Elephant Assisted Therapy

N.A. (n.d).Elephant Assisted Therapy. Equine Therapy, Retrieved from http://www.equine-therapy-programs.com/elphant-assisted-therapy.html

What is the activity:
Animal assisted therapy is a popular technique to use to bring about goal achievement. Typically, the animals used are cats or dogs. However, in South Africa and Jerusalem, animal assisted therapy is done with ELEPHANTS! They are amazing, intelligent, caring, funny, and protective beings. They can be used for therapy because they are known for being gentle with their young, and having a sense when they are near a child with a disability.

Instructions on how to facilitate activity:

A therapist would facilitate therapy in a zoo or an environment that is beyond the scope of the child's everyday life. It must be a exciting place that the child looks forward to experience. They are excited to be working with the elephant. It is a unique experience that gives the child the experience of feeling special and important.

Week by week they are awarded with visits to elephant when goals are achieved. For example, Rentia (visually impaired) had goals set and after she acheived each goal, she was rewarded with another visit to the elephant as therapy. Each week she gained new skills and increased confidence. By the end of three months, she could walk up and down steps by herself, use the bathroom alone, button her school blouse independently and read braille.

In therapy, the children learn concentration and self-discipline in order to form a connection with the elephant. The child has to take responsibility and adapt to the elephant's needs, and that becomes a part of the development. In therapy, a child will feed, pet, clean the animal, which are normally activities that are done for them by their parents or caretakers. The act of doing these tasks gives the child a sense of empowerment because it allows the child to decide what to feed the elephant, when to clean it, and how t make the animal trust him/her. Additionally, the child must control emotions such as anger and frustration in order to get the animal to cooperate and this control transfers beyond therapy. Other issues are also addressed, such as family support and parental protection when a child observes the way an elephant functions within a social herd. This experience helps the child learn to cope with the realities of their daily life.

Who might benefit from this:

Generally, children with disabilities would benefit from this type of therapy to develop skills and behaviors to help them overcome their disabilities. The article suggested a children with physical disabilities such as visual impairments and cerebral palsy. "The physical and emotional contact is essential for kids who do not get that contact in their family or their environment at home or school." However, I believe anyone can benefit because of the "wow" factor based on their size that it acts as a motivating experience.

Contradictions:

The only contradiction I can think of is that animal behavior is that their size can be quite intimidating and the child may not feel comfortable "getting close" with such a large animal.

Materials needed:

The materials needed are an ELEPHANT! As well as, tools for further facilitation such as, elephant cleaning supplies, and food/feeding equipment.

Special Considerations:

This is most definitely unconventional because elephants are not readily available. However, when working with elephants safety should always come first. This includes temprament of the animal and knowing protocoal for controlling behavior of both the client and animal.

Overall, many children with disabilities need therapy and behavior interventions that may not be conventional. Elephants are hard to come by, but have the ability to work magic with children with special needs.