Alternative Treatment

We are born out of water. The first nine months of our lives are spent in a warm and comforting waterbed. Water is a natural part of life. Over 75% of the planet is water, as is the human body and the human brain. Connecting to water is therapeutic because it is a natural connection. Water therapy uses this connection to work with the body and the mind to create healing.

The art of massage has a long history as a therapeutic practice and has been used since ancient times to relieve sore muscles, loosen stiff connective tissue, ease away stress or simply to aid relaxation.

For many years therapists and counselors have used various forms of psychodrama, such as role-playing and dramatization, to help treat addiction. A recent development hopes to extend and improve on this approach by using virtual reality (VR) technology.

Music has played an important role in people's lives since ancient times. It can lift spirits and influence mood, it can be used as a form of communication and it can even assist in the healing process. Music therapy has shown to be helpful for individuals with brain injuries, mental health disorders, physical disabilities and substance abuse disorders. The benefits of music therapy have led an increasing number of drug and alcohol rehab centers to include the therapy in their treatment programs.

Talking about a problem helps people vent their emotions and work through the issue. Writing can have many of the same positive effects, and it's a particularly helpful practice for people recovering from addiction. Many rehab centers include writing therapy as a complement to traditional addiction treatment. The writing process helps clients come to terms with the nature of addiction and move forward toward long-term recovery.

Substance abuse and drug addiction have become increasingly widespread over the last couple of decades. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, the aggregate cost associated with substance abuse and addiction in the U.S. exceeds $712 billion, making drug use one of the most prevalent socioeconomic issues of today. With drug addiction being such an issue of concern, people who suffer from addiction (and their loved ones) are looking for the best possible treatment options available. One of the oldest and yet consistently successful treatment modalities for drug addiction is psychodrama. Psychodrama is a form of therapy in which the individual experiences correction by re-experiencing certain events combined with active expression and role rehearsal.

Ayurveda is a traditional system of medicine that originated in India thousands of years ago, and it remains in wide use today all over the world. Considered a form of alternative and complementary medicine in the U.S., many of the principles of Ayurveda have nevertheless come into the mainstream, with physicians trained in modern medicine incorporating some of the practices into their own roster of treatments for various conditions. Ayurveda is particularly suited for helping people with a substance abuse disorder tune in more closely to their physical and spiritual condition. It embodies a holistic approach to healing that addresses mind, body, and spirit, which is increasingly regarded as the best way to treat the physical, psychological, and spiritual aspects of substance addiction.

Water is the source of life, and incorporating aqua therapy into an addiction recovery program can bolster the function of both mind and body to promote healing and restore balance. Aqua therapy is comprised of various types of exercise that are performed in the water, and it's widely used for physical rehabilitation and for emotional healing, particularly in an addiction recovery setting.

Holistic refers to the idea that the whole is greater than merely the sum of its parts. In relation to holistic therapy for substance abuse, this concept has wide ramifications. Research has showed that addiction is a systemic brain disease marked by compulsive drug-seeking behavior. Of course, there are surefire methods of helping a person get clean. However, even these methods don't always take into consideration the whole individual. The holistic approach to treating substance abuse goes beyond traditional therapies such as those for individual, group, or family through behavioral or pharmacological treatment. Instead, this approach promotes recovery by healing the mind, body and soul.

As you know, depression is like a cloud hanging over everything you do. It alters who you are by affecting how you interact with and treat others. It diminishes the joys of your life and makes you see your future as a drudgery. But, thankfully, there is hope when it comes to treating depression. In addition to medication and counseling (both vital tools of recovery), art therapy has a positive impact on depression.

You may have heard of water exercise or therapy for physical conditions and injury. Did you know that this activity helps in addiction recovery as well? This month our Program Spotlight features our Aqua Therapy Program which strives to improve brain and physical movement and functionality, along with lowering stress and sleeping problems. With the ocean view and beautiful climate, Avalon Malibu offers a wide variety of aqua activities for clients in recovery! Many people think of swimming and floating when they hear the term “aquatic therapy”, but there are actually a number of different techniques used by our trained therapists. Our staff will design a customized program specifically for you that in addition to our other holistic and alternative therapies, can include aqua therapy.

Suffering from drug or alcohol addiction can leave even the strongest person feeling hopeless and helpless. In step 1 of the 12 step program you discover the importance of admittance and realization that you cannot overcome addiction on your own. If you are walking in this journey, it is important to know that you are never alone. In addition to the many people who have walked this road before you, there is a higher power that will help guide you in your recovery. Step 2 is designed to restore your hope and faith in God.