Helping children overcome their fear of water has become a personal and professional passion of mine. As a long time special needs swim instructor, I became frustrated with the lack of attention that both the aquatic and mental health community paid towards this widely diverse group. Neither the American Red Cross nor the National Institute of Mental Health offers a specific strategy to help aqua phobics. As a certified mental health counselor and swim instructor, I designed the S.O.A.P. (Strategies Overcoming Aquatic Phobias) & Program. This highly successful program offers children and their families a solution to this difficult and extremely sensitive problem. This program has allowed children to remove the obstacles that stand in their way of benefiting from an aquatic lifestyle.
Unfortunately many of our children's first time experiences with swim instructors, or even family members who try teaching them how to swim, is an unpleasant one. The best of intentions can tragically result in either validating a child's existing fear of water, or play an instrumental role in creating one. Your child stands a significantly better chance of overcoming their fear surrounding water with a professional swim instructor that fully comprehends the complexity and sensitivity of this process.
SOAP (Strategies to Overcoming Aquatic Phobias) and Water for those afraid to go near or in water offers dry-land counseling and teaches strategies to overcome aquatic phobias for all ages in a compassionate and friendly atmosphere. The course content, approach and supportive environment provides emotional, mental and physical learning skills for those who are fearful or uncomfortable in or around the water. In addition, individuals are gradually introduced and exposed to the aquatic environment and taught in-water techniques and skills to enable them to learn to swim.
