The ‘Dolphin Within’ research program, headed by Dr Olivia de Bergerac, is a long-term project studying the impacts that being in contact with dolphins has on humans. The central theme of the project is the identification of the physiological, psychological and spiritual changes people go through when they watch and/or swim with dolphins.

From assessments of these changes a new form of dolphin-assisted therapy is being developed; one that does not involve captive or wild dolphins but instead creates a simulated learning environment in which people receive, with the assistance of coaching, healing from within themselves.

The Dolphin Society has a research license from NPWS, which allows the participants of the research program to interact in situ with the dolphins in Port Stephens.

Hypotheses

The research is investigating three basic hypotheses:

1. People, including those with physical or mental handicaps, can receive benefits from contact with dolphins.

2. It is possible to create a learning environment with dolphins as a 'medium' to accelerate the learning process.

3. Dolphins activate in people their healing process on various levels (physical, psychological and spiritual).

Bio

My research into human and organisational potential led me to finish a PhD in human psychology, and a MBA (Master in Business Administration). I learnt accounting, finance, marketing, and human resources because I wanted a broader and deeper understanding of the corporate world. In short, I became a Corporate Psychologist.

I grew up by the beach, the French Riveria with two big brothers, who scuba dived and together we filmed dolphins and whales in Mediterranee. At 22, one of my brothers joined Cousteau, travelled the world and ended up living on Easter Island where my second brother joined him. In 1988, I joined them for a holiday and made the decision to come to Australia and to reconnect with the sea and a more natural life (I was living in London at the time). My quest for discovery of human consciousness led me also to join a school of transpersonal psychology and meditation. My passion for the sea led me to encounters with wild dolphins in Sydney and all around Australia.

These dolphin encounters changed my life. I leant more with them than over the many years of university studies. I started our own consulting company and the Dolphin Society. The Dolphin Society's aim is to explore the effects of dolphins on humans, to create a dolphin centre in Sydney and to facilitate the return of dolphins to Sydney Harbour by the year 2008.

Books

The Dolphin Within - Awakening Human Potential