Animal-assisted therapy as a method of working in children with early mental retardation
Abstract
The specifics of the animal-assisted play therapy in children with mental retardation is aimed at development of a child-oriented relationship in which the therapist enters the world of the child, consider the thoughts, feelings, perceptions and ideas that are important for the child, and through the relationships that follow, it provides emotional a safe environment in which children can overcome the problems, to cope with fear and anxiety, and to move forward in the direction of psychosocial health. Used on the basis of the Centre's psychosocial rehabilitation of children and adolescents Feldman Ecopark animal-assisted play therapy for children with mental retardation based on the natural ways in which children learn about themselves and their relationship with the world around them. This approach helps the child to develop respect for themselves and others, awareness of the body, self-esteem, as well as a wider recognition and enforcement of their own abilities. Game animalotherapy combines two promising therapeutic approaches in working with children, adolescents and families: game therapy and animalotherapy. Living with pets as therapeutic partners offers children new opportunities for reducing protection, learning to express their feelings, build healthy relationships, and overcome problems. Such experiences can change the thoughts of children about themselves and give them opportunities by offering a new understanding of their relationship with other animals and ultimately other people. The field of game animallotherapy has increased significantly, and there is a hope that further training and use of game animallotherapy will lead to an increase in research processes and results.
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References
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