11 February 2019 - NGO Fit Woman Montenegro, in cooperation with the Day Centre for children with disabilities from Herceg Novi, organized a seminar on the topic "Importance and benefits of animal-assisted therapy".
Animal-assisted therapy, which was the main topic of the lecture, is a therapeutic intervention that incorporates animals, such as horses, dogs, cats, pigs, and birds, into the treatment plan. It is used to enhance and complement the benefits of traditional therapy.
Employees in the Day Centre were able to hear a fascinating one-hour seminar delivered by Doctor of Veterinary Medicine Alina Denis Kizgin from Romania, who is also a member of the Fit Woman Montenegro organization. The lecture taught the employees how animals could provide a sense of calm, comfort, or safety and divert attention away from a stressful situation and toward one that gives pleasure. Advocates of animal-assisted therapy explained how developing a bond with an animal can help people develop a better sense of self-worth and trust, stabilize their emotions, and improve their communication, self-regulation, and socialization skills. According to Dr Kizgin, many studies and practical experiences have shown that therapeutic animals can positively affect people with disabilities, especially children and youth. Time spent with therapeutic animals among other things improves the health, mood, confidence, as well as the overall social life of persons involved in the therapeutic process.
“This lecture is a continuation of the good cooperation that we have established with the Day Centre, we believe that we will continue to conduct joint activities that will benefit the Day Centre and its citizens, "said Esma Cerinan Otović and Šule Kadan Turkel, the founders of Fit Woman Montenegro. Encouraging women to lead a healthy life and to be actively involved in the presence of the community are the main goals of Fit Woman Montenegro, an organization that has quickly gathered a large number of women in a variety of professional orientations, ages, and backgrounds.
