Treatment Methods

Trauma Therapy

Many people are afraid to relive painful experiences, but trauma therapy requires a surface view of these events and a recognition that you are not defined by your past, nor does your life moving forward need to be dictated by it.

In order to live free of fear and shame, we learn to create that safe space in our lives where we can work through these past experiences without the threat or worry of reliving them. We cannot control what has already happened to us. What we try to teach is that we have to disassociate from the hold we have allowed this trauma to take on our lives.

Art Therapy

Art moves beyond words to communicate through creative expression. The Villa Outpatient Services uses art as an alternative treatment for addiction. Many of our clients come to us to work through their addiction when they cannot find immediate ways to express their feelings and emotions through words. Art therapy opens up a new world for those suffering from the isolation and constant sense of hopelessness that can come with substance dependency.

Group Therapy

The natural propensity of human beings to congregate makes group therapy a powerful therapeutic tool for treating substance abuse, one that is as helpful as individual therapy, and sometimes more successful. One reason for this efficacy is that groups intrinsically have many rewarding benefits—such as reducing isolation and enabling members to witness the recovery of others—and these qualities draw clients into a culture of recovery. Another reason groups work so well is that they are suitable especially for treating problems that commonly accompany substance abuse, such as depression, isolation, and shame.

Yoga

Your body can be negatively impacted by stress and mental anguish. Unhealthy thought processes and anxiety generally manifest physically in the form of muscle tightness, poor digestion, insomnia, loss of appetite, increased appetite, premature aging, and a weakened immune system that leaves us susceptible to illness. Yoga is an excellent practice to relieve stress and gently heal the body.

Family Therapy

While individual therapy focuses on the thoughts, behaviors and emotions of one person, family therapy focuses on the relationships, and aims to understand and validate the experiences of all family members. The goal of family therapy is to bring clarity to all relationships, and to foster repair and closeness if family members choose. Family therapists believe that problems exist between people, not within people. In the addiction context, a family therapist will explore with the family how substance use is embedded in a cycle of interaction within the family. Family therapists help identify new skills and then coach family members in the practice of these new skills.

Mindfulness and Wellness

Mindfulness is a gathering of the mind from scattered thoughts, to focus on the present moment. We teach mindfulness via guided meditation.

This form of therapy in addiction treatment focuses on the mind and brings awareness to ourselves. As we gather our thoughts, learning to calm our anxious mind and refocus on what’s happening inside our bodies, we can then venture to the issues that radiate outward; we learn to understand who we are, how we feel and what we need.