From the Equine Facilitated Mental Health Association

What is the difference between Equine Facilitated Psychotherapy and Equine Facilitated Experiential Learning?
 
Equine Facilitated Experiential Learning promotes personal exploration of feelings and behaviors in an educational format, while Equine Facilitated Psychotherapy both promotes personal exploration of feelings and behaviors, and allows for clinical interpretation of feelings and behaviors. EFP denotes an ongoing therapeutic relationship with clearly established treatment goals and objectives developed by the therapist in conjunction with the client. The therapist must be an appropriately credentialed mental health professional to legally practice psychotherapy and EFP.
 
Equine Facilitated Experiential Learning falls under the heading of Equine Assisted Activities and may be conducted by a NARHA Instructor, an educator or a therapist. Experiential Learning refers to a style of learning that occurs when a person is interacting with the environment, including the people, animals and situations involved. It is learning by doing and may take place during a short period of time, such as during a workshop, or during regularly scheduled sessions.

How does Equine Facilitated Psychotherapy or Equine Facilitated Experiential Learning help clients with psychosocial healing and growth?

Specially designed interactive experiences may promote psychosocial healing and growth through: improving self-esteem and self-awareness; developing trust in a safe environment, providing social skills training, encouraging sensory stimulation and integration, combining body awareness exercises with motor planning and verbal communication, developing choice-making and goal-setting skills, developing sequencing and problem-solving skills, encouraging responsibility, and Promoting pro-social attitudes through care-giving experiences.