Experiential therapy
Active addiction and mental illness can really take the fun out of life. An important part of the healing process is remembering how to laugh, play and live a balanced life.
In addition to physical needs, humans also have emotional and spiritual needs that are equally important. Just as people become ill without food and water, they become ill without time to think, create, pray, laugh and express themselves freely. Resuming self-expression is essential to mental health, so at Sovereign Health, our experiential therapy programs facilitate the process.
What is experiential therapy?
Experiential therapy is a form of psychotherapy. According to the American Society of Experiential Therapists, it “serves to elicit material from the unconscious that allows one to fill in perceptual, cognitive and emotional gaps. Material that has been out-of-vision can come to the surface where it can be worked through and seen in a new light. Its unique ability to give voice to hidden wounds has made the experiential model a therapy of choice for treatment centers and hospitals across the United States.” At Sovereign Health, we have designed our experiential therapy programs to facilitate self-expression, cognitive development and healthy lifestyle habits.
Experiential therapy techniques have proven useful for improving relationships, depression, anxiety, recovery from addiction and trauma. In the short term, these therapies can improve interpersonal communication and facilitate creativity. In the long term, previous hobbies are rekindled and new interests develop, both of which serve to foster a balanced way of living.
Experiential therapy activities at Sovereign Health vary somewhat by location and patient preferences, but generally include equine therapy, recreational therapy, expressive arts, yoga and other activities. The music therapy portion of expressive arts is very popular, and we have begun to incorporate Rock to Recovery in some of our locations.
Addiction is a disease that manipulates a person’s sense of reward, motivation, memory and a number of related neurological functions.
