Dolphin Assisted Therapy - SafeHaven Trauma Centre

Dolphin Assisted Therapy (DAT)

Dolphin assisted therapy forms a key part of our Dolphin Intensive Treatment Retreat that takes place in the Bahamas over 5 days.

 

What is Dolphin Assisted Therapy?

In dolphin assisted therapy we combine bio-aquatic craniosacral therapy with dolphin interaction.

Your therapy team support and treat you as you float in ocean water.

Your team stand on a floating platform, placed under the water in a ocean inlet where the dolphin’s live, at the dolphin sanctuary in Port Lucaya, Freeport Bahamas.

The dolphins are free to come and go as they please and interact with you and your treatment process.

The dolphins generally swim around and under you and they place their rostrums on you and interact and facilitate with the therapy process. You hear their clicks and sounds. You feel them create wave patterns in the water, which facilitate the tissue release where your therapist’s are treating. You can also get a clear sense when they use their sonar, which can be a very interesting experience.

The entire time the dolphins only interact on their terms, they are never forced or coerced into any behaviour.

 

Our Managing Director, Charlotte Copeland, has experienced DAT as both a therapist and a client. She says of the experience:

“Whilst I admit to being wholly skeptical before experiencing this type of therapy, I am now a strong supporter. The experience undoubtedly changed me and my life. It is a humbling experience to realise there is much we still do not know or understand, and the interaction with the dolphin’s created a profound  shift in my health and well-being. I am grateful we have the opportunity to share this with our clients at SafeHaven.”

 

 

 

Is dolphin assisted therapy right for you?

Dolphin assisted therapy can be used to treat a wide range of mental health and physical conditions. Combined with aftercare you can expect to reduce or eliminate symptoms causing mental distress and have a greater understanding of the problems you face and strengthened coping skills. You can also expect to experience an increased sense of physical well-being, increased mobility and reduced pain and discomfort.

As it is an intensive short term approach it is often best combined with aftercare. Aftercare generally helps people continue with the changes that they begin on the programme and integrate them more fully into their lives. It is usually unlike anything anyone has experienced before, therefore an open mind and a willingness to work in a group, as well as individually, are key to it being successful for you.

SafeHaven Trauma Centre