Holistic Treatment

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Herbal medicine was the first form of holistic healthcare. Now, holistic treatment includes a variety of care including, psychotherapy, spiritual counseling, alternative therapies, and natural medicines. The goal of holistic substance abuse treatment at Freedom Health in Framingham,MA is to treat a person by focusing on the mind, body, and spirit. The main goal of holistic treatment at our rehab facility is to find the root of a person’s addiction, rather than isolating and treating symptoms. That way, medical professionals can find the other components/risk factors that could be contributing to exacerbating their conditions. We’ve found that utilizing evidence-based treatments, has resulted in successful recovery outcomes.

What is Holistic Treatment?

Holistic treatment is an approach to healthcare that accounts for an individual as a whole. This includes treating their physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being instead of treating specific symptoms. Holistic care is rooted in the belief that the aspects of a person’s life are interconnected and by treating all the root causes of a health problem, you can achieve overall health.

For substance use treatment, this means promoting a healthy lifestyle by giving individuals tools to heal themselves with the support of therapy, alternative therapy, such as acupuncture, and medication.

What Does Holistic Mean?

The name for this type of treatment comes from the definition of holistic– treating something as a whole rather than focusing on individual parts. It was first used as a philosophical term to describe the interconnectedness of nature. The word holistic comes from the greek word holos, which means entire.

Treating the Mind, Body, and Spirit

Substance abuse doesn’t just affect your physical body, it also can hurt your mind and spirituality. Holistic treatment is for the mind, body, and spirit because they’re all connected and it’s most effective to treat them all together rather than individually.

It may be easy to imagine how the mind and body are connected. Sometimes your emotional health noticeably affects your body. For example, when you feel depressed your body may get very tired. Your spirit can be thought of as an essence of who you are.

This includes your belief system. Holistic medicine treats your spirit by encouraging you to connect with yourself through meditation, journaling, or some quiet hobby. You can learn more about the types of holistic treatment to understand how it treats the mind, body, and spirit.

Types of Holistic Substance Abuse Treatment

Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR): MBSR is a holistic approach that combines meditation, body awareness, and gentle movement to promote self-awareness and reduce stress. It has been effective in managing anxiety, depression, and substance abuse by fostering present-moment awareness and acceptance.
Yoga Therapy: Yoga therapy incorporates physical postures, breathing exercises, and meditation to enhance overall well-being. It has been found to reduce symptoms of depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), while also improving self-regulation and promoting relaxation.
Art Therapy: Art therapy uses creative processes, such as painting, drawing, and sculpting, as a means of self-expression and exploration. It can help individuals process emotions, reduce stress, and enhance self-esteem. Art therapy has been effective in addressing trauma, addiction, and mood disorders.
Equine-Assisted Therapy: Equine-assisted therapy involves interacting with horses under the guidance of a therapist. The human-horse connection can help individuals develop emotional awareness, improve self-confidence, and learn healthy relationship skills. It has shown promise in treating trauma, addiction, and behavioral issues.
Music Therapy: Music therapy utilizes music and sound to promote emotional expression, reduce anxiety, and improve overall well-being. It can involve listening to music, playing instruments, or creating music. Music therapy has been beneficial for individuals with depression, substance abuse, and trauma-related disorders.
Mind-Body Medicine: Mind-body medicine emphasizes the connection between mental and physical health. Approaches like meditation, deep breathing exercises, and progressive muscle relaxation can help individuals manage stress, alleviate symptoms of anxiety and depression, and improve overall mental well-being.
Acupuncture: Acupuncture involves the insertion of thin needles into specific points on the body to promote balance and stimulate the body’s natural healing response. It has been used as a complementary therapy for substance abuse, anxiety, and depression, helping to reduce cravings, alleviate withdrawal symptoms, and improve overall mental health.

These holistic approaches, when integrated with traditional clinical treatments, can provide a comprehensive and balanced approach to mental health and substance abuse treatment, addressing the physical, emotional, and spiritual aspects of an individual’s well-being.

How Can Holistic Treatment Help with Addiction?

Holistic treatment can help with addiction by providing healing to a person as a whole and helping them develop self-awareness as well as skills to cope with cravings and stress that addiction can cause. Here’s how holistic approaches help with addiction treatment:

Reduces Stress

Addiction causes stress but can also be one of the reasons a person starts using drugs and alcohol. Many holistic therapies seek to relieve stress and teach techniques for relieving stress on your own.

Other than meditation, acupuncture, and cognitive therapies that holistic treatments use to relieve stress, holistic care also introduces individuals to new hobbies that they can turn to for stress relief rather than using substances.

Helps Develop Coping Skills

Like other addiction treatments, holistic approaches teach those in recovery how to cope with the symptoms of addiction. With meditation, life skills classes, and activities, people can learn to acknowledge cravings and urges without succumbing to them. Holistic therapy also helps heal the mind from negative thoughts or emotions.

Provides a Spiritual Connection

Having a spiritual connection is not the same as religion. Being spiritually connected means being self-aware and connected to yourself as well as feeling a sense of connection with the environment around you. People with a strong spiritual connection often feel more at peace and for someone who is in recovery, this may mean they’re able to achieve long-lasting sobriety. Holistic therapy provides some of the most effective methods for connecting with your spirit.

Aids in Relapse Prevention

Relapse prevention is a focus of addiction recovery. With the stress reduction and coping skills that holistic treatment teaches, individuals are less likely to relapse. Another way holistic therapies help reduce the risk of relapse is by helping people find a sense of purpose. When people find and feel they have a reason to stay sober, they may be more likely to stick with their sobriety goals. This sense of purpose can be anything including volunteer work, hobbies, family, friends, a pet, or a job.

Helps Achieve Overall Health

Holistic treatments also help with addiction recovery because it helps to achieve overall health. Therapies such as nutrition and yoga have obvious impacts on health but others have subtle but positive effects on health. For example, meditation can improve sleep, lower blood pressure, and relieve chronic pain.

How Can Holistic Treatment Help with Addiction?

Addiction can negatively impact physical health as well as emotional and mental health. Holistic treatment is important for substance abuse recovery because it treats a whole person and can help resolve all symptoms of addiction. Holistic treatment also provides tools that prevent relapse.

Holistic treatment also provides an alternative to traditional medicine, which may be preferable to some who seek addiction treatment. Holistic therapies also pair well with traditional approaches to create a well-rounded treatment plan.

Components of Holistic Substance Abuse Treatment

Holistic substance abuse treatment incorporates various components that address the physical, emotional, social, and spiritual aspects of an individual’s well-being. Here are some key components commonly found in holistic substance abuse treatment:

Comprehensive Assessment: A thorough evaluation is conducted to understand the individual’s substance abuse history, physical health, mental health, social support, and any underlying issues contributing to addiction.
Individualized Treatment Plan: Treatment plans are tailored to the unique needs and goals of each individual, taking into account their specific substance abuse patterns, co-occurring disorders, and personal circumstances.
Detoxification and Medical Management: For individuals requiring detoxification, holistic treatment includes medical supervision and support to safely manage withdrawal symptoms and ensure physical stability.
Psychotherapy: Individual and group therapy sessions are conducted to address underlying emotional issues, develop coping skills, and promote insight and self-awareness. Evidence-based therapies, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) or dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), may be integrated.
Holistic Therapies: Various holistic modalities, such as mindfulness meditation, yoga, art therapy, equine therapy, and music therapy, are incorporated to promote relaxation, self-expression, emotional healing, and personal growth.
Nutrition and Exercise: Emphasis is placed on healthy eating habits and physical activity, as proper nutrition and exercise can support overall well-being, aid in recovery, and improve mood and energy levels.
Social Support and Community Integration: Peer support groups, 12-step programs (such as Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous), and family therapy are included to foster a sense of belonging, provide encouragement, and enhance social connections.
Dual Diagnosis Treatment: Co-occurring mental health disorders, such as anxiety or depression, are addressed simultaneously with substance abuse to ensure comprehensive and integrated care.
Aftercare and Relapse Prevention: Holistic treatment includes planning for aftercare support, which may involve ongoing therapy, participation in support groups, sober living arrangements, and strategies to prevent relapse.
Mind-Body Wellness: Emphasizing the importance of mind-body connection, holistic treatment encourages individuals to practice self-care, stress management techniques, and engage in activities that promote overall wellness and balance.

By combining these components, holistic substance abuse treatment aims to address the underlying causes of addiction, promote healing and self-discovery, and support individuals in their journey towards long-lasting recovery.

Who is a Candidate for Holistic Substance Abuse Treatment?

Anyone who struggles with a mental health or substance use disorder is a candidate for holistic treatment. Holistic approaches can treat a wide range of conditions and be useful in treating addiction to any substance. For some cases of substance abuse medical detox may still be necessary but holistic therapy can benefit an individual in rehab.

Will My Insurance Cover Holistic Treatment?

We can check compatibility with your health insurance provider.

If your health insurance plan doesn’t cover the cost of alternative therapies and treatments, you may be able to set up a payment plan to cover services.

Treat Your Mind, Body, and Spirit at Freedom Health

Recovery from substance abuse has many stages. The first step is deciding to get help and quit any use of drugs or alcohol. This is a great plan and Freedom Health in Framingham, MA can help you take action. We offer a variety of programs and treatments to help you overcome addiction and begin your recovery. This includes holistic treatments which you can combine with other treatments from any program. Our team at Freedom Health helps you create a personalized treatment plan so you can recover however is best for you and at your own pace! Holistic treatment includes many therapeutic activities that will help prepare you for the outside world after treatment. To learn which type of treatment is right for you and our team can help you start your journey to recovery, call us today! We’re happy to answer any questions you may have about our treatment facility and discuss the steps to start living a sober life.

Break Free From Addiction

At our substance abuse treatment center in Massachusetts, we do our best to meet each individual where they’re at. Each person comes with a different mold – a different struggle. The best way we can help them is to offer them care that is unique to their own situation; there is no one-size-fits-all method to substance abuse treatment. This is why individualized care is so important to us. If you or a loved one are interested in finding out more, you can contact us here.