Healing Connections is a four-day immersive program designed to address the lasting impact of trauma. Experiencing trauma can have significant effects on mental health including PTSD, Depression and Anxiety that impact daily life. Healing Connections is centered around the power of healthy relationships with ourselves and others to generate healing.
This unique approach combines education about trauma, equine (horse)-assisted learning activities, and trauma processing exercises facilitated by a therapist in a group of peers with similar life experiences.
Who is this program for? This program is open to anyone over the age of 18 that identifies as female or non-binary interested in addressing their trauma. Participants will be asked to complete a series of assessments in the time after the intensive to determine to effectiveness of the program and be connected to a group of alumni.
Who is PBJ Connections? We are a team of Mental Health and Equine (horse) professionals that have been providing mental health treatment to Central Ohioans since 2006. We recognize that some people need more than weekly, hour long, talk therapy sessions to heal from chronic traumatic experiences and complex PTSD.
This program works best in a ‘closed container’ setting. This means we will provide overnight accommodations, food and all transportation after arrival for the four days of the intensive. Participants are asked to ‘unplug’ and turn in their phones for the duration of the intensive. This serves to eliminate distractions and focus connection towards the group. Our facilitators act as emergency contacts if a participant needs to be reached during the intensive.
We want to eliminate barriers to participating in this program. Please reach out to Holly Jedlicka at Info@PBJConnections.org or text 614-395-1395 if you have questions or need assistance to participate.
2023 Schedule:
March 23rd – 26th – Completed
April 27th -30th – Completed
August 17th – 20th – Full
November 9th- 12th
WHERE:
PBJ Connections
Taco Bella Office
3231 Burnside Rd, Johnstown, OH 43031
COST:
Free. Meals and overnight accommodations are provided for the entire program.
Click the link above to provide your contact information. We will reach out to you over the phone at one of the available times you provide to register you for the program. We will be asking questions about sensitive subject matter, like childhood experiences and trauma. Some of the questions may be triggering to you so we ask that you are in a safe place when you answer our call. The purpose of these questions is to ensure we provide the most effective program possible to address the effects of trauma in your life today.
Please download and read the Policy Form in its entirety before applying.
Meet the Facilitators
The two primary facilitators for this program are white women. We will have the support of other people of color throughout the program. We are reaching out to minorities in an effort to help students of color access support systems at OSU and experience the personal benefits of models outside of traditional talk therapy. We recognize that as white people there are things we do not understand about the experiences of minorities and we hope to provide a safe space for healing within our program.
Holly Jedlicka, MSW, LISW-S
Holly Jedlicka, MSW, LISW-S is the Exectuive Director of PBJ Connections. She specializes in child, adolescent and family therapy as well as working with LGBTQ clients. She also specializes in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. Holly holds a bachelors degree in psychology from Otterbein University and a Masters in Social Work from The Ohio State University. She worked in community behavioral health before focusing her efforts on equine-assisted psychotherapy. She holds an Advanced EAGALA certification and is a PATH International Registered Instructor.
Erica Lewis
Erica is the Assistant Director of PBJ Connections and has maintained her EAGALA Equine Specialist certification since 2015. She has been focused on developing skills to elevate the voices of the horses in sessions and encouraging professionals in the field create more equal relationships with equine cofacilitators.
Erica was inspired to develop Healing Connections with Holly after she experienced a profound shift in her healing journey at another immersive program in California.
Preshus Thompson
