Internationale Konferenzen

Human-Dolphin-Research — HDR

Referat über Therapie mit freilebenden Walen und Delphinen.

 

International Symposium, at Ludwig-Maximilian-University, Munich, Germany March 20th and 21st 2003

 

“Dolphin therapy in the context of enhancement of children and adolescents with developmental disorders”

 

Review:

1. Social behaviour of dolphins (tursiops truncatus) in captivity or semi captivity. Biological aspects, social interaction, acoustic communication etc.  Speakers were biologists and marine biologists (F. Veit, E. Bojanowski, C. Hays, L.v.Fersen)

 

2. Concepts of dolphin therapy, theoretical foundation and evaluation:

· Key Largo (D. Nathanson) captive dolphins,

· Dolphin Reef, Eilat (S. Donio) semi-captive dolphins,

· Germany (R. Spring / V.Todt) different kinds of dolphins and pilot whales in freedom

 

3. Research on the efficiency of dolphin therapy. First results of psychological and       medical approach (L. Lukina, R. Griffioen, R. Winzen, E. Breitenbach, F. Beeck, N. Kohn)

 

4. Long term therapies and the relationship to dolphin therapy

· Cerebral palsy:  B.S. Brucker, G. Schmidt / C. Stadler, R. Blank

· Autism: B. Rollett, K. Schuhmacher,

· Down syndrom: H. Rauh, W. Strassmeier,

· Trauma, abused and neglected children: A. Engfer, R. Rosner / M. Gavranidou.

 

Interesting aspects:

1. Dolphin therapy may be financed by health insurances, when the efficiency is proved by scientific research.

2. All research projects investigating the therapeutic effect of dolphin therapy have a common problem and this is to select and develop objective, reliable and valid methods of measurement.

3. The main focus at the moment is on experimental pre-/ post design to prove the change. HDR-Project has started to monitor also the psychotherapeutic process variables during the program and to describe distinguished marks of psychotherapeutic impact.

4. It became obvious that, scientific research on this subject is at risk to be ruled by commercial interests.

 

Integration of Dolphin therapy and long term therapy is necessary. The effect lasts only around three month, if there is no follow up reinforcement. If the dolphin therapy programme involves the parents in the therapeutic process also a long term effect becomes obvious.

 

 

Keynote presentation: „Human-Dolphin-Interaction as Catalyst in psychotherapeutic and Family Therapy Processes.“

 

International Conference 5th/6th December 2003 at the Open University, The Berrill Lecture Theatre, Walton Hall, Milton Keynes, UK

“Exploring the healing power of dolphins integrating science, art and conservation”

 

At this conference HDR-project has presented scientific data from a field study about, the natural therapeutic potential during free interaction with dolphins in their natural habitat.

 

 

Eco-psychological approach to a Holistic Psychotherapy concept - involving interactions with free dolphins in a psychotherapeutic process.

 

British Holistic Medical Association‘s Annual Conference, Dec. 3rd 2004 at

Regent‘s college, London, UK.

Keynote speakers: Dr. M. Dixon (Chairman NHS Alliance), Prof. Dr. D. Peters (Director of the School of Integrated Health, University of Westminster)

 

„Tuning  into 21st Century Expectations of Healthcare.“