The Second edition of the Animal-Assisted Therapy project in the Benito Menni Mental Health Welfare Complex a great success.

20/12/2011

For the last few months we have been holding AAT sessions in the Benito Menni Mental Health Welfare Complex in Sant Boi de Llobregat.  The 17^th of December marked the end of the 10 sessions which took place in two specialized units, the Adolescent Crisis Unit( UCA) and the Psycogeriatric Unit.

A few of the adolescents admitted to the Benito Menni Welfare Complex discovered that animals can be a fun complement to their usual therapy programs.  And as the project progressed the health professionals noted the adolescents’ improved memory, self-esteem and socialization.

During the 45 to 60-minute sessions the project participants learned about dogs, their welfare and how to work with them in a positive way.  The key to each session lay in learning basic obedience techniques and how to apply them while guiding the dog through a simple Agility course.  As each took their turn working with a dog, their fellow group members made suggestions or assisted and afterwards assessed the performance.   

Positivas Can worked closely with the health professional team under the guidance of Dr. Eulalia Navarro, the unit’s psychiatrist.  “The aim of these sessions is to work different values such as teamwork, motivation, respect for the rules of play, decision making, coordination, companionship, affection, motor functions and desire to excel,” she says.  “In addition they gain the ability to concentrate and use effective verbal communication.”

Positivas Can directed a similar project in the Psychogeriatric Unit.  This consisted of a series of theme-based, cognitive-stimulation activities, all involving the participating dog and designed to improve the patients’ memory, concentration and motor skills.