Cetacean Magic. david Psy.D. wolgroch

      

      Cetacean Magic

      TALES OF INTRIGUE AT THE DOLPHIN REEF THERAPY CENTRE

      by

      David Wolgroch

      Copyright 2011 David Wolgroch,

      All rights reserved.

      Published in eBook format by eBookIt.com

       http://www.eBookIt.com

      ISBN-13: 978-1-4566-0187-4

      No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means including information storage and retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the author. The only exception is by a reviewer, who may quote short excerpts in a review.

      INTRODUCTION

      Cetacean Magic is a fictional account of my actual experiences as the Psychological Consultant for the Dolphin – Assisted Therapy Project at the Dolphin Reef in Eilat, Israel. The facility is located in a natural lagoon on the Red Sea coast. It contained six Atlantic Bottlenose Dolphins, which served as the main attraction to the leisure complex that offered a swimming beach, pub, diving school, and educational programme about dolphins and the sea environment. The Dolphin Reef is neither a treatment facility nor a research institution. It functions mainly as a popular tourist attraction. Some of my impressions, as a clinical psychologist at the Reef, were published as the cover article in the popular journal Positive Health in March, 1999.

      I am, indeed, fortunate to have had the opportunity to engage in this unique modality of treatment. Initially, my role was to monitor therapeutic activities, and to develop efficient professional procedures in the evaluation of referrals, determination of treatment, and liaison with other health professionals. Accordingly, much of my work was guided by the available professional literature about Dolphin – Assisted Therapy, the use of animals for therapeutic benefit, complementary approaches that encourage collusion with Nature and the environment, and conventional guidelines in medical and mental health.

      Some reference is made to the work of David Nathanson, who had published results of experimental studies using dolphins to encourage learning in cognitively challenged youth (Nathanson,D.E.[1989]. Using Atlantic Bottlenose Dolphins to Increase Cognition in Mentally Retarded Children,E.Science Publishers). Preceding Dr.Nathanson’s research was Horace Dobbs, who discovered dolphins by chance and went on to campaign for a better understanding of dolphins and their welfare (Dobbs,H.E.[1977]. Follow a Wild Dolphin. Souvenir Press Ltd. London).

      During the course of my work at the Dolphin Reef, numerous individuals underwent a unique approach to treatment that included, but was not limited to, contact with the dolphins. Cetacean Magic makes reference to some of these cases, as well as associated clinical examples from my conventional practice. Presenting the material in a fictional format has allowed me to ensure the confidentiality and privacy of patients, and to develop the main characters at the Reef, combine clinical applications, and to explore hopes for the future development of Dolphin Therapy, which is depicted in Part II of Cetacean Magic, that will, hopefully, follow.

      I wish to thank the staff at the Dolphin Reef for affording me the opportunity to contribute to their unique facility and for providing me with the impetus to explore new avenues in my practice as a clinical psychologist.

      It is my hope that you will enjoy reading Cetacean Magic, which, albeit fictional, is never too far from the truth. Whereas the dolphins and the description of clinical procedures are factual, the remainder of the narrative does not reflect actual events, people, or facts but are purely imaginary.

      David Wolgroch, BSc, MA, PhD

      Chartered Clinical Psychologist