Nikki Cohen-Wichner, LMFT

Experience

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  Competitive Edge (Equine Assisted Activities & Therapy)

  Mar 1986 - now

  Co Founder, Program Director

  Created this business to allow boundary between the educational and coaching services provided on our farm and the horse breeding and sales division. Expanded it to allow improved risk management within family business when clinical services were added and nature-based educational programming expanded on the family farm. Few highlights of my role as a program developer: (see my website for more detail)*ANIMAL ANGER social emotional skills group: The Animal Anger program grew out of decades of using observation of the non-verbal communication in animals whose defenses had been triggered to help people of all ages better understand their own defensive (aka angry) behaviors. (see link on my website for more info)*HOPE DAY SUPPORT: An Animal-Assisted Social-Emotional skills-based service that provides short-term support to youth who are in acute crisis. Developed to fill a gap in services available to youth who struggle in environments available for more traditional day services. Time in nature and with animals holds power to reduce the anxiety that often is at the core of behaviors which lead youth to a place where day services are needed. Resistance tends to melt away as soon as one of our cats or dogs runs up to meet a youth in our parking lot.*CARE program: summer academic enrichment program that used the natural curiosity young people have about animals and nature to motivate them to continue their education thru summer. Its curriculum allowed for personal growth that meets individual goals set by parents and youth together during an orientation session. Family specialists provided guidance for parents as they helped their children or teens set goals in the areas of: Academics, Career Planning, Fine Arts, Environmental Awareness & Physical Fitness. Show less

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  The Forever Farm (aka Interstate Horse Center)

  Jan 1989 - now

  Founding Partner and Co-Manager

  Guided transition of 16 year old family business which had focused entirely on the Arabian horse breeding business (Prairie Acres Arabians) as it expanded into a full-service, all-breed horsemanship education, horse training and boarding facility at time of move to new location in 1989.In 2014 began process of re-naming this business to more accurately reflect the vision and mission of Healing Horsemanship Foundation (see Vision link under "About Us" at website... http://healinghorsemanship.org/node/63). Many of the youth we serve who have lived in foster homes need to believe there is somewhere in the world where they can trust will always be there for them; like most youth trust they will always have a Forever Family. Some of my past accomplishments as a leader in our family business:*Developed IHC’s Horsemanship Instructor Education Program: Mentor-based curriculum developed to guide new instructors through first years of teaching horsemanship following a weekend seminar facilitated by my husband and me at our farm, or facility that contracts with us.Several colleagues around the U.S. have adapted our curriculum to support instructor education programs that they facilitate in their regions.*Developed an 8-Level, 3-Phase curriculum for Horsemanship Education that resulted in: 1,000+ students including champions at local-national levels. 20+ graduates have become professionals; many are respected leaders in the equestrian education field.*Developed the IHC Show Team to create team spirit in a sport known for its individual competitiveness. Coached competitors from first-timers thru international winners with diverse abilities. Christian-camp-style retreats provided an effective format for teaching high-level competitive skills and attitudes while creating sense of community and camaraderie. Show less

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  Parkview & Madison Metro School Districts

  Jun 1990 - Aug 2002

  Agriscience Teacher / FFA Advisor

  *Developed a personal style of teaching and engaging community which resulted in:--31.5% increase in enrollment at Parkview and 25% increase at LaFollette in Madison;--State/National honors for Parkview FFA chapter & its student members; --charter of new FFA Alumni affiliate, Parkview / new FFA Chapter, LaFollette.*Conducted Tribes-based in-services for teachers with focus on effective methods of creating community among diverse learners.*Taught numerous evening classes in Parkview district for adult students with agriscience interests. Topics were developed from survey of community needs done with cooperation UW Rock County.*Developed course for Blackhawk Tech to meet need identified by WI State Horse Council for extension-based programs in Horse Science, Management and Evaluation for Southern Wisconsin. Allowed opportunity to collaborate with gifted colleagues who helped me learn how to adapt my teaching style to meet the unique needs of adult learners.*As Department Chair: managed tight budgets while developing new curriculum for 15 updated courses in Agriscience / Natural Resource Management department in both school districts. Sample of new courses: Top Flight Leadership, Equine Science, Urban Horticulture; most earned Science or SS credit due to rigorous cross-walk work I did to meet state DPI/federal DOE standards.*Collaborated with case managers, ESL instructors, social workers and other colleagues to ensure all students received lessons that met individual needs despite class sizes that averaged 28-30 students (35-40% with identified need for support, not all with IEPs). *Served on collaborative, multi-disciplinary teams to develop IEPs for 100+ students. *Served on Suicide, Bullying & Substance/Alcohol Abuse Prevention committees in each school (co-facilitated groups). Show less

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  WELSH PONY AND COB SOCIETY (THE)

  Jan 2000 - now

  Approved Judge

  Welsh Pony & Cob Society of America Approved Judge since 2000United States Equestrian Federation Registered 'R' Judge, 1995-2003 (opted to not renew due to shift toward therapeutic horsemanship)United States Equestrian Federation 'r' Recorded Judge, 1991-1995I have judged 200+ shows since earning my first judges card from WI State Horse Council / WI 4-H in 1981 and have loved learning about form-to-function evaluation since my first clinic with Dr. Marvin Beeman as part of the WI Arabian Horse Association Youth Judging Team in 1978.Known as a Strengths-Based Judge who loves to work with show officials to create a safe atmosphere where everyone leaves the competition feeling like they have learned something meaningful from the experience. Vision: Would truly love to become involved in para-equestrian competitions in whatever realm the universe leads me; as coach, judge, organizer.I offer free "Showing As Relationship Builders, Not Destroyers," pre-show clinics to help create a healthy environment for friendly competition while retaining the highest level of horsemanship. Show less

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  Clinical Private Practice (Healing Horsemanship program)

  Jun 2001 - now

  Co Founder, Clinical Director and Psychotherapist

  Provide compassionate strength-based, systems-focused psychotherapy to individuals, couples, families and all seeking healthier personal &/or professional relationships. Blessed to work on a 46 acre oasis in nature conveniently located on I-90 SE of Madison.*Established nature-based private practice on family horse farm that had been helping bring people's horse-related dreams to life for decades. *Developed a model of integrating agricultural/vocational training program elements into a trauma-informed, animal-assisted clinical practice that has served as a national model of best practice for Equine Facilitated Family Therapy (EFFT) for over a decade.*Specialize in strength-based, systems-focused treatment of complex trauma and attachment-related relationship challenges with an approach that integrates holistic principles to support healing from significant individual and family/systemic losses inherent to the experience of trauma.*Created a unique core of individual and family assessments that focus on clients’ in-the-moment interactions with nature and the humans/animals present during intakes.*Client-and-family-centered approach to care with individualized written treatment plans developed in collaborative manner.*Collaborated with community organizations to bring 3,000+ youth and adult clients to our farm for Equine Assisted Activities and/or Therapy. Involved extensive training and mentoring of volunteers within our program as well as visiting organizational staff and volunteers; included full creation, development and ongoing evaluation and readjustment of treatment/educational plans & administrative structures. Show less

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  Healing Horsemanship Foundation, Inc.

  Jan 2007 - now

  Founding Co-Chairperson

  *Blessed to work with community members to develop a 501(c)3 charitable organization that provides resources in support of its vision that people from all walks of life may benefit from nature-based, animal-assisted services held at The Forever Farm regardless of their ability to pay.*As Co-Chairman of the Board: Co-facilitated two years of strategic planning sessions as the Founding Board completed the process of attaining 501(c)3 status with the IRS, which happened in 2009. NOTE: My husband and I wanted to ensure that this organization could support programming beyond the limits of our lifetime so we strived to ensure this organization belongs to the community.*With support of 200+ volunteers we have been able to give $250,000+ in therapeutic services to 3,000+ members of south-central Wisconsin communities since 2002. Show less