Drug Rehab Blog

As a part of alcohol and drug rehab, residents of Cirque Lodge participate in a number of activities. These unique activities teach very effective recovery lessons, and provide a therapeutic experience. One of these unique activities involves working with horses. The alcoholic/addict undergoes a metamorphosis when working with this noble animal. When presented to each other, neither the horse nor the individual have any trust or understanding. By time the exercise is completed, both parties involved have made a connection.

The equine program is quite the process for some. Some residents do not want anything to do with the horse. Horses are creatures of flight and acutely aware. The individual’s negative intentions can be reflected in flighty actions from the horse. Members of our experiential staff are there every step of the way. However, this is an exercise, and the resident must use proper communication in receiving instruction. Through the struggles it may become apparent that the client must ask for help with their problem. This is a similar example to life and addiction; one can ask for help with things that are beyond their control.

Through this exercise a connection is made. The resident in alcohol and drug rehab gains the trust of the horse. The horse is now willing to submit to any command with this trust. For the alcoholic/addict, it is always amazing to see what they gain from the exercise. The horses provide them what they stand in need of. Some can be struggling with their drug rehab stay. Time with the horses can help them in making connections and life changing decisions. The resident who wanted nothing to do with the horse is now making trips each day out to the stalls to see their new friend.

Alcoholism and drug addiction thrive in the emotion of fear. At Cirque Lodge, we have a unique way of addressing fear with those in alcohol and drug rehab. We use a rope course. At the Studio, a 17,000 ft. soundstage houses the world’s largest indoor ropes challenge course and climbing facility, dedicated for those in addiction treatment. This facility is used for many different high and low ropes events. The high ropes elements are ran by our experiential team; all of them are certified and trained climbers. They provide those in drug rehab a safe and memorable ropes experience.

High ropes events can help the alcoholic/addict in getting out of their comfort frame. This comfort is built up in the mindset of drinking and using. A climbing activity can help them in tackling their fears and having a sense of accomplishment. Through these exercises, the individual is answering to challenges placed forth by the experiential team. Fellow residents are also present providing help and support. In fact, some ropes activities require residents to work as a team to accomplish the feat. Achieving these feats can replace the fear and the struggles of addiction with new concepts of recovery.

With every experiential activity, a sit down occurs. Residents and the experiential staff have a discussion on what was learned and how it applies to the recovery process. Individuals can take a number of different things away from working with the high ropes events. Interestingly enough, most times it is exactly what they are in need of, personally, for their own recovery process.

The Cirque Lodge alcohol and drug rehab program consists of a number of unique elements that are coupled in with more traditional forms of recovery work and addiction therapy. Very profound recovery lessons are learned by working with the Cirque Lodge horses. The equine exercise teaches those overcoming alcoholism and drug addiction how to establish trust and to set boundaries. This can be a difficult process as horses are creatures of flight. Lessons in open and honest communication are used in accomplishing the tasks of the equine exercise.

It seems that the residents learn from this exercise exactly what they stand in need of. Each individual can be struggling in different ways and looking for different answers. The horses seem to provide them what they are looking for in their own personal way. Our experiential staff that works with the horses is a part of this equine experience as well. Many times their help provides the insight into life that is needed for long term recovery. It teaches them skills in addressing and dealing with addiction and codependency in their lives.

Alcohol and drug rehab at Cirque Lodge uses many locations to help individuals suffering with addiction. The surrounding mountains and canyons are used in providing recovery activities. The Provo River is a venue for alcohol and drug rehab activities as well. The Provo River is a famous fly fishing destination and fishing is an aspect we use in our experiential program. Not all elements of rehabilitation take place on a therapy couch. The mountains and the river provide a venue for healing and connecting to one’s higher power.

The River is used for a number of different things. Some residents are given the opportunity to learn fly fishing as an experiential activity. The Provo River is also used for rafting activities, walks and hikes, and as a quiet place for meditation and reflection. Different experiential activities give the residents of Cirque Lodge a chance to find a private place along the river banks and do some thinking. This can be place for making connections with nature and one’s higher power. The quiet serenity of the nature can speak volumes to the troubled mind. River activities can be influential in providing the spiritual experiences needed for an internal change.

There is something to be learned from the Cirque Lodge horses. Residents in alcohol and drug rehab can participate in experiential activities that involve working with a horse. This can be a challenging and also spiritual event. At first, the resident and horse are presented to each other. The resident must gain the trust of the horse. This is easier said than done. The addict/alcoholic is used to imposing their will and getting their way. They want immediate gratification. Horses are creatures of flight, and they aren’t willing, initially, to be subject to this type of behavior. This teaches patience.

The process of earning the trust of the horse can be a powerful one. The resident in drug rehab begins to sense or feel desperation, because the horse isn’t willing to trust initially. With the help of instruction from our experiential staff, the resident can begin to make a trusting connection with the horse. The resident must ask proper questions though. This teaches them lessons in asking for help with things that are beyond their control. There is a change within this process when the alcoholic/addict realizes the problem is not with the horse, but with their actions toward the horse.

When the resident begins to work in a partnership with the horse, a strong connection and bond is made. The horse becomes trusting, and willing to submit to commands. The horse no longer even needs the leading rope; it follows willingly. Cirque Lodge residents get exactly what they need from the equine exercise. The alcoholic/addict can have a number of varying things they are dealing with psychologically and emotionally. It seems the horse activity gives them just the therapeutic experience that they are searching for.

Cirque Lodge is known for its experiential program. A number of fun and learning activities are provided those in drug rehab to better prepare them for the recovery process. Our Studio facility has a massive 17,000 sq. ft. indoor soundstage that houses our ropes course. This course consists of two extremely large tripods connected by a number of different climbing activities and obstacles. The ropes course is used in a balance of the many other experiential programming elements that we offer. Our experiential team is experienced and certified as climbing instructors and are available to help residents through all the high ropes events.

Ropes course activities don’t all take place high in the air. A number of team challenges and problem solving exercises are part of our low ropes events. These activities help to build trust and support. They also pose a challenge to the alcoholic/addict to think outside their mindset to accomplish the task. At the end of each experiential ropes course activity, residents in drug rehab have a sit down with the experiential team. They discuss what was learned through the exercise, as well as how it is applied to overcoming addiction and the recovery process. These activities provide fun to those in treatment for addiction. It also helps them to build a number of skills to help them after rehab is completed.

Experiential activities are emphasized in the Cirque Lodge alcohol and drug rehab program. These activities do a number of things for those in recovery. They teach skills and strategies for the recovery process. They provide vital spiritual experiences that create an internal change. Some experiential activities are also used to show the joys of sober living. Cirque Lodge is located by the Provo River here in Utah. The Provo River is a famous destination for fly fishing, and some residents are given the opportunity to get in some fly fishing as an element of experiential therapy.

Fly fishing takes tremendous skill and concentration. It requires those in alcohol or drug rehab to think outside their mindset and work on their cognitive and physical skills. Fly fishing takes patience. This is something that must be developed for the recovery process. A member of our experiential team works with the resident as they fly fish, and makes it a growth and learning experience. It is an activity that the resident can take with them after they leave rehab. Fly fishing can become a productive activity that helps them to continue to work towards successful recovery.

Alcohol and drug rehab at Cirque Lodge is a balance of many addiction treatment elements. Experiential activities are incorporated into the more traditional forms of treatment. This provides an effective and unique approach to addiction recovery. These activities are used in a number of ways. Some of them are instrumental in teaching coping strategies. Others are used to provide vital spiritual experiences. Some are fun, some are challenging and some are therapeutic. Not everyone takes to treatment and therapy initially. It can take some time to admit that one is an alcoholic or addict. Experiential activities are a different measure of therapy that can have a profound impact on overcoming the addiction.

A number of things are learned and developed through participation in these activities. They require the individual to think outside the addiction and codependent mindset. They teach strategies for the recovery process, and show the need to ask for help. They give the recovering alcoholic or addict a number of opportunities to awaken their spiritual nature. Outdoor and mountain activities are used in making connections to one’s higher power. One of the most successful ways to overcome the struggles of addiction is to have a vital spiritual experience. The experiential program at Cirque Lodge seeks to provide those in alcohol and drug rehab a number of opportunities to gain such an experience.

Experiential activities also help in making alcohol and drug rehab a little more fun. Overcoming alcohol or drug addiction can be a difficult struggle. Intensive therapies can deal with underlying problems that are emotionally and psychologically trying. It can be quite relaxing and therapeutic to get away from it all, just for a short while, and experience the healing of the mountain.

The Cirque Lodge experiential program is a profoundly effective aspect to our alcohol and drug rehab experience. These unique and challenging activities help too teach important lessons on recovery and problem solving skills, which require the alcoholic/addict to think outside the mindset of addiction. Part of the experiential program involves working with horses. The horse stables are at the Studio facility, and indoor and outdoor venues allow for equine therapy year round.

In working with the horses, Cirque Lodge residents gain exactly what they need from the experience. Initially, when the resident and horse are presented to each other it poses a challenge. The resident must gain the trust of the horse to participate in the exercises. This is a challenge and a lesson in itself. Horses are creatures of flight, and the resident in alcohol and drug rehab must learn to gain trust. The individual must put aside imposing his/her will and use more direct communications with the horse. Another part of this process is asking for help. Members of our equine team are available to help the resident. This provides a lesson in seeking help with things that are beyond the addict’s/alcoholic’s control.

Through this exercise, the resident makes a connection with another living creature. The horse that was initially unresponsive, and fleeing away from the resident, is now walking side-by-side with the resident and willing to submit to any commands. Overcoming alcohol and drug addiction is a process. Making this connection with something like a horse can provide a vital spiritual experience. Such experiences can be influencing factors to long term sobriety.

Cirque Lodge is based on the 12-steps of recovery developed by Alcoholics Anonymous. In the Big Book it talks about the effectiveness of vital spiritual experiences for those overcoming alcoholism. Such experiences create a huge emotional displacement and changes internal convictions. This change can be a foundation for long term successful sobriety. At Cirque Lodge, we strive to provide vital spiritual experiences by using an experiential program. We want each resident in alcohol and drug rehab to have as many opportunities as needed to create these experiences.

On any given day, Cirque Lodge residents are enjoying and learning from unique experiences. We use the mountain. Residents can go for hikes, mountain bike rides, rock climbing, river rafting, and even snow shoeing in the winter. They can be working with the Cirque Lodge horses, or spending time working in the residents’ organic garden. The Cirque Studio has an indoor ropes climbing facility, where residents have many opportunities to learn and grow through overcoming challenges. Cirque Lodge even has a private helicopter that takes residents on tours of the remote mountain wilderness of this area. All these things are intended to provide the opportunities needed to create an internal shift and spiritual experiences.

When people come to alcohol and drug rehab, their whole lives are a struggle. They can be looking for anything to help them out of the despair of addiction. The experiential activities used at Cirque Lodge can help them overcome their struggles and wake them up spiritually. These opportunities make addiction treatment a little more fun, and create an environment for needed internal change.