Experiential Approach in Drug Rehab
The experiential program at Cirque Lodge gives residents in alcohol and drug rehab a different approach to recovery. Experiential activities give individuals a chance to apply what they have learned with the traditional efforts of rehab. At Cirque Lodge, residents are started on the path of the 12-step process. This includes the traditional elements to the 12-step program that are combined with the more intensive developments of cognitive and behavioral therapies. With the experiential program they are given a number of venues for applying these elements to their lives.
Venues like a ropes course, a horse arena and many spots in nature are utilized for developing skills for the recovery process. The 12-step program is spiritually based, and the mountain provides a venue for this type of work. Members of our experiential team will take residents out onto the mountain and give them opportunities for spiritual connection. Experiential activities also provide cognitive teaching for the mental processes. Working on ropes course challenges or with horses is accompanied with lessons on how they apply to the cognitions of the addicted mindset, and more importantly how to overcome them.
Experiential activities also provide an element of fun and excitement to alcohol and drug rehab. The clinical parts to the addiction treatment program can be quite intensive. Experiential time can be used as a release from the rigorous parts of therapy and recovery work. After the completion of rehab, similar activities to the experiential work can be used as positive recovery tools. Those in recovery can find the joys in their sobriety and ways to have fun without the need for drugs or alcohol.
