Complementary Therapies
Like Expressive Therapy, these types of support offer our patients avenues of learning and growth that often feel like a break from the difficult work we ask them to do during individual and group therapy. However, these approaches are not fluff or filler – there’s a reason for everything we do in every program at Pinnacle Treatment. The National Institutes of Health differentiate between alternative therapy and complementary therapy: alternative means in place of, whereas complementary means in addition to. All our complementary approaches enrich and support our primary therapies, and never replace essential clinical time.
Types of Complementary Therapies at Pinnacle Treatment Centers may include:
- Outdoor Therapy
- Yoga
- Mindfulness/Meditation
When our patients participate in complementary workshops, classes, or outings, we always debrief the experience as soon as possible. Counselors and/or therapists discuss what happened during a yoga class, or a mindful walk, and help patients connect those experiences directly back to recovery. These connections are valuable and allow patients to find practical lessons in places they never thought possible. Also, some complementary practices become elements of long-term sobriety and aftercare strategies. Many of our alumni incorporate things like yoga and meditation into their daily lives and tell us they’re important aspects of their continuing recovery.
Trauma Support
Trauma is defined as any event that interferes with an individual’s ability to process the emotions related to that event in a productive, healthy manner. Trauma can occur in adulthood, adolescence, or childhood. The following events and circumstances are considered traumatic and can lead to chronic physical, emotional, and mental health consequences:
- Physical, emotional or sexual abuse
- Physical or emotional neglect
- Domestic violence
- Witnessing violence
- Death of a loved one
- Accidents, illnesses and major surgeries
- Living with someone struggling with a substance use or mental health disorder
- Experiencing bullying and/or racism
- Living in an unsafe neighborhood
- Exposure to war
An individual who experiences any of these events or circumstances – at any time of life – can develop Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). PTSD is a serious, chronic psychological condition that can lead to anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, feelings of detachment, helplessness, or despair. People with PTSD resulting from trauma often turn to alcohol or drugs to alleviate these difficult and uncomfortable emotions. We use a full range of evidence-based therapies to help patients process the PTSD often hidden behind alcohol, substance use, and mental health disorders.
