Methodology

---

 What dolphin therapy is aimed at 

Animal assisted therapy is a correction and rehabilitation method based on the interaction of a person and an animal.

Thanks to its proven effectiveness, animal therapy has become popular all over the world. Animal therapy centers operate in countries such as the USA, UK, Germany, Israel, Japan, Australia, China and many others, and animal therapy in these countries is a recognized, licensed method. 

Modern animal therapy is aimed at increasing the cognitive, speech, motor, social, behavioral and emotional-volitional functioning of a particular person.

Dolphin therapy, as a type of animal therapy, does not work with a diagnosis, but with functional impairments that accompany it. For example, a child with an autism spectrum disorder and a child with Down syndrome may have similar problems in the speech sphere or in the field of social communication, so the course program for these children can be very similar and will contain task games for developing speech and communication skills.

 Who conducts the sessions 

Dolphin therapy at «Dolphin World» is a team work. Throughout the course, a dolphin therapist, dolphin and dolphin trainer work with the child.

Dolphin therapist is a certified specialist who has the right to work with special-needs children - a psychologist, a disability specialist, a correctional teacher, a rehabilitation specialist, etc.

In addition to working with a specific problem of the child, the dolphin therapist's duties include ensuring the safety of the child, both during game interaction with the dolphin on shore, and during contact with him in water. Furthermore, the dolphin therapist makes sure that the child does not harm the dolphin.

Specially trained dolphins are used to solve the set tasks, which help to include the child in the therapeutic activity carried out by the dolphin therapist. The rich play and procedural repertoire of dolphins allows to create a program for each specific child, taking into account all patient's individual characteristics.

The dolphin trainer is a marine mammals specialist who is the link between the dolphin therapist and the dolphin. The trainer is responsible for the dolphin performing the game and procedural elements necessary for the implementation of the program compiled by the dolphin therapist.

 How goes the sessions 

  Dolphin therapy sessions are held at playable form. Based on the therapeutic goals for the course, the dolphin therapist sets an individual program and selects the exercises and games a child must complete. Participation in such a session by a trained dolphin, which has a rich playing repertoire, allows the child to actively engage in therapeutic activity and perform assigned tasks.

The duration of one session is 25-30 minutes: 10 minutes interaction with a dolphin from the side of the pool and 20 minutes in the water. The duration of the session and the time of the "dry" and "water" parts can vary depending on the specific child and his psychological readiness to move on to another, more difficult task.

If for the psychological comfort and adaptation of the child one of the parents need to be present nearby, the parent will also be given a wetsuit and he will be able not only to be near the child, but also join the session and perform game tasks.

In order to make the adaptation of the child to new conditions easier, and the productive interaction with the dolphin to begin faster, it is necessary to follow simple recommendations for preparing the child for the dolphin therapy. 

 Write to us and we will send you detailed instructions on preparing your child for the upcoming dolphin therapy course