One of the many different holistic therapies offered here at First Steps Recovery is known as mindfulness therapy. This type of therapy is a form of talk therapy, which requires clients to identify and evaluate a number of different aspects of themselves and the world around them. Clients involved in mindfulness therapy are taught how to maintain awareness of their thoughts, feelings, emotions, and surroundings, as well as the situations they find themselves in. Improving the awareness of these things helps clients to better identify, understand, and avoid negative thoughts and behaviors.
Mindfulness therapy is particularly beneficial for those in addiction recovery, as it can improve their ability to detect problem behaviors, counter triggering thoughts, and appropriately deals with cravings. This form of therapy should be practiced over time, like any other recovery tool, and can potentially reduce the likelihood of relapses occurring after leaving treatment.
When it comes to mindfulness therapy, there are three different components clients will be taught to utilize:
One of the most common practices in mindfulness is meditation. This practice has a long history, dating back thousands of years. The focus of meditation is integrating the mind and body in order to promote calm and feelings of well-being. Most meditation practices involve concentrating on a sensation, a sound, an image, or a mantra.
Mindfulness in and of itself is a type of meditation. It requires an individual to focus completely on their mind and their body. Meditation can help in a number of ways when it comes to addiction recovery, assisting clients in working through cravings and preventing instances of relapse. These practices become an asset to clients long after they leave a treatment center and provide them with the necessary tools they will carry with them throughout their recovery journey. Mindfulness meditation also has a whole host of health benefits, both mental and physical in nature, and can vastly improve an individual’s life.
Mindfulness is particularly beneficial to those in substance abuse treatment. When a person finds themselves addicted to a substance such as drugs or alcohol, they experience cravings for that substance. These cravings worsen the longer they go without ingesting more of the substance. Without mindfulness, the automatic reaction to these cravings is typically to locate and imbibe in more of the addictive substance.
When mindfulness practices come into play, clients learn to be conscious of their cravings. Once they acknowledge these cravings, they are better able to assess what the right choice is in the situation. They can acknowledge that they crave the addictive substance but that it has a negative impact on their life. Mindfulness allows them to feel the discomfort that comes along with cravings without judgment while still impeding their automatic response to take part in drug or alcohol consumption.
Finding yourself caught up in addiction can be frightening, but help is possible. Dual-diagnosis treatment centers are created to help clients who deal with addiction and co-occurring mental health disorders. Through mindfulness, meditation, and a variety of different behavioral and experiential therapies, clients at First Steps Recovery are taught the tools and skills required to battle and overcome addiction.
From our certified therapists and nurses to our emotional support animal "Cooper", our entire team is dedicated to the health and success of our clients throughout our program and beyond.
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Art therapy programs allow clients to use their creativity and imagination to make create art that expresses what they truly feel in a healthy and productive way.
Equine therapy works with clients that have behavior issues, autism, and developmental disabilities and works with vets suffering from PTSD.
Wilderness therapy is a therapeutic intervention that utilizes nature as a backdrop, and adventure and exploration as a tool for growth and self-discovery.
Music therapy in a drug treatment setting utilizes music and various forms of musical expression in order for clients to self‐reflect as well as to assess where they are at right now and where they want to be in their recovery.
Yoga utilizes physical postures and controlled breathing that help lengthen and strengthen the spine, increase flexibility, and help calm the mind.
Recreation recovery is a new way of living life. Living clean and sober opens people up to whole new ways of having fun and enjoying life.
Physical wellness plays a huge part in the success of recovery. Maintaining a healthy weight, and getting the proper amount of vitamins, minerals, and proteins are all essential to repairing the damage done by drugs and alcohol.
Mindfulness therapy is a type of therapy that focuses on learning to notice thoughts, feelings, and surroundings without automatic responses.
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Melissa B.
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