DELFINŲ ASISTUOJAMOJI TERAPIJA KAIP SENSORINĖ INTEGRACIJA: TĖVŲ, AUGINANČIŲ VAIKUS SU PSICHIKOS IR ELGESIO SUTRIKIMAIS, PATIRČIŲ ANALIZĖ

The article aims to analyse dolphin-assisted therapy as a form of sensory integration through the experiences of parents raising children with mental and behavioural disorders. These experiences were collected one month after the dolphin-assisted therapy in which their child participated. In recent years, attention to therapeutic human-animal interaction and the diversity of methods for children with mental and behavioural disorders has been increasing in Lithuania. Animal-assisted therapy (AAT) is increasingly applied as a complementary method of physical, psychological and social rehabilitation, during which animals are involved for therapeutic purposes. One of the most extensively studied forms of AAT is dolphin-assisted therapy (DAT). Although dolphin-assisted therapy is increasingly used as a complementary health-promoting method for children with various developmental, emotional and psychosocial disorders, qualitative scientific research has revealed parents’ subjective experiences, indicating that dolphin therapy has a positive effect on the sensory functioning of participating children with mental and behavioural disorders. Nevertheless, dolphin therapy as a method of sensory integration remains insufficiently analysed. Scientific research into parents’ perspectives is highly important in the field of dolphin therapy research, and provides opportunities for a wide range of future studies.