Patti Mandrell is the cofounder and Executive Director of Refuge Services in Lubbock, Texas, and a seasoned Eagala Trainer with over 18 years of experience. A pioneer in the field, she was the first professional counselor in Texas to earn national certification in Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP), and among the first in the U.S. to achieve the model’s highest training level. With more than 25 years as a therapist and over two decades integrating EAP, Patti brings extensive clinical and operational expertise to her mentoring.
Her areas of specialty include complex trauma across the lifespan, addiction and eating disorders, couples and family work, veteran services, and Christian counseling. She has led teams in outpatient and inpatient settings, supervised clinicians, collaborated with universities and agencies, and developed programs through business strategy and grant writing. As director of a nonprofit offering multiple equine-assisted therapy modalities, Patti is deeply committed to guiding other professionals in delivering impactful, ethical, and effective services through the Eagala Model.