'Animals don't discriminate'
צילום: דן בנצור
New animal-assisted therapy center opens near Tel Aviv
'Noam Bakfar' treats children and adults suffering from developmental disorders and emotional problems with the help of dogs, hamsters, guinea pigs and rabbits. 'Animals accept us for who we are,' center's therapists say
The dog kennel at Ramat Hasharon's Hakfar Hayarok youth village has recently expanded its activities and launched an Animal-Assisted Therapy (AAT) center.
The "Noam Bakfar" center offers treatment for children suffering from developmental disorders such as autism, mental retardation and cerebral palsy, as well as for normative children with Attention-Deficit Disorder (ADD), learning and communication disabilities and various emotional problems.
During the 45-minute sessions the patients come in contact with dogs, guinea pigs, hamsters, rabbits and other animals to help them develop and improve their life and social skills, as well as to boost their confidence and self-esteem, teach them self-control and improve their motor skills.
The treatment, which is provided on an individual or group basis, is also offered to adults and even the elderly, who, with the animals' assistance, overcome phobias and feelings of loneliness.
"For children with special needs it is easier to connect with animals; they then 'duplicate' this ability in their relations with other people," says Dana Gorodansky, a therapist at "Noam Bakfar".
The AAT sessions, the center's therapists say, also improve attention skills and encourage curiosity.
'Noam Bakfar' center (Photo: Dan Bentsur)
During the treatment, says therapist Shelly Avidor, children with ADD train dogs as way to learn how to control their own urges.
The process of caring for the animals, say the therapists, evokes emotions that do not normally surface during other types of treatment, and helps bring patient and therapist closer together.
"The tasks that the patients are asked to perform within the framework of the treatment, including feeding the animals and cleaning out their cages, help them relax and loosen up. Each patient experiences the contact with the animals from the perspective of his or her internal world, and this helps us learn more about them," says Gorodansky.
The center's therapists, all graduates of the Magid Institute's three-year program for Therapeutic Interventions with the Assistance of Animals, say they chose their profession as a way to combine their love for both children and animals.
"Animals accept us just the way we are," says therapist Nitzan Linenberg, "they don’t discriminate."
For details contact:
Dana Gorodansky – 0548040507
Shelly Avidor - 0524244424
