Dolphin Assisted Therapy and Unlikely Friendships - Deb Goldberg

Dolphin therapy - an Innovative educational and recreational treatment approach. Join me, Deb Goldberg and Deena Hoagland, LCSW, founder or Dolphin Island Care and author of ‘Breaths That Count’.  Deena and her husband had two children while living in Colorado. Their second child, a son, was born with a rare heart anomaly.  Their son suffered a stroke during an open heart surgery which left him neurologically impaired. It was then that Deena brought her education, creativity, & desperation, together. She stumbled upon a small dolphin facility where she brought her son to swim. It was there that they made friends with the owners but more importantly the friendship between her son and one particular dolphin that is largely responsible for his near 100% recovery from the stroke.  Deena and her husband incorporated a not-for-profit organization, (Island Dolphin Care,) to help other families like their own. She has developed an innovative treatment approach to working with children with special needs, chronically ill children, terminally ill children, and most recently our veterans & their families. All of the programs provided at Island Dolphin Care include the family members of each participant. Today Island Dolphin Care is an educational and recreational therapy program. The education programs are provided to schools and all visitors. The aquariums and corresponding educational exhibits provide marine science education that stresses the importance of conservation efforts. The therapy programs provide professional therapists that are able to assist families with the latest techniques and technologies. The facility houses 8 Atlantic bottlenose dolphins and is a fully accessible facility.  www.islanddolphincare.org