EEL is an educational model, and at Epona we employ the emotional message chart, the false self/authentic self paradigm, the body scan, the boundary handout and other tools to assist the clients in their personal awareness of feeling states, body sensations, boundaries and intrusive destructive thoughts. At Epona we teach individuals, through the Way of the Horse, to take their experiences home and make changes in their lives, if they choose. Our hope is that they can use these tools and experiences to change irrational thoughts and dysfunctional patterns, which have kept them stuck in a survival mentality, and help them shift them to move into a thriving place for more creative and productive lives.

Only apprenticeship program graduates who are qualified Mental Health Workers according to the regulations of the state where they will practice will qualify to integrate EEL principles with their therapeutic or counseling approach. However, it is essential to distinguish between EEL and mental health models, particularly the area of Equine Facilitated Psychotherapy (EFP). Psychotherapy is a long-term process involving one-on-one therapeutic sessions with a client and the therapist. It requires an intimate connection and at least weekly sessions. We do not teach psychotherapy in Epona programs.

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