Cetacean Magic

david Psy.D. wolgroch

Description

A fictional narrative closely based upon actual experiences as a consultant clinical psychologist to the Dolphin Reef Therapy Project, in Eilat Israel. Dr.Wolgroch illustrates the actual process of Dolphin Assisted Therapy through intriguing and informative examples from his clinical experience. Inspiring! Informative! A good read!

Sujets

• Healing

Informations

• Publié par: eBookIt.com
• Date de parution: 21 février 2013
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781456601874
• Langue: English

Extrait

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
 
CHAPTER I: CREATION UNBORN
 
 
The birth of Carol’s child was unique beyond her wildest fantasies. Two midwives, one Human and the other Cetacean, ensured that her baby boy slipped effortlessly from the saline matrix within the womb into a not dissimilar sea environment at the Dolphin Reef. Anything less spectacular would betray Carol’s long and extraordinary campaign towards pregnancy.
 
Years of exhausting IVF treatments, micro-manipulation, sperm donor searches, and hypnotherapy left Carol feeling abandoned by society’s promise that she could eat her cake and have it, too. She had pursued a life style satisfying hedonistic pleasures, as a single woman, in lieu of the more nourishing needs of motherhood. It was an existential dilemma forged by anatomical limitations.
 
For Carol, it had always been easier to know what she didn’t want out of life than what she did. Life’s opportunities effortlessly presented themselves to be short-listed. In similar fashion, Carol approached all matters to be considered. Whether shopping for shoes, dining out or choosing a date, Carol reviewed offers by way of elimination - until one or two options remained acceptable. This left her frequently dissatisfied, indecisive and non-committal.
 
Friends were largely unaware of Carol’s dilemma. To them, she provided a wealth of enticingly adventurous tales of travel, freedom, men and independence. As an air hostess, Carol ensured an endless supply of vivid testimonials rejecting the mediocre commitments to children and family, to which her friends had reluctantly succumb.
 
Commitment was carefully avoided, mostly subconsciously, in order to distance her from becoming her own mother. Carol adored her mother, albeit ambivalently, who made no secret of her constant self- sacrifice for family and home. Motherhood and independence were perceived as mutually exclusive. Carol would make sure she satisfied her own needs before settling down into the prescribed duties of domestic life.
 
As age advanced, Carol ached with dissatisfaction with her life style. At times, she felt nothing more than a glorified flying waitress, going everywhere but remaining nowhere. She made a decision, perhaps for the first time, to pursue direction in her life. She wanted, much to her suburban horror; a marriage, a home and a family.
 
The search for a partner proved much more difficult than had been expected. Had she waited too long? Remorsefully, Carol recalled her resistance to commitment to eligible men who have long since founded a family. Technology, however belated, offered a compromise to her predicament. She could achieve pregnancy, quite simply she thought, through artificial impregnation, in a manner similar to mail order shopping.
 
Two years and seven exhaustive treatments later, Carol was still very much ‘un-pregnant’. Disillusioned by technology, Carol found herself allured towards more encouraging prescriptions found in mysticism, spiritualism and other contemporary ‘isms’ (or ‘…ologies’) promising a remedy to her predicament. She consulted with a fortune-teller, religiously ingested bitter teas and immersed in aromatic oils, to no avail.
 
Eventually, she met Dr. Chantee, an Asian obstetrician, who preached a compelling collaboration of eastern and western wisdom based upon karma, nature and introspection. Paradoxically, it was when Carol finally accepted fate that there was an unexpected, yet welcomed, turn for the better. She soon found herself undeniably pregnant. Several months later, Carol joined Dr.Chantee and a group of five hopeful very pregnant women on a plane to Eilat, Israel. There, they would give birth at the Dolphin Reef amidst the altruistic vibrations of the Dolphins.
 
It was no surprise to the staff at the reef when Domino volunteered as midwife. Domino was a mature female Dolphin. Her natural maternal disposition towards the other five dolphins and the swimmers in the lagoon was well established. Domino was known to be sensitive, reliable and nurturing without exception. Her benevolent nature was especially noticeable since the arrival of six pregnant women two months earlier. To Domino the birth of life was of universal significance regardless of species.
 
She reliably joined the group in their daily early morning swim - curiously prodding their bulging bellies as they paddled aimlessly in the shallow part of the lagoon usually reserved for veterinary treatments. The Dolphins, in their regular activities, rarely frequented this narrow slope leading to the larger pool. An arrival of a Dolphin here usually signalled to the staff that the Vet had to be summoned. The Dolphins associated this area with the need to receive special attention and care during illness. It was to all intents and respects their neighbourhood health clinic.
 
The introduction of bathers into this area may have communicated our desire for special care. This was probably more likely to be of significance to the Dolphins than the bathing robes especially designed for the group announcing “ UNDER CONSTRUCTION “ in the front and “ REGRESS IS PROGRESS “ on the back. The six ‘procreatees’, participating in this unique experiment, had undergone an intensive childbirth preparation programme. Deep breathing exercises were embellished with a devout philosophical determination gracing the virtues of natural childbirth and the magical mysterious ways of the Dolphin. Impressive legends about Dolphin altruism across the ages served to verify their alien powers reaching far beyond technological comprehension.
 
The expectant mothers engaged in regular swims at the reef - followed by vivid testimonials of Dolphin energy being beamed towards their developing aspirations in the form of ultrasonic waves. The emission of coded clicks, high frequency shrills and intimate contact reassured and comforted them more than any similar treatment offered at the hospital delivery ward. Some would even swear to receiving telepathic communications telling them to be positive, relaxed and that their baby would be special.
 
Objectively, one could see an indisputable excitement among the Dolphins when the group entered the pool. They seemed to welcome the group into their watery world exp