Experiential Drug Rehab Program

Cirque Lodge is surrounded by the beautiful Wasatch Mountains in Sundance Utah. These mountains play a unique role in Cirque's addiction treatment and therapy. We utilize an experiential drug rehab program here in the serenity of the mountains. This gives those in alcohol or drug treatment hands on experience in the joys of recovery and developing the skills need to abstain from harmful substances. These activities are provides with the privacy of Cirque's world-class facilities, and within the serenity of nature. This is balanced with the more traditional elements of alcohol and drug rehab, like clinical therapies and the 12-step program.

The experiential drug rehab program takes what is developed with clinical therapies and allows the recovering alcoholic/addict a venue for applying them. A number of indoor and outdoor venues are utilized in providing this. At Cirque, we strive to provide a very unique and life changing experience. That is why we use things like a ropes course and horses, and even a private helicopter to provide such experiences. It is our hope that through clinical care and these unique activities residents will have the skill set for long term sobriety. Clinical care and the experiential portion focus on a balance of the body, mind and spirit. This page looks at how experiential work helps with these things.

Experiential Drug Rehab Program for the Body

It should go without saying that the our mountain drug rehab program is an active one. There is an extent of physical exertion that is required and that is why we encourage residents to be physically able to take part in these activities. Hikes, mountain biking, snow shoeing and the ropes course all provide plenty of exercise for residents. As a part of experiential work, residents can also take part in a wellness program that helps with improving physical fitness. Years of addiction and substance abuse can leave the body in pretty bad shape. Experiential work can help to rebuild one's physical well being.

Another area that is affected by extensive alcoholism or addiction is some motor skills. Physical fitness can help to restore some of this, but our experiential drug rehab program also utilizes art to help with improving these functions. Residents of Cirque Lodge have opportunities in working with a master level artist on occasions. Working with pottery can help individuals in making connections and improving these simple motor skills. We have seen residents who when they first arrive have a difficult time even forming the clay. By time they leave, the story has changed as they have constructed an ornate pot or pitcher.

Activities and Challenges for the Mind

A lot of alcohol and drug rehab goes into addressing the alcoholic/addict cognitions and behaviors. Some portions of the experiential program also are utilized in addressing and even challenging these thought processes and behaviors. The ropes course is one such venue. It offers a chance for individuals to overcome fears and to develop trust in others. Low ropes activities directly challenge the cognitions through team building exercises. It is amazing the lessons that are learned with a few boards, ropes and logs. However, these challenging activities can help individuals in using their cognitive functions in a way that are useful for recovery.

One of the more unique challenges of the experiential drug rehab program is working with horses. This is a challenge all to itself. The mindset of addiction is usually one of immediate gratification. Working with horses teaches a tremendous patience. One must gain the trust of the horse before the horse is willing to participate in activities. This process is accompanied with lessons. One of the most challenging is for the alcoholic/addict to just ask for help with the things beyond their control. When a connection is made, the horse has developed a bond to the resident. It is an open and honest bond of trust; a lesson that can have a profound impact.

Recovery for the Spirit

Cirque Lodge is a 12-step addiction treatment facility. We strive to focus on spiritual recovery for those struggling with this difficult disease. Vital spiritual experiences can become an influential factor. They create an internal shift inside the individual. The controlling forces of seeking and abusing drugs or alcohol are replaced with the new views of recovery. There is no set way to provide vital spiritual experiences in alcohol or drug rehab. Each individual can have a very different experience. Our focus is to provide enough opportunities for each resident to experience such a thing during their stay.

Nature and the mountain play a very large part in this. There is peace and healing to be found in this majestic place. Clients are given opportunities each week to get out into the surround of nature through the experiential drug rehab program. These mountain based activities provide a venue for teaching concepts from the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous. Those of our residential drug rehab program are also given some time to meditate and connect with a higher power. In this setting, vital spiritual experiences can be found for a long and meaningful recovery.