Patti Mandrell, M.Ed., LPC, EAP (Advanced), is cofounder of REFUGE Services. She serves as director of therapy services supervising other therapists, horse professionals, volunteers, and intern students. Prior, Patti served as a program director for a residential treatment center for girls with eating disorders in south Texas. Patti was the first professional counselor to be nationally certified in Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP) in the state of Texas, and she and her husband, Randy, were among the first group to reach highest status/training with EAP in the country. She has been incorporating EAP for over 24 years and a therapist for over 25 years. She is a certified trainer and approved supervisor for the International Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association. Patti received her master’s counseling degree at Texas Tech University. Patti has been spotlighted and interviewed in numerous local, state and national publications and television broadcastings promoting the use of EAP when working with families and children. She wrote the first textbook used in numerous colleges/universities about EAP “Introduction to Equine Assisted Psychotherapy.”
