The Full Circle Program: Utilizing Marine Mammal Rehabilitation Activities In The Dolphin Assisted Therapy Process

Speaker:	Marianne Klingel
Affiliation:	Recreational Therapist/Director, Clearwater Marine Aquarium

The Full Circle Program
Clearwater Marine Aquarium
249 Windward Passage
Clearwater, Florida 34630-2250
Phone (813) 447-0980 Fax (813) 442-9466
Dedicated to education, marine mammal, sea turtle and otter rescue
501 (C) (8) Not For Profit

The Clearwater Marine Aquarium (CMA) is a nonprofit marine facility whose primary mission is the rescue, rehabilitation and release of marine mammals, sea turtles and otters. CMA's Full Circle Program incorporates CMA's resident dolphins and their rehabilitative care into dolphin-assisted therapy sessions for children that have physical, mental or emotional disabilities.

The Full Circle Program expands upon the basic behavior modification model (stimulus/task reward/dolphin) by having the children's therapy include dolphin rehabilitation activities such as preparing food, feeding, observing, taking respiration counts, interacting during training sessions and giving rubs. Many activities serve simultaneously as task and reward, facilitating maximum attention and engagement in the therapeutic process. Therapists note that the children identify strongly with the dolphins, who are imperfect, yet worthy and beautiful in their own way. As "helpers" with new-found skills and compassion, the children also develop feelings of positive self-esteem and empowerment beneficial in all areas of their lives.

CMA's Full Circle Program helps many children make progress toward their treatment goals, whether physical, cognitive or emotional in nature. Marine facilities which provide both dolphin-assisted therapy and marine mammal rehabilitation services will find both programs enriched through inclusion of caregiving activities in the therapeutic process.