Therapeutic Groups – Work Proposal
Therapeutic Groups – Work Proposal
Innovative proposal – Animal Assisted Therapy for groups in specific treatments
Immersion in the natural space where the family of dogs live
When we talk about Animal Assisted Therapies we usually refer to dogs. Until today, the dogs have been taken to the places where they are needed, such as clinics, institutions, schools, elderly homes, etc.
Our therapeutic proposal goes further: it is an immersion in the dogs’ own space.
A loving and authentic canine family receive our visitors where it lives, which is our holistic center in nature. Here the dogs gladly receive visitors, naturally welcoming them as co-hosts and acting as co-therapists.
Our healing space
Our space is a holistic nature retreat near Salvador. It works through its different therapeutic elements, such as the welcoming in a caring and reflective environment; in the middle of nature, with leafy trees, the soft sound of the wind in the leaves, the techniques of holistic therapies, and the constant presence of the five elements: Water, Fire, Earth, Air and Ether.
It is a natural park, where, since 2005, we have warmly received groups as well as individual clients in their search for integration with nature, internal harmonization, physical, emotional and spiritual healing. But it was only in 2013 that our immersion project was born, including assisted therapy with dogs.
Our healing space
Our space is a holistic nature retreat near Salvador. It works through its different therapeutic elements, such as the welcoming in a caring and reflective environment; in the middle of nature, with leafy trees, the soft sound of the wind in the leaves, the techniques of holistic therapies, and the constant presence of the five elements: Water, Fire, Earth, Air and Ether.
It is a natural park, where, since 2005, we have warmly received groups as well as individual clients in their search for integration with nature, internal harmonization, physical, emotional and spiritual healing. But it was only in 2013 that our immersion project was born, including assisted therapy with dogs.
Our Assisted Therapy with Dogs: “Touchable Love”
Through physical and emotional contact with our family of healing dogs, we humans can learn a lot, especially communicating through the language of the heart. This language refers to the loving connection between living beings – something very much needed in the modern world, being one of the primary causes for decreased emotional and mental well-being.
In our holistic space, this feeling of love is presented in an almost materialized way, through intuitive and loving interaction with our dogs. Generally, it is the dog who gives the first step, helping us to open the heart, reminding us of our own divine loving and creative essence.
It is this materialization of unconditional love – Touchable Love – which becomes so important for groups and people who are in therapeutic treatment in order to heal.
Our family of dogs
Dogs by nature are sensitive, loving and able to perceive the state of mind of humans.
Our canine family goes further. They were born in our nature retreat and here they conformed a family, each playing a well-defined role within the group. They are completely authentic. They were not educated by humans, but were raised naturally and instinctively with one another, like every family of animals that lives free in nature does.
However, they share this space with people; they are always in direct contact with humans and therapeutic groups. They are constantly observing us humans and acknowledging what humans expect from them, so they are very interactive.
Thus, they have both: their own canine family with a natural perception, to do with something more instinctive or “wild,” and the perception of human lifestyle. They live and share with us.
This overlap brings to us the whole essence of life, in the sense that we are part of a whole. (“We’re All One”). We humans lost the memory of this a long time ago, and it is necessary to reconnect to heal ourselves.
In addition, our dogs have a human guardian, Evelyn Veronica, to whom, in the context of the distribution of functions within the pack, a special role has been given to the party, i.e. the role of the “senior chief.”
Evelyn Veronica
I, Evelyn Veronica Hartoch, have been a landscape architect and holistic therapist for 22 years. In 2005 I was able to realize my dream of creating a natural park, which would simultaneously be a holistic center in beautiful and harmonious nature. Here, in this holistic site, it was possible to flourish this pioneering project of healing dogs, co-hosts and co-therapists, which we are now presenting.
Support to healing groups through therapy, assisted by our dogs
In 2013, we started the integrated project of holistic groups assisted by the presence of the healing dogs. This happened in a harmonious way and our clients responded with very positive feedback.
Therefore, now we want to bring this innovative tool to groups that are in therapeutic treatment.
The aim is to offer a new perspective in a space conducive to immersion and bring to people the unconditional love of the dogs. Alongside this, an additional welcome; peace, warmth, empathy and tranquility required to accompany and embrace the unconditional, complex healing process.
How to do this? – Working plan
We propose four full day meetings in our holistic nature space, interacting with the dogs. The therapists bring their group together to accompany the processes and the therapeutic work.
These four meetings relate conceptually to each other, forming a therapeutic unit, where in each meeting we deepen the perception of unconditional love – touchable love.
It is important to mention that the activities will be more sensory based, requiring little mental capacity- the thematic proposals described below are examples. They can be adapted and defined together with the therapists of each group, in order to suit their specific needs.
Each meeting has a central thematic proposal of work that will be developed during the day through specific activities, always in our natural space and always with the dogs.
Each meeting will also have a final reflection to conclude the day.
At the end of the four meetings (i.e., during the closure on the last day) the joint closing of this therapeutic unit will be proposed.
How to do this? – Working plan
We propose four full day meetings in our holistic nature space, interacting with the dogs. The therapists bring their group together to accompany the processes and the therapeutic work.
These four meetings relate conceptually to each other, forming a therapeutic unit, where in each meeting we deepen the perception of unconditional love – touchable love.
It is important to mention that the activities will be more sensory based, requiring little mental capacity- the thematic proposals described below are examples. They can be adapted and defined together with the therapists of each group, in order to suit their specific needs.
Each meeting has a central thematic proposal of work that will be developed during the day through specific activities, always in our natural space and always with the dogs.
Each meeting will also have a final reflection to conclude the day.
At the end of the four meetings (i.e., during the closure on the last day) the joint closing of this therapeutic unit will be proposed.
Guiding concepts:
Healing, unconditional love and loving touch – “Touchable Love”
Standard one-day routine:
Reception with a small snack
Arrival of the dogs
Daily theme circle opening with the dogs
Morning activity
Lunch
Afternoon activity
Conclusion of the day with a reflective conversation about the meeting.
Quiet, meditative and creative support activities:
- Physical and emotional contact with dogs
- Exercises for physical and energetic awareness
- Energetic awareness and authentic expression
- Creative experimentation
- Handmade experiences with natural materials
- Meditation to the sound of crystal quartz bowls
- Circular dances
Description of 4 Immersion Meetings
THE FOLLOWING THEMATIC PROPOSALS ARE JUST EXAMPLES. THEY CAN BE ADAPTED AND DEFINED TOGETHER WITH THE THERAPISTS FOR EACH GROUP IN ORDER TO SUIT THEIR SPECIFIC NEEDS.
For further information about our work
Description of 4 Immersion Meetings
THE FOLLOWING THEMATIC PROPOSALS ARE JUST EXAMPLES.
THEY CAN BE ADAPTED AND DEFINED TOGETHER WITH THE THERAPISTS FOR EACH GROUP IN ORDER TO SUIT THEIR SPECIFIC NEEDS.
For further information about our work
Retreat Packages
About
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Arembepe, Bahia (Brazil)
+55 (71) 988 17 27 11
info@retreatbelanatureza.com
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