Complementary Therapies

The interdisciplinary treatment offered at C.A.R.E. is a model for integrating new therapies and alternative modalities into a traditional curriculum. A personalized approach to treatment ensures that patients can freely explore the therapies most effective for their recovery in a nurturing environment guided by trained, experienced staff. C.A.R.E. is at the forefront in the application of alternative therapies to treat addiction, employing a tactical, holistic approach to recovery that treats the physical, mental and spiritual facets of each individual.

As primary care physicians and Doctors of Oriental Medicine, the preference at C.A.R.E. is to treat conditions without the use of Western medicine whenever possible.

C.A.R.E. specializes in treating pain syndromes in order to reduce or eliminate the need for addictive drugs.

Acupuncture  has proven to be helpful in the treatment of drug and alcohol addiction, by assisting in the detoxification process, easing the pain of detox as well as repairing physiological damage due to long term drug and alcohol abuse. Full body acupuncture is routinely used to strengthen and restore the immune system so that it can function as intended and restore mind, body and spirit on its own. Chronic abuse of drugs and alcohol can deplete the body of its natural endorphins, which are the body's feel-good hormone and help the body to manage daily pain and stress. For those adverse to the use of needles, low level light laser therapy is used.

Auricular Acupuncture is acupuncture in the ear, which corresponds to the protocol set by NADA (National Acupuncture Detoxification Association), but is derived from the Chinese medicine theory of detoxification. There are five designated points that correspond to body organs, which are stimulated to attenuate the cravings and withdrawal symptoms experienced by addicts during stages of recovery. These five points are:

1. Sympathetic
2. Shenmen
3. Kidney
4. Liver
5. Lung

Auricular acupuncture is especially effective in reducing cravings, helping insomnia, anxiety, depression, ADD and helps to detoxify the organs of the body that have been damaged by drugs or alcohol. It has proven to increase the body's natural production of endorphins and aid in the alcohol addiction recovery process.

Amino acid therapy employs amino-acids to repair neuroreceptors in the brain, such as those damaged by drug addiction. 

Recovering addicts have experienced reduced withdrawal symptoms with amino acid therapy because the brain receives the chemicals that it is craving through injections which include vitamins and minerals as well as amino acids. 

Steve Sewell, who developed the therapy along with Dan Hepburn, heads a U.S. based group called the National Organization for Recovering Alcoholics.

Art Therapy is a technique to use the creative arts as a non-confrontational avenue for patients to express themselves. The process of creating art is a known stress reducer that elicits honest expression and discoveries that lead to self-understanding, acceptance, and the confidence to make changes as they progress in treatment and life.  

Because the brain is so affected by mood altering chemicals, art therapy can often help the patient and the staff understand the complex changes that are taking place when first in treatment.

Art therapy is also believed to positively influence the brain’s changes as mood-altering chemical are stopped.

EMDR Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing is a psychotherapy treatment that was originally designed to alleviate the distress associated with traumatic memories. EMDR facilitates the accessing and processing of traumatic memories to bring these to an adaptive resolution. After successful treatment with EMDR, affective distress is relieved, negative beliefs are reformulated, and physiological arousal is reduced. During EMDR the client attends to emotionally disturbing material in brief sequential doses while simultaneously focusing on an external stimulus. Therapist directed lateral eye movements are the most commonly used external stimulus but a variety of other stimuli including hand-tapping and audio stimulation are often used.

Essential Oil Therapy Also described as medical aromatherapy. Uses therapeutic grade essential oils extracted from herbs, trees and plants when treating clinically diagnosed medical conditions. Today, most practitioners of aromatherapy use about 40 different scents, either on their own or in various combinations, to relieve stress, invigorate the body and promote well-being.

Herbal Therapy/Aromatherapy Chinese herbal therapies are routinely used and are very effective for a variety of syndromes, which are diagnosed according to methods used in tradition Chinese medicine. Herbs can ease some alcohol or drug withdrawal symptoms (from anxiety to insomnia) and help detoxify the body. Herbs can also reduce the addicted person's craving for alcohol and other drugs. Especially helpful are herbs that influence the nervous system, gently encouraging a relaxed and sedated state.

C.A.R.E. also makes a unique detox tea available to its patients. Developed by Dr. Michael Smith, a renowned psychiatrist, it is as effective as using a mild Valium for relaxation. In fact, when tested in his detox center in the South Bronx, hard-core addicts choose the detox tea over Valium.

In psychodrama, participants explore internal conflicts through acting out their emotions and interpersonal interactions. A psychodrama session typically focuses on a single participant or protagonist. Protagonists examine their relationships by interacting with the other actors and the leader, known as the director. This is done using specific techniques, including doubling, role reversals, mirrors, soliloquy, and sociometry. Psychodrama is mostly used as a group work method in which each person in the group can become a therapeutic agent for each other in the group. Developed by Jacob L. Moreno, psychodrama has strong elements of theater and is often conducted on a stage.

Psychodrama attempts to create an internal restructuring of dysfunctional mindsets with other people, and it challenges the participants to discover new answers to some situations by serving as a method of communication in which the communicator[s] expresses him/her/themselves in action.

Sandtray-Worldplay is a specialized therapeutic intervention that provides a connecting link to one's innermost thoughts and feelings, serving as a bridge between the unconscious (nonverbal) and the conscious (verbal) aspects of one's psyche.

The sandtray process reveals the unique story of each individual and promotes holistic growth and development by facilitating self-awareness and the healing of old wounds through conscious and creative re-experiencing. The practice provides the opportunity for an individual to organize and make sense of their own experiences as well as work out their emotional difficulties.  

During sessions, builders follow their own inner guidance to create their world in large sandtrays using figurines and statues. The facilitator/therapist then helps the builder synthesize their own meaning of what has shown up in their world, potentially experiencing a transformational journey in the process.

Spirituality is often an aspect of oneself that is quickly lost in the progression of addiction. Upon entering treatment, many often describe themselves as having a spiritual void or a life without meaningful purpose. Within our facility at C.A.R.E. clients have access to an environment where they may discuss spiritual questions openly and confidentially, thus discovering or re-discovering their connection with a Higher Power, however they may identify it. Called The Peaceful Place, it’s the office of spiritual counselor and healing facilitator, Catherine Etheridge. Here clients are compassionately assisted in recalling their spiritual essence and encouraged to seek an elevated life perspective. Through guided meditations, energy healing sessions, relaxation techniques and processes, clients learn to find their own inner peace and quiet the mental and physical chaos which so often impede rehabilitation and recovery. With spiritual counseling available as an integral part of one’s overall treatment program, it’s possible to attain a rare gift in the context of the addiction experience that aids in a fulfilling and joyful life.

For more information on our programs or just to speak with someone who does C.A.R.E. please call us immediately. 1-866-494-0866

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