There’s no doubt these types of therapies are helpful and effective, and they’re a big part of what we offer at Lily Recovery. However, we believe that there’s more to healing and recovery than this, which is why we take a holistic approach to our addiction treatment. Holistic treatment methods include things like yoga, music, reiki, massage, aromatherapy, etc. While these things may seem like innocent activities that people do for fun or leisure, they can be extremely beneficial to your treatment and recovery.

We offer and encourage holistic addiction treatment for many reasons:

• It gives you more variety. While traditional therapy is effective and often necessary, it can become monotonous, especially for those in an intensive program. It also helps us create even more personalized plans for each patient.
• It can help with motivation. Regardless of what you’re struggling with, treatment can be tough and exhausting. Sometimes, motivation is the hardest part. Holistic activities can help keep you centered, focused, and energized.
• It makes treatment more enjoyable. While we do our best to make your stay comfortable and enjoyable, therapy is still hard work and a hard process. Lighter and more relaxing activities can add some variety and enrichment to your stay, perhaps making the harder things easier to get through.
• It’s great for co-occurring mental illness. Often, those struggling with addiction also struggle with some anxiety, depression, or other mental illness. This can make treatment more complicated and even harder to stick to. Many holistic addiction treatment methods offer fantastic mental health benefits, making the rest of your treatment more effective.
• Stress relief. Struggling with addiction is stressful, and treatment can be stressful, too. Stress can leave you feeling physically sick, it can deprive you of sleep, and even mess with your appetite. All in all, too much stress makes healing and recovering harder. By offering a variety of relaxing activities that are proven to be good for mental and physical health, we hope to reduce and relieve as much of your stress as possible.
• Long-lasting results. Recovery is a journey and many people struggle with relapse, but we want to give you the best chance at long-term results. We believe that offering a complete and holistic approach to treatment sets you up for success.

While there are a multitude of holistic treatment methods out there, we’ve narrowed it down to a set of activities that we think best complement the rest of our program.

Some examples of our integrative addiction treatment  include:

• Yoga. Good for mind, body, and spirit, yoga is known for keeping your spirit clear and calm, and your mind centered and focused. It’s also good for relieving stress and offering a physical workout. Some types of yoga are more physically demanding than others, but even light exercise is good for mental health.
• Mindfulness and meditation. There are many ways to mediate – some sit, some walk, and others prefer to stand still. Either way, mindfulness focuses on the state and well-being of your mind. It helps reduce stress and can help you regulate your emotions and reactive behaviours.
• This simple, unassuming practice is often more helpful than many first realize. Sometimes, it’s easier to write your thoughts than to say them. Regular journaling can help you organize your thoughts, get to the bottom of certain emotions, and express yourself more freely.
• Art therapy. Like journaling, creating art is a new way to express yourself. It’s also a great way to relax and focus on something positive, fun, and creative.
• Physical activities. We offer access to workout equipment, and our facility offers access to a beautiful expanse of nature. Whether it’s an intense workout or a leisurely walk outside, physical activity releases endorphins. This can help ease physical pain, release tension, and trigger an overall positive feeling.

We encourage all clients to participate in some or all of these activities as a way to supplement and enrich the rest of their treatment. Doing things you enjoy and elevating your mental state can make your individual and group therapy sessions more effective. You may also fall in love with a new practice or two, and continue these healthy habits once you leave!