LEXINGTON, KY (May 22, 2023) – Amplify Horse Racing has announced a partnership with leading online therapy platform BetterHelp, that will offer members of the equine industry one month of free therapy. This new benefit precedes an upcoming virtual event by Amplify on Wednesday, May 24 that will include a discussion about mental health for future and current Thoroughbred industry employees.
The partnership Amplify has arranged with BetterHelp will give users a free month of therapy (up to 4 live sessions with a therapist that is specifically assigned to their individual preferences), and a discount to the platform thereafter. Any future or current equine industry participants or employees of all ages are welcomed to take advantage of this service through the use of code 9b8d2 on https://www.betterhelp.com/amplify/. Amplify will not know who is receiving therapy, and won't have access to users personal data.
BetterHelp has over 25,000 therapists across the U.S., services in 50+ languages, and support in over 200 countries. Users can communicate with their therapist via phone, video and live chat, and can message their therapist at any time. Therapists on BetterHelp are licensed, trained, experienced, and accredited psychologists (PhD/PsyD), marriage and family therapists (LMFT), clinical social workers (LCSW/LMSW), or licensed professional counselors (LPC). All have a Master’s or Doctorate Degree in their field, and have been qualified and certified by their state's professional board after successfully completing the necessary education, exams, training, and practice. While their experience, expertise and backgrounds vary, they all possess at least 3 years and 2,000 hours of hands-on experience.
“As Amplify encourages more young people to consider careers in the Thoroughbred industry, we want to make sure we are providing flexible resources like BetterHelp to support their mental health and well-being,” said Annise Montplaisir, executive director of Amplify. “Many industry employees have unconventional working hours and travel extensively, making it difficult to schedule a regular therapy appointment, so we’re excited to offer something that can be flexible regardless of schedule.”
Amplify will host a virtual “Horse Racing Hangout” about mental health via Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube on Wednesday, May 24 from 12:00-1:00 PM ET. Featured guest speakers will include Judy Beck (LCSW-R), who has served with the Backstretch Employee Service Team (BEST) in Saratoga Springs, NY for over 15 years, and a representative from the Jockeys’ Guild. This live streamed presentation will address challenges to employee mental health in the equine industry, existing resources available to members of the Thoroughbred community, along with mental health maintenance strategies. Pre-registration is not required. Schedule a reminder for the virtual event at https://www.youtube.com/live/PdSVWgSzAZU?feature=share, or contact [email protected] for more information.
mplify Horse Racing’s Mission: Amplify Horse Racing is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that amplifies Thoroughbred industry education, mentorship, and career opportunities with horse programs for youth and young adults. We create pathways to involvement for newcomers, highlight existing initiatives, and create new resources to lead the Thoroughbred industry into the future. Horse racing is called “the sport of kings,” but it isn't just a sport for the wealthy – it's a sport for everyone!
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