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“Holistic” can have several meanings when it comes treatment for substance use disorder. In a broad sense, holistic treatment means treatment that considers the physical, mental, and spiritual well-being of each client. In addition, certain types of therapeutic practices–like yoga, meditation, and art therapy–are called “holistic” because they address more subtle aspects of health, like mind-body connection and spirituality.
At Elevare Behavioral Health, we treat the whole person. In addition, we offer several types of holistic therapies to help our clients thrive in all aspects of their lives.
What Is Holistic Addiction Treatment?
Traditional addiction treatment is typically a combination of individual therapy, group therapy, and medication when appropriate. Holistic treatment offers alternative approaches that complement traditional treatment modalities.
Holistic therapies address the “whole self.” They help you process emotions in different ways. They also teach you healthy practices and coping skills that can prevent relapse. Attention to nutrition, exercise, sleep patterns, and stress management are all important aspects of holistic treatment.
Types of Holistic Therapies
- Yoga and breathwork
- Mindfulness meditation
- Fitness and exercise
- Biofeedback beds
- Animal-assisted therapy
- Adventure Therapy™
Yoga and Breathwork
Yoga helps you learn to be kinder to your body. It may also reduce anxiety and help you navigate difficult emotions. Finding new ways to manage these experiences may reduce the risk of relapse.
Yoga stretches and strengthens the body. The three core components of modern yoga are:
- Movements through different postures
- Breathing in specific sequences
- Meditation
Yoga also incorporates breathwork, which can have numerous benefits for the mind and body. Breathwork in yoga involves various techniques such as deep belly breathing, alternate nostril breathing, and breath retention. These techniques can help increase lung capacity and oxygen intake, leading to improved physical health. Additionally, by focusing on the breath during a yoga practice, individuals may experience an increased sense of mindfulness and present-moment awareness.
Due to yoga’s ability to center the mind and body in the present moment, Elevare offers yoga as a complementary holistic method.
Mindfulness Meditation
Mindfulness comes in many forms. The practice is about being fully present in the moment without feeling overwhelmed by emotions and distractions. There are seated, walking, moving, or even standing methods of practicing mindfulness.
Meditation is the most well-known mindfulness practice. Meditation encourages you to focus on your breath, notice thoughts when they arise, and then bring your focus back to the breath. The practice encourages curiosity about thoughts, without judgment.
Meditation has been shown to reduce stress and improve reactive behaviors. In addiction treatment, meditation can help manage cravings, intense emotions, and other triggers. Sometimes this is a guided process where you recognize difficult emotions and urges, then talk about healthy coping skills.
Fitness and Exercise
Exercise may ease depression and anxiety symptoms, which sometimes fuel substance abuse. Exercise can also serve as a relapse prevention tool by boosting feel-good chemicals in your brain. These chemicals can become depleted when you misuse drugs or alcohol. Exercise also adds structure and routine to your daily schedule, which is especially important in the early days of recovery.
Biofeedback Beds
Biofeedback beds combine biofeedback therapy, sound frequencies, vibration, and guided imagery to promote relaxation and help clients recover from the stress that accompanies addiction and mental health disorders.
The beds are equipped with sensors that track heart rate, breathing patterns, and muscle tension. The beds use sound, vibration, guided imagery, and guided meditation to help clients relax and learn how to self-regulate tension.
Animal-Assisted Therapy
Animal-assisted therapy, which includes equine-assisted therapy, pairs clients with animals to help them work toward specific therapeutic goals. By grooming and caring for animals, clients can develop social and emotional skills as well as process the difficult emotions that can be hard to verbalize in traditional forms of therapy.
Research shows that animal-assisted therapy can reduce substance cravings and facilitate emotional healing. It can also decrease symptoms of depression and anxiety while promoting empathy and gratitude.
Adventure Therapy™
Adventure Therapy™ uses challenging outdoor activities, such as a ropes course, hiking, or team-based initiatives, to promote self-discovery and behavioral change. Guided by our licensed adventure therapists, clients confront physical and emotional obstacles in a safe, supervised setting that involves perceived risk—an essential component of growth.
To confront and overcome risk, you need to rely on trust in yourself, cooperation with others, and stepping out of your comfort zone. When you engage in adventure therapy at Elevare’s Colorado locations, you’ll be supported by a mental health professional, who will lead you through activities that promote communication, challenge your mind, and get you out of your everyday routine.
Why Is Holistic Addiction Treatment Effective?
Addiction impacts your physical, mental, and spiritual health. Holistic programs are effective because they come from a whole-person perspective that addresses all the ways addiction has impacted you. With a blend of traditional, complementary, and alternative therapies, you’re better able to find what combination of approaches best support your recovery.
Ready to Get Help?
Elevare Behavioral Health takes a personalized approach to substance use disorder treatment. We consider co-occurring mental health disorders, life experiences, and individual preferences when creating your treatment plan. Our highly skilled and credentialed clinicians draw on a combination of traditional, experiential, and alternative therapies to find what works best for you. Contact us to learn how we can help you or a loved one.
- Meditation programs for psychological stress and well-being: a systematic review and meta-analysis – PubMed
- The effects of yoga on anxiety and stress – PubMed
- About EMDR Therapy
- Mindfulness meditation: A research-proven way to reduce stress – APA
- The exercise effect – APA
- NADA Ear Acupuncture: An Adjunctive Therapy to Improve and Maintain Positive Outcomes in Substance Abuse Treatment – PubMed
- Principles of Drug Addiction Treatment: A Research-Based Guide (Third Edition) – SAMHSA
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