Falconry & Animal-Assisted Therapy:
October 23, 2026
Integrating Nature-Based Interventions in Clinical Practice
Falconry & Animal-Assisted Therapy:
Integrating Nature-Based Interventions in Clinical Practice
4 CE Workshop
by Wanderhome Retreats
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 at ZooAmerica with Master Falconer Jack Hubley, where participants will engage directly with raptors, fostering a profound connection with nature and observing human-animal dynamics firsthand. This interactive demonstration features hawks, falcons, and a golden eagle. 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, October 23, 2026 9:45am-2:30pm
Schedule:
9:45 Arrival
10-12 Falconry at Zoo America
12-12:15 Travel to Lunch location
12:15-2:30 Lunch & Learn
Lunch:
Lunch is at your own expense and ranges from $16-30 depending on your selection.
Feel free to return to ZooAmerica to enjoy your free ticket for the day
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.
PSCSW Discount:
PSCSW members can use the code "PSCSW" at checkout to get their 10% off discount.
Learning Objectives
Upon completion of this program, participants will be able to:
- List the foundational principles of bird-assisted interventions (BAI) and their diverse applications across various clinical populations.
- Describe the therapeutic mechanisms of human-animal interaction, including co-regulation and engagement, within a client-centered framework.
- Identify the four domains of holistic well-being (personal, relational, environmental, and existential) fostered by human-animal bonds through direct experience.
- Describe the historical and cultural origins of falconry as a global heritage, identifying its significance across diverse cultural contexts to enhance cultural competency in clinical practice.
- Explain ethical and welfare considerations for incorporating unconventional species in AAT, focusing on animal well-being and responsible practice.
- Describe practical skills for facilitating AAT-related reflections and integrating unique client interests into therapeutic interventions through peer-to-peer practice.
Ticket Options
Wanderhome Retreats Experiential Workshop Review:"I have attended several delightfully crafted activities, social in spirit and vibe, fun and playful, but also a cool, authentic way to meet therapists I need in my referral and collaboration network. Always up for events with you!"
Kanjana Hartshorne
Hi! I am Kanjana, LCSW, C IAYT yoga therapist, Reiki Master, and creator of Wanderhome. I create embodied, ND affirming spaces where therapists and healers can learn, rest, play, be themselves, and find their people through somatic and creative practices, yoga therapy, energy work, spiritual and ancestral practices, social events, unique CEs, retreats, and a therapist community that feels like home. I'm so glad you're here and hope you join us!
Additional CE Information
Title: Falconry & Animal-Assisted Therapy: Integrating Nature-Based Interventions in Clinical Practice
Date: 10/23/2026
Time: 9:45 am Arrival
10am-2:30 Program
Registration deadline is 10/22/2026.
Delivery Method: This course is a format of live, in person, synchronous interactive learning.
Description: See above
Learning Objectives: See above
Target Audience: Therapists, Licensed Clinical Social Workers, Licensed Professional Counselors, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists Content Level: Master's level clinician, beginner
Instructor Bio:
Kanjana Hartshorne, LCSW, C-IAYT, Reiki Master, CCFP is a licensed psychotherapist, Certified Compassion Fatigue Professional, & Yoga Therapist. She received her MSW from the University of Pennsylvania. Her journey to holistic healthcare began with yoga & meditation training 15 years ago while living at a Rinzai Zen temple. Kanjana takes therapy beyond the couch and into the world through nature, movement, art, energy work, and ancestral practices.
As a licensed psychotherapist, IAYT-certified yoga therapist, and Reiki Master, she helps clients and clinicians alike discover that while insight and the therapeutic relationship can be profoundly healing, many people find their deepest transformation through the body, the breath, and creative or spiritual practices that resonate with who they truly are. As founder of Healing Hearts Wellness, Kanjana leads a team of somatic and yoga therapists redefining what modern healing can look like: grounded in science, infused with spirit. T
hrough Wanderhome Retreats, the continuing education and retreat arm of her company focused on learning and community for therapists and wellness professionals, she creates immersive, experiential learning experiences that invite clinicians to reconnect with their own healing and bring that aliveness back to the people they serve.
Her expertise in Animal-Assisted Therapy is grounded in years of practical and clinical application, from facilitating hospice visits with therapy dogs to conducting specialized emotional support animal (ESA) letter assessments. She integrates these experiences into a "relational ecology" framework that honors the human-animal bond as a transformative clinical tool. Her retreats, workshops, and CE programs explore every layer of being: physical, energetic, emotional, intuitive, and spiritual. Kanjana is the co-creator of the annual Body Compassion Project Retreat, has researched yoga for mental health at Temple University, and has led therapist retreats across the country. She has presented at universities, healthcare organizations, law firms, and mental health summits.
Known for her quirky, experiential teaching style, Kanjana invites participants to show up exactly as they are and explore healing as both a science and an art: evidence-based, embodied, and even a little bit magical.
Outline/ Tentative Schedule:
10:00 AM – 12:00 PM: Experiential Practicum (Falconry) Hands-on engagement with raptors at ZooAmerica.
Focus: Co-regulation, boundaries, and sensory grounding.
12:00 PM – 12:30 PM: Transition & Journaling Travel to lunch location, initial reflections in the workbook, group discussion and processing 12:30 PM – 2:30 PM: Didactic Lunch & Learn (*Lunch is NOT included)
12:30 PM: Processing the experience and the Mirroring Effect.
1:00 PM: Origins of Falconry (UNESCO Heritage) and Relational Ecology.
1:45 PM: Neurobiology & Research (Oxytocin, Neurodiversity, "Hospital of Nature").
2:15 PM: Ethical practice and the Relational Ecology Map.
2:15 PM – 2:30 PM: Wrap-up & Evaluation
CEs: 4 clinical credits
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.
Fees, Registration Deadline, Refund, Cancellation Policy: $265 is the cost for this course. Please register by 10/23/2026. Because this course has limited spaces, we cannot offer refunds at this time. And ZooAmerica does not allow cancellations or transfer of tickets.
In the unlikely event this course is canceled, you will be given the option for a full refund or a reschedule for a new date.
What about the weather?: If there is inclement weather the Zoo will contact us as soon as they are aware a reschedule is needed. They are aware some of us are traveling in and will do their best to accommodate, and the birds cannot fly in 20mph+ winds. They do not offer refunds, but will offer a reschedule. If you are traveling in from far, you may want to consider trip insurance.
Instructions for Requesting Accessibility Accommodations: Please email Kanjana@healingheartswellness.com with any requests.
Course Completion Requirements and Evaluation: Course must be completed in full. This means attending both the falconry experience and the lunch and learn session. Participants will be given a digital workbook in advance to review and prepare for the falconry portion of the training. Additional credit is not offered for reviewing the workbook in advance. Finally, a course evaluation must be completed.
When/How CE Certificate is Issued: When the above requirements are met, certificates will be sent through the Zenler portal. Participants can also email Kanjana@healingheartswellness.com should they have any questions.
When/How to Register: Scroll up and pick your payment option- pay in full or payment plan over 3 months.
Contact Information for Questions & Grievances: Please email Kanjana@healingheartswellness.com
Details on Course Delivery Method: Live, In-Person at ZooAmerica in Hershey, PA. Zoo staff will direct you to the falconry field. You are registered with the name you provide at check out. Please use your full legal name and work email if that is what you want on your CEs. You can update your profile with this later. Any updates must be made by the course date.
Course Interactivity: This is an interactive course.
