Who Would Benefit:
Studies have proven this therapeutic method helps alleviate various mentally and emotionally involved illnesses, including (but not limited to) anxiety, depression, PTSD, schizophrenia, paranoia, fear, and ADHD. It can assist with language development. Many research findings show a positive impact on those with spectrum disorders, like autism. DAT also shows benefits with developmental disorders and neurologically-based diagnoses such as cerebral palsy or traumatic brain injury, with deficits including paralysis, muscle tone variations, weakness, balance deficits, and coordination or motor control impairments. Chronic myalgia, and even cancer, have been reportedly addressed with this therapeutic tool.
Research finds positive influence on:
● cognition
● enuresis
● language disorders
● pronunciation
● phobias
● fears
● anxiety
● restlessness
● depression
● sleep-cycle
● appetite
● independence
● mood
● social activity
● self-employment
● self-awareness
● emotion
● motor skills
● motivation
● well-being
● neurasthenia
“Norbert Trompisch discovered that individuals with autism benefit with regards to their social skills, individuals with down syndrome and developmental delays benefit with regards to their linguistic field, and individuals with cerebral palsy benefit in regards to their physical abilities. However, it was discovered that all individuals benefitted from an increase in self-confidence and a reduction in anxiety.” (Alpha Therapy)
Many report more than a functional improvement, but also an increase in self-esteem, happiness, hope, motivation, and a better ability to open up. The environment of the therapeutic connection (in an aquatic water state) provides principles such as buoyancy (reducing the force of the stress placed on the joints), hydrostatic pressure (assisting in edema reduction), viscosity (providing resistance training and allowing for strengthening), and drag (a combo of the waters viscosity and turbulence– where the greater the drag, the greater resistance to movement, and the greater muscle recruitment and contraction); which all provide more of a physically and systematically impactful therapeutic response.
Water has been shown to positively impact our circulatory, pulmonary, musculoskeletal, and renal systems.
Dolphin assisted therapy improves outlook, drive, and an enhanced quality of life for both the patient and the loved ones, allowing everyone to benefit. This alternative form of treatment can soothe COVID-19 related deficits and help people calm anxieties during these stressful times. There’s no need for a medical reason to consider this therapeutic approach; it is appropriate for all people of all ages, as long as its medically safe.