much research has been done on a myriad of therapeutic methods and the one thing most studies agree upon is that the relationship between client and therapist is a key factor in determining the effectiveness of treatment. A Meet & Greet allows time to get your questions answered and can help you decide if you could trust me to serve as your personal guide on the journey. This appointment can be arranged by calling 608-347-2392. Half of the $100 fee is waived if you decide to not schedule another session.
Clients have reported making a change in these areas while working with me:
(all info based on real cases; quotes used are direct from clients who permitted to use their word)
Individuals of all ages:
- Personal and professional relationship improvement
- Accepted my "new normal" after experiencing loss
- Allowed self to trust despite deep fear of being hurt
- More mastery of coping healthy skills
- Reduced stress and stress-related health issues
- Accepted diagnosis of vicarious trauma and became open to accepting help
- Created self-care plan and feel my energy returning
- Improved social-emotional skills
- More engagement in learning = better grades
- Made plan to come out to family and friends which reduced feelings of isolation
- Rewrote my trauma story and forgave me
- Broke through fear of abandonment and allowed self to love
Children and Teens:
- "I felt safe during the reunification process because Nikki helped me make a safety plan and our family relaxed by being around a campfire while I shared my needs."
- "(My child) developed a deeper respect for rules and boundaries and improved impulse control while expanding his ability to focus."
- "Falling off my horse over and over and over eventually taught me how important it is to allow people like Nikki to help me. Thankfully the horse was small and was only walking or I'd have hurt myself just like I was doing in other areas of my life."
- "I knew I could trust Nikki because I saw how she treated her animals. She treated them with love and protected them with really different rules than any I'd heard."
Parent(s):
- "Before walking in the pasture with your herd and experiencing the Alpha Mares I believed Alpha = aggressive defensive and parented with this style, which taught my child to do the same so teen years was becoming dangerous. I am still learning but aim to become a nurturing Alpha Mare like Gypsy." (single mom)
- Greater confidence in ability to co-parent as a couple after separation
- "I felt overwhelmed by how my step-son's trauma triggered my own trauma memories. Working with the horses helped me trust my instincts and become interested in Mindfulness as it helped me stay in the here-and-now." (step-father)
- "I didn't know it at the time, but the work my child and I did with horses helped me learn how to ask for (and accept) help. This was a break-thru for me in my new role as a single parent."
Couples:
- "The time we spent with you in the months before our wedding gave us time to explore our hopes and dreams, which gave us the energy to face our fears. You challenged us to talk about the baggage we each brought into our relationship so we could unpack it and make choices about how to help each other let go of things that could threaten the authenticity of our relationship. Thank you." (shared in a card sent to me on their 5th anniversary)
- Now thriving in our relationship, not just surviving, after our loss
- Found hope by creating a plan together after a life transition felt overwhelming
- Worked together to Improve ability to identify triggers which led to fewer, and less intense PTSD reactions
- "My partner held sacred space with Nikki as I told my secret for the first time; I allowed myself to really fall in love thru the process."
- "My partner and I role-played which helped me finally "get" the reality he faces in coming out to his family is very different than I experienced in my own."