FALKA – Dog-Assisted Social Skills Group

Detailed professional description

The FALKA dog-assisted therapy group is designed for 5–7-year-old neurodivergent and anxious children who struggle with fitting in, offering them
experiential support in managing emotional and
behavioural regulation difficulties.

We support the children who come to us, and their parents, in several ways, and a unique, experiential part of this is our dog-assisted therapy group, where the emphasis is on developing emotional and behavioural regulation, social skills and communication. The presence of the dogs and the activities with them provide a motivating and safe environment that offers a particularly good basis for trying out and learning new, positive patterns of behaviour; it helps children direct and sustain their attention, and develops their problem-solving skills and capacity for self-regulation.

Dog-assisted therapy also offers unique opportunities in addressing sensory processing difficulties. A dog provides a variety of sensory stimuli that may even be overstimulating for a neurodivergent child, yet the dog’s natural presence forms a special bridge between the stimulus-rich world and the child’s inner processes, creating an opportunity for development. The presence of animals can encourage children to explore and process new stimuli without experiencing them as threatening. The presence of the dogs and the activities with them provide a motivating and safe environment that offers a particularly good basis for trying out and learning new, positive patterns of behaviour; it helps children direct and sustain their attention, and develops their problem-solving skills and capacity for self-regulation.

Appointment: once a week for 75 minutes, 10 sessions in total

Age group: children aged 5–7

Focus: anxiety, difficulties fitting in, self-regulation problems, sensory
sensitivity, and underdeveloped social and communication skills.

Methodology: we have integrated animal-assisted therapy techniques with emotion-focused, behaviour therapy, play therapy, dramatic and storytelling elements to help children cope with difficult feelings.

Format:

• A 10-session group meeting weekly
• 75-minute sessions
• The first 3 sessions are open; after that, the group runs as a closed group
• Participation is preceded by a parent consultation and an initial interview (to assess suitability and fit)
• Maximum group size: 6 participants

Group leader: Réka Isépy – clinical psychologist; Johanna Bagdi – dog handler; and Gizi, the therapy dog