They are called India, Mus, Odette, Opala and XataThe field and any five dogs are not. Because they are Two gold retrievers and cd Jack Russells that for several months they go to the hospital in Barcelona To introduce your sand, great granite, to the program Therapy for adolescents aged 14 to 16 years with mental health disordersField
These five dogs develop their already important work at the hospitalization factory in the field of mental health for children and adolescents University Hospital Vall d’EbronThese “therapists” spend time with patients entered this unit, who receive new therapy, which complements the usual treatment and includes contact with dogs to learn how to identify and regulate emotions. In addition to reducing anxiety and improving self -esteem, interaction with dogs provides clinical information and Help break a wall of no confidence with whom many of the young patients arrive.
Initiative is a joint project Chairman of the Animals and Society of the University of Rei Juan CarlosThe director is a teacher Maximum NuriaAnd Section of hospitalization of the psychiatry service for children and youthcoordinated Dr. Mark FerrerThe field is an initiative, fully funded Dingonature Fund And this has a cooperation of the organization Perrupneandospecializes in animal interventions.
They want to see them more
The first results are already noticeable. Sessions are held once a week, on Fridays, in groups from two to four patients. But, obviously, young people seem a little in India, Muse, Odette, disgrace and XATA: “On Wednesdays, some boys and girls are already asking for dogs– says Merch Rodriguez, the head of the nurse of the psychiatric service of the university hospital, Valla d’EBron.
At each session, two of the five dogs mentioned who go to the hospital accompanied by their guides, which are also their trustees. They arrive at 10:45 and always follow the same route so as not to change the routine of the hospital. Before entering the plant, they meet with a clinical psychologist and a nurse who tell them about the patients with whom they will work. “We combine boys and girls with various disorders in order to form groups as heterogeneous as possible from the point of view of characteristics and symptoms; Thus, we get a balance that helps us avoid clinical decompensations during sessions, ”he explains Bàrbara CitlerField
In addition to guides and dogs, at each session there is always a nurse that collects information. The interventions are playful and are guided. They begin with a presentation in which guides specialized in therapy with the help of animals, Andrea Galofre and Laia PortolasThey explain how to communicate with dogs, what they like and what not. At first, dogs go, smell and explore, but soon affection for caresses that relax.
“When they are calm We work with emotions through dogs“Andrea Galofre explains.” For example, if we organize a scheme, and the dog does not understand you, it is not capable of or does not want to play the game, we can talk about what is happening when you feel incorrectly understood when you do not want to do anything or when you do not come out, ”he describes.” We also make games with prizes or dynamics in which patients should prepare materials, which gives them an active role. They cease to be simply patients to become persons who care“Continues.” Sessions with the guide provide us with a lot of clinical information and allow us to watch the boys and girls as they are and how they feel, ”he adds.
According to the World Health Organization, Each of the seven young people aged 10 to 19 years suffers from a mental disorder. Depression, anxiety and behavioral disorders are the main causes of disability in this age range. “Each disorder has its own characteristics: some represent difficulties in controlling impulses and others for communication, but everyone has emotional deregulation, the difficulty in managing emotional reactions. And this is exactly the fact that we work with therapy with a dog with dogs, ”explains Dr. Ferrere. Therapy with animals helps reduce anxiety, improve self -esteem and control disappointment and impulsivenessFour characteristics of emotional deregulation.
