Pets support psychotherapy for 131 victims of violence in 2024

The psychotherapy program with the help of pets, which is implemented by the Dubai Foundation for Women and Children’s Care, recorded positive results in improving the psychological and behavioral condition of 131 women and children from the victims of violence, within the second stage of the program, during the past year, according to its evaluation data that “Emirates Today” obtained a copy of.

The program is one of the innovative therapeutic methods that the institution uses, and it depends on integrating a group of trained pets such as horses, beauty, police dogs, turtles, rabbits, and birds, within psychological support sessions in order to enhance emotional and behavioral recovery for beneficiaries, and comes within the framework of the Dubai Foundation for Women and Children Care, which is to contribute to reducing abuse and violence against women and children Prevention, by providing a safe shelter, protection, care and rehabilitation services, in addition to providing education and awareness programs, according to the best recognized international standards, in a way that enhances the quality of the life of the targeted groups and supports the reintegration of them into society in a healthy and safe way.

According to the data, the feelings and behaviors of the participating cases were monitored before and after the program, through a special questionnaire conducted by the institution, which provided a precise opportunity to monitor the indicators of improvement and evaluate the therapeutic effect of this innovative method. The results showed that before joining the program, the participants were suffering from negative behavioral and emotional indicators, such as hesitation and reluctance to participate, in addition to impulsive and aggressive behaviors and weak social skills, and the parental relationship between the mother and children, as well as the low mood.

With the start of the program, a noticeable improvement in the behaviors and feelings of the participants, as they witnessed a strengthening in their effective participation and their integration, in addition to achieving emotional balance and high mood. A significant development in social skills and the strengthening of family ties was also observed, and this comprehensive improvement in behavioral and emotional indicators reflected the great progress made by all participants from women and children after joining the treatment programs.

The police dog unit «K9»

Eight women and 10 children participated in a program in partnership with the police dog unit «K9», in Dubai Police, and the behavioral indicators of women before the program showed resistance and rejection by 25%, while the participation and cooperation rate increased to 88% after joining. On the emotional level, 50% of women were afraid before the program, while the happiness rate increased to 100% after participation. As for the children, the hyperactivity rate was 40% before the program, but after participation, behavioral indicators improved as the percentage of participation and cooperation increased to 90%, and with regard to feelings, 50% of children were afraid of fear before the program, while the percentage of children who feel self -confidence increased to 80% after participation.

Cavalry Police Station

In a program in partnership with the Al -Khala Police Station, which witnessed the participation of seven women and 11 children, the behavioral indicators of women indicated resistance and rejection by 42% before the program, while the participation and cooperation rate increased to 71.4% after the program, and from the emotional point of view the percentage of fear among women was 57% before the program, while the happiness rate increased to 85.7% after participation.

For children, the hyperactivity rate was 36% before the program, while behavioral indicators improved with an increase in the rate of interest to 80% after participation, and emotionally 45% of the children felt fear before the program, while the happiness rate increased to 90% after joining.

Bush Bose sessions

As for the sessions in partnership with the Bush Bose pets, it included rabbits, turtles and birds, and witnessed the participation of 22 women and 50 children, and behavioral indicators in women before the program showed resistance and rejection by 68%, while participation and cooperation increased to 86% after the program. On the emotional level, the withdrawal rate was 63% before participation, while the happiness rate increased to 95% after joining.

For children, the rate of rejection and resistance was 76% before the program, while behavioral indicators improved significantly, as the payment rate increased to 94%, and with regard to feelings, the withdrawal rate was 86% before the program, while the happiness rate increased to 92% after participation.

“Interacting with the sentences”

As for the interaction sessions with the camel in partnership with Al -Dhabi Company, in which nine women and 14 children participated, the behavioral indicators of women before the program showed resistance and rejection by 77%, while the percentage of participation and cooperation increased to 74%after the program, with increased self -confidence to 55%, and the increase in the rate of happiness to 89%.

In terms of children, the rate of rejection and resistance was 10% before the sessions, while the participation and cooperation rate increased to 96% after the program, and with regard to feelings, the anger rate was 22% and fear is 78% before the sessions, but after participation the happiness rate increased to 95%.

• The treatment program merges trained animals such as horses, beauty, police dogs, turtles, rabbits, and birds, within psychological support sessions in order to enhance recovery.