UAE: Dog and turtle help over 30 patients in first animal-assisted psychotherapy programme – News

Treatment benefits women and children severely traumatized in Stage 1

The UAE’s pioneering animal-assisted psychotherapy programme has successfully completed its first phase.

The Dubai Foundation for Women and Children (DFWAC) has partnered with Dubai Police, Al Marmoom Initiative and PoshPaws Kennels and Cattery to implement the programme.

The program benefited 30 women and children over 131 sessions with extraordinary results.

The Animal Assisted Psychotherapy program launched in November 2021 as a complementary or alternative therapy to traditional psychology courses.

Trained animals are used to improve the social and psychological well-being of children and adults, especially after experiencing adverse events such as severe trauma or illness, bereavement, violence or abuse.

Sheikha Saeed Al Mansoori, Acting Director General of Dubai Women and Children’s Fund, said: “We are delighted to announce today the success of the first phase of the UAE’s first Animal Assisted Psychotherapy programme.

The plan aims to realize the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, who emphasized ensuring personal and community satisfaction and promoting coherence across locations and the need for integration. entity. “

She added: “Our mission is to improve the resilience and interaction skills of children who experience violence and exploitation through new and innovative approaches. We have therefore launched this initiative to improve their ability to perform social tasks, And building healthy and positive relationships with others and those around them, in addition to improving their mood, increasing their well-being, and reducing psychological stress. The results of using animal-assisted psychotherapy have been very positive in treating victims of violence and exploitation.

Also read:

Major General Al Ghaithi, Director General of the Organization’s Directorate General of Protection, Security and Emergencies, also praised the results of the initial phase of the programme, which has partnered with the Dubai Women and Children’s Fund to use trained pets to treat humanitarian cases.

“This is in line with Dubai Police’s commitment to strengthen mutual cooperation with various government entities as directed by Lt. Gen. Abdullah Khalifa Almari, Commander-in-Chief of Dubai Police,” he asserted.