Drug Rehab Blog

Treatment for alcoholism or drug addiction can consist of many things. Addiction treatment is therapy, support groups, education and even exercise programs. Different alcohol and drug rehab facilities provide a variety of programs and therapies in addressing this disease. Experience has shown that a balance is needed to provide a broad spectrum of treatment for those struggling with chemical dependency. This debilitating problem affects the brain, the body and even the soul. Drug rehab programs look to balance treatment with elements that address addicts and alcoholics on all these levels.

Cirque Lodge offers a balance to addiction treatment. Braided into the traditional aspects of 12-step recovery and effective clinical therapies is a unique experiential program. Experiential therapy, as it is called at the Cirque, supplies hands on approach to recovery. Experiential work utilizes the many different indoor and outdoor venues offered by the Cirque for recovery activities. A ropes course, horses and an art room are all used to teach experiential lessons. Residents of the Cirque Lodge drug rehab also have many opportunities to get out into the surround of nature and discover the healing that can come from the mountain.

Experiential work at Cirque Lodge provides many different applications for those struggling with addiction. Individuals in recovery can require a number of skills and tools to cope within the early stages of sober living. Experiential activities can supply just that. They teach lessons of life, and also lessons in spiritual discovery. Experiential activities also offer a balance to the more intensive aspects of clinical addiction treatment. It helps to make the entire alcohol and drug rehab stay a bit more fun and engaging. It is our hope that it helps to rebuild the hope of life, as well as be an influential piece in creating life changes for long term sobriety.

A Unique aspect to the Cirque Lodge alcohol and drug rehab program is the use of experiential therapy. A number of different activities are utilized in teaching aspects of recovery. This hands on implementation can be more meaningful and life impacting. Experiential therapy consists of indoor and outdoor activities and challenges. These activities provide a multifaceted approach at both addressing alcoholism and drug addiction, and also teaching needed skills for the recovery process.

Experiential activities are not uncommon to alcohol and drug rehab facilities nowadays. Many facilities are taking advantage of this very therapeutic and effective approach to teaching recovery. At Cirque Lodge, experiential work is a daily occurrence. Time is scheduled each day within therapy and treatment to participate in an engaging recovery activity and experience. At the Cirque, these activities are quite unique. We use horses, an indoor ropes course, art, and even a private helicopter. With all these different challenges and exercises come needed lessons on life, addiction, behavior and the recovery process.

A very important aspect to experiential therapy is the use of the area surrounding the Cirque Lodge facilities. The mountains and nature play an integral part in a number of activities. Treatment at Cirque Lodge is for the body, mind and spirit. The body gets plenty of exercise through mountain hikes, biking, rock climbing and snow shoeing. The mind can find healing through activities out in the serenity of nature. Experiential therapy is also intended to provide many opportunities for a vital spiritual experience. Such a spiritual change can be life changing for an alcoholic/addict. There is an effective balance to the Cirque Lodge alcohol and drug rehab program. Experiential work is definitely a unique and profoundly powerful aspect to this.

An aspect of the Cirque Lodge program that is rather well known amongst treatment professionals is equine therapy. Over the years, many who work in the addiction profession have come to the Cirque and had hands on experience with the horses. Instead of just showing off the horses, we encourage visiting professionals to get in, get involved and experience the challenge and the connection of equine therapy. For individuals in need of alcohol rehab or drug rehab, the horses can be a powerful piece to the recovery process. The direct and honest feedback of working with horses can teach lessons of establishing trust, setting boundaries and asking for help.

As the weather is cooling and snow is expected this time of year, equine therapy is provided indoors with the Cirque Lodge horse arena. Residents work with horses through a number of exercises. One of our horse trainers works with them through the exercise. For those who have not worked with horses before, this can be a process. It takes time to establish trust with horse and to make a bond or connection. Residents who have been around horses all their life also have invaluable experiences with equine therapy. It can be a means of reconnecting to positive aspects of life that were lost in the struggles of substance abuse.

It is the unique aspects of the alcohol and drug rehab program at the Cirque that establishes it among the leaders in addiction treatment facilities. This program not only takes an intensive approach through clinical care, but also introduces the joys of life that can be found in recovery. Many residents have found these joys through working with the horses. It seems that no matter the struggle that the alcoholic/addict is dealing with, the equine experience provides them with a therapeutic and healing outcome. For many, exactly what they stood in need of to help them.

The different seasons of the year provide a completely different backdrop for the residents of Cirque Lodge. The beautiful colors of fall are beginning to give way to the hushed whites of snow. Nature plays a role in the alcohol and drug rehab program at Cirque Lodge, no matter the time of year. When the snow sets in, winter activities are used to teach aspects of recovery. The unique mountain locations that are a part of Cirque’s experiential program are accessed by snow shoeing. There are also a number of year round walking and hiking paths that are utilized with experiential work in the wintertime.

A unique aspect about the Cirque Lodge Studio is that it provides indoor venues for experiential activities during the winter months. This experiential work is an extremely unique and highly effective piece to the drug rehab and addiction treatment process at Cirque Lodge. The ropes challenge course and equine therapy are both located inside, so no matter the time of year, our residents can benefit from these activities. Experiential therapy is an effective tool when combined with the clinical and recovery efforts of alcohol and drug rehab. Even during the quiet snowfalls of winter, such activities are utilized to provide unique and needed lessons of recovery.

Experiential therapy is a unique aspect to the alcohol and drug rehab program at Cirque Lodge. It provides a fun, engaging and hands on approach to the skills needed to overcome drug addiction or alcoholism. The Cirque Lodge Studio provides indoor venues for such activities when the weather is not so good. A 17,000 sq. ft. soundstage houses the world’s largest indoor ropes and climbing facility dedicated to those struggling with addiction. The ropes course is a teacher of many lessons that can be utilized in the recovery process.

The ropes course is constructed with massive wooden logs, which are bound and assembled into two large tripods. Between these structures are a number of various climbing challenges, swings, ropes and boards. Different individual and group challenges go into high rope climbing activities. Residents of the drug rehab program address their fears with these challenges. The emotions of fear and hopelessness are where the behaviors of addiction can thrive. Such high rope challenges provide an activity where individuals can conquer their fears. In turn this can be utilized in addressing fears in life and with overcoming addictions.

Like all aspects of experiential therapy, these challenges are overseen by very experienced and professional members of staff. Staff members are there to also support and to teach recovery lessons about the ropes course activities. Residents and experiential staff usually will have a sit down discussion about the activity and what was learned. Even with fun and exciting experiential activities there are aspects of drug rehab and lessons of recovery. There are even team based ropes challenges to help with teaching leadership skills and the building of support. We strive to arm each Cirque Lodge resident with all the tools they stand in need of for a successful and long term recovery.

Recently, Cirque Lodge acquired some new colts as a part of its equine program. Residents have a chance to work with these colts and help with the breaking in process. The equine program is used in conjunction with drug rehab to teach skills for recovery. It is a misconception that horses means riding. Usually residents work with horses through some equine exercises with a lead rope. This comes by establishing trust with the horse. Some of the residents have had a great deal of fun with leading the colts around the equine area of the Cirque Lodge Studio Facility.  

The equine program at the Cirque is a very positive and effective recovery tool. The horse provides direct and honest feedback to the individual. The alcoholic/addict, who is usually used to instant gratification, must work with the horse to accomplish the tasks at hand. This process teaches patience, trust and asking for help with the things beyond our control. It seems that residents gain exactly what they stand in need of from this exercise. When trust is established, the horse is submissive and willing to respond to the commands. Some residents can even remove the lead rope and the horse is still willing to follow them where they go.

The equine program is a unique part of Cirque Lodge’s experiential therapy. This unique approach to alcohol and drug rehab offers active hands on practice of recovery. In addition to learning valuable lessons for the recovery process, experiential venues can offer a place for meditation and reconnecting to a higher power. The equine activity can be a venue for such connections to occur and internal changes to be made.

The Cirque Lodge Studio has a massive 17,000 sq. ft. soundstage. This room has been used in the past for different movies and television programs. As a part of a drug rehab facility, this stage houses the world’s largest indoor ropes and climbing facility. This ropes course is used as a part of Cirque Lodge’s experiential programming. Experiential activities are used to teach recovery lessons and to arm the alcoholic/addict with the tools needed to maintain sobriety. The ropes course consists of a number of high and low elements of alcohol and drug rehab learning activities.

The soundstage is so massive that the ropes and climbing course is in a small part of the room. Other parts of the stage provide large areas for challenges and team building exercises. Different boards, ropes, logs, boxes, blocks and beams are used in providing challenging exercises. These activities can get the cognitive processes working and individuals discovering things about themselves. It can be eye opening to an individual who is typically quiet and introverted to take the lead and instruct individuals on different challenges. Team exercises can also show the importance in support for those in recovery. Support is a strong and influential piece to sober outcomes.

There are also a number of high rope elements and challenges as well. Behaviors that fuel drinking and using can be greatly rooted in feelings of inadequacy and fear. High rope challenges can be a means to conquering some of these feelings. The ropes course is built out of two massive tripods. Between these large wooden structures are a series of climbing events, cables and swings. The climbing challenges also involve cognitive activities and recovery lessons. Our experiential staff is made up of certified climbing instructors which have much experience in working with residents through these activities. They play an influential part in making this experience a positive and life impacting one.

One area where alcoholics and addicts can struggle is with communication. At Cirque Lodge, a unique program is used to teach communication skills. However, the individual isn’t communicating with a therapist or with the group; they are working with a horse. Cirque Lodge offers an equine program as a part of alcohol and drug rehab. This unique program provides different exercises in communication and establishing trust. It is a profoundly effective piece to the recovery program offered here in the mountains of Utah.

Horses provide a direct feed back that the alcoholic/addict can learn from. They are naturally creatures of flight, which means they will not submit to the commands of just anyone. The individual must gain the trust of the horse to work with them. This is the process and struggle that many face in working with the horses. The mindset of addiction is one of immediate gratification. In working with the horse, the individual must set this aside; learn to be patient and work to gain the trust of the animal. A member of the Cirque staff walks the resident through this exercise. This also can provide an important recovery lesson, asking for help with things beyond our control.

When the connection is made with the horse, it can be a powerful thing. Once the horse trusts that individual, they can be led through a number of exercises. This trust is a strong bond. The horse at that point is willing to follow the individual around, without commands or even a lead rope. The lessons of the equine program are vast. It always seems that Cirque Lodge residents gain exactly what they stand in need of from working with the horses. Many different vulnerabilities and struggles are addressed in their own unique way by working with these animals.

One of the unique aspects to the alcohol and drug rehab program at Cirque Lodge is the balance between the clinical treatment and the experiential program. This balance provides proper rehabilitation and recovery for body, mind and spirit and the experiential aspect plays a large part in this. Time is scheduled each day for an experiential activity. A number of different indoor and outdoor activities and challenges are utilized for alcohol and drug recovery.

Experiential programming provides a number of things for the alcoholic/addict. It brings a lot of physical exercise, a mental challenge, and meaningful lessons on spiritual enlightenment. Some aspects are intended to get those mental processes working in a manner that is different than the process of seeking and using drugs or alcohol. Still other experiential excursions are used to connect to a higher power and to find spiritual understanding.

The experiences are what can have a deep and meaningful impact on the individual. At Cirque Lodge, we strive to provide the individual with life changing, once in a lifetime experiences on the mountain. That is why we utilize a helicopter, horses, nature activities, and a giant indoor ropes course in providing such an experience. With these once in a lifetime activities come needed lessons on recovery and individual accountability.

Experiential work is used to challenge those in alcohol or drug rehab.  One of the pieces used in this challenge is Cirque Lodge’s indoor rope course. The ropes course is located inside a 17,000 ft. soundstage in Cirque’s studio facility. It is made up to two very large tripods, which are connected by a series of challenges and climbing events. The events and activities can challenge the alcoholic/addict to think in a different way. This, of course is a direction of recovery, which is much different then solving problems and challenges by getting drunk or high.

The ropes course provides a number of different challenges. Some of them take place high above the ground. Some challenges take place right on the floor. The ropes course provides both activities as a group and as an individual. It provides lessons on problem solving and skills for the recovery process. At first, an individual’s fears can prevent them from taking on high ropes challenges. The experiential staff will gradually work with everyone to obtain comfortable goals during their drug rehab stay. This process can result in individuals overcoming their fears and finding strength within them.

Ropes activities can also teach individual lessons about self and problem solving. Some individuals may not know it, but some problem solving skills can make them natural leaders. Group challenges in the ropes course can require individuals to take a lead, to plan and to problem solve. Other individuals in drug rehab can use these activities to build support and strength for their recovery process. When they leave the safety of the addiction treatment facility, these problem solving skills can be applied to life and maintaining successful sobriety.