Art Therapy, Music Therapy, Equine Therapy, Yoga, Meditation Acupuncture
Bridges to Recovery utilizes addition therapies such as art therapy, music therapy, equine therapy, yoga, meditation and acupuncture when addressing issue such as depression treatment. Often our clients respond well to non-traditional formats of therapy. Bridges to Recovery also works with our clients and their family members. We ask our clients to invite their family or spouse in for sessions when appropriate in their treatment process.
Bridges to Recovery works diligently with referring doctors and has a doctor who does rounds 5 days a week. Many times our Medical Doctor or psychiatrist will carefully review with the client and their doctor both pre and post admission as to the best ways to manage medication.
While in treatment our clients will experience group outings. Upon discharge from treatment we carefully design a continuing care program and offer continuing case management if needed.
Bridges to Recovery understands that each client needs are different. Our clinical team will prepare an individualized treatment program to utilize our modalities. There are occasions where a client will request an addition of specific services from our clinical or medical staff, or our staff will suggest additional services based on their clinical or medical assessments, at this time additional costs will be discussed to determine the best course of treatment.
Art Therapy
Art Therapy refers to the therapeutic use of art making, within a professional relationship, by people who experience physical or emotional illness, trauma, or challenges to living, and by people who seek personal development.
Through creating art, and reflecting on the art products and processes, individuals may potentially increase their awareness of self and others, resolve emotional issues in a safe way, and enhance their creativity and cognitive abilities. They can find new ways to cope with their symptoms, stress, and traumatic experiences, as well as to enjoy the life affirming pleasures of making art.
Art therapists are professionals trained in both art and psychotherapy. They are knowledgeable about human development, psychological theories, clinical practice, spiritual, multicultural, and artistic traditions, and the healing potential of art. They use art in primary treatment, and in assessment and research. They also provide consultations to allied professionals. Art therapists work with people of all ages: individuals, couples, families, groups, and communities.
Music Therapy
Music Therapy sessions utilize the unique components of rhythm, melody and harmony to address and explore emotional and behavioral states. Through rhythm, group members connect with others during improvisational music making.
Melody provides a conduit for emotional expression that goes beyond verbal discussion. Harmony allows for exploration of deeper life issues through listening exercises and imagery.Music therapy utilizes a variety of musical techniques to promote self-knowledge, understanding and psychological growth.
Nutritional Counseling
Bridges to Recovery's philosophy of Integrated Nutrition Therapy supports the necessity of learning how to compassionately take care of one's needs rather than aligning with the food obsession and punishment that is predominant in the collective culture of dieting and eating disorders. Each individual is challenged to be curious about his or her own relationship to nurturing and to consciously explore what is learned and felt within the primary experience of having that basic need cared for.
As one discovers how emotional tendencies were defined while dependent on others for survival and sustenance it becomes possible to detect where one unconsciously recycles aspects of that relationship with the self, creating the basis for struggle, compulsive eating, food restriction, dismissal, and other traits that continue to ensure the inability to give oneself what is needed to achieve balance and vitality.
By restructuring the foundation of how one cares for basic needs, one will be inspired to consciously choose the loving support desired throughout the healing and recovery process. With a supportive foundation, it becomes possible to then reunite with the spiritual meaning and celebration of food, to feel the response to the food-mood connection, to prevent or reverse physical illness, and to experience the freedom and vitality of a life empowered and well cared for.
Equine Assisted Therapy
Equine assisted therapy can benefit individuals with emotional difficulties. Working with skilled professionals, people learn to recognize dysfunctional patterns of behavior in relationships and change counter productive non-verbal patterns.
Equine Assisted Therapy Article
Rock Climbing
Rockreation is an indoor rock climbing facility with 10,000 square feet of rock climbing surface. Bridges to Recovery utilizes Rockreation to help clients build confidence in themselves, trust in others, and to overcome fears. When a client rock climbs on a rope (with a harness for safety), someone is at the other end helping to keep them safe, arresting their falls, and lowering them to the ground. It takes a great deal of trust to have one's safety in another's hands.
Rock climbing is both a physical and mental challenge. For example, when attempting to climb a 30 foot wall, it builds confidence by allowing one to apply the tools that they have, both body and mind, to overcome the challenge set before them. When a client experiences a specific fear of heights (acrophobia), it allows them to face the fear directly, thus learning more about themselves and providing an opportunity to examine the reasons behind the fear and make strides toward getting beyond the fear. In other words, rock climbing is both an effective physical and a therapeutic activity.
Supervised Aerobic and Weight Training
Learning the benefits of exercise enables our clients to make decisions based on facts, not fads or myths. A healthy physical lifestyle is highly beneficial in recovery from a biological and physiological standpoint. If the body is functioning well due to a healthy lifestyle the client feels better physically and gains heightened self-esteem. When an individual takes an active role in their own recovery and their life, it sparks a positive upward spiral.
Yoga
Yoga aims to create an experience of overall well-being: mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual. It reduces anxiety and depression, calms the nervous system, and improves the quality of sleep. Depending upon each individual’s needs and level, the yoga practice can emphasize an energizing "flow" style yoga or a calming and meditative slow deep stretch. Sessions incorporate physical postures, breath awareness, and visualization. Each class is taught with precise alignment instruction, and through a safe sequence of poses, leads to a blissful guided relaxation and meditation.
Tools for Recovery
People who suffer addictive behavior, depression, anxiety, trauma, or eating disorders frequently avoid self-experience. Yoga offers individuals enjoyable tools to connect with their self--reuniting their body with their mind and emotions. While traditional psychotherapy relies on the past, yoga encourages the individual to focus on fully experiencing the present.
Positive Affirmation
Participants are invited to create an intention for their practice and for their lives. Examples: to feel strength, experience peace, find clarity around a specific issue, discover self-love, acceptance, joy, etc. This intention is continually reinforced throughout the yoga practice.
Transformational Results
Whether brand new to yoga or an experienced practitioner, participants in yoga achieve: greater self-confidence, peace, greater care and respect for the body, strength, hope, and overall well-being and self-awareness.
Meditation
Derived from the yogic tradition, Yoga Nidra is a deep relaxation technique and an effective adjunct to traditional forms of psychiatric and psychotherapeutic treatment. It is a systematic method of inducing complete physical, mental and emotional relaxation. Yoga Nidra is an effective therapy for both recent and long standing psychological problems. Two of the benefits of practicing Yoga Nidra are reduced anxiety levels and improved sleep; these effects enable patients to reduce dependency on tranquilizers and anti-anxiety drugs and increase self-reliance. Yoga Nidra lasts for approximately 2040 minutes. Instructions are given verbally by the teacher. The only requirements during the practice are to (I) remain aware (refrain from sleep), (II) listen to the voice of the instructor and (III) move the mind very rapidly according to the instructions.
Preparation
Yoga Nidra is done lying on the back with the legs and feet comfortably apart, the arms are alongside the body with the palms facing upwards. The eyes are closed. Comfortable clothing is worn and a light blanket is used. The body is given a chance to settle.
Resolution
Each student makes a resolution related to something that is very important in his/her life. It is stated in a short positive sentence such as, "I will become healthier" or "I am making myself strong and able to overcome all obstacles". The resolve is repeated several times during the practice. The same resolution is used every time Yoga Nidra is practiced.
Rotation of Awareness
Without moving the body, one is guided to bring his/her awareness to various parts of the body in rapid succession starting with the right hand thumb. The sequence is always the same and creates a corresponding relaxing effect in the cerebral cortex area of the brain.
Breath Awareness
The awareness is then directed to the natural breath. First the breath is observed for some time. Then the breath is counted mentally which deepens the state of relaxation.
Externalization
The practice ends by repeating the resolution and gradually bringing one’s awareness back to a normal waking state.
The routine can also be done as a prelude to sleep for those who have difficulty sleeping. Yoga Nidra is a simple, enjoyable and profoundly transformative technique.
Massage Therapy
Massage therapy is more than just a luxury. It has a wide range of effects and benefits on the body and mind.
Beyond the obvious muscle relaxation lies increased circulation of blood and lymph as well as deeper and easier breathing, healthier, better nourished skin, increased ease and efficiency of movement and a strengthened immune system.
It also reduces mental stress and anxiety, helps with a greater ability to monitor stress signals and respond appropriately, an increased capacity for clearer thinking and gives a greater ease of emotional expression.
Massage therapy can be a powerful tool on one's journey to healing.
Every patient at Bridges to Recovery enjoys a weekly massage session.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture is a healing art with origins that date back over 2000 years. The unique Chinese perspectives of life helped to create a medicine that works with body, mind and spirit and makes it an ideal adjunct therapy for emotional imbalance. Not only does it address the physical symptoms of the body but can work with the emotional state of the person.
Acupuncture is widely used and an accepted form of treatment for addiction and the emotional states that ensue.
12 Step Meetings (off site)
Addiction is a disease that can be treated over time through a number of ways: therapy, 12-step programs, and holistic healing. Most importantly, the community is an integral step in the recovery process. At Bridges to Recovery, anyone wishing to attend 12-step meetings is afforded that opportunity three times per week.
Psycho educational Lectures and Films
Psycho educational Lectures and Films are presented regularly by our clinical and support staff.