Once the realization of a substance abuse problem is known, whether by yourself or someone you care about, the next logical step is finding the right treatment. People and their unhealthy misuse of substances go back a long time unfortunately. Depressing as that may seem, the silver lining from this lies in the successful and ever growing forms of various treatments used today in achieving sobriety. Finding the right treatment for substance abuse in Maui allows even more opportunities given that Hawaii provides the perfect location and landscape. More unique treatment modalities derived from Nature Immersion and Adventure Therapy for example, may only be found in Maui. Every substance abuse treatment center will differ in their own right, so it’s best to keep an open mind and ensure due diligence in your search.
Finding The Right Treatment For Substance Abuse In Maui, Hawaii
Successful substance rehab centers, such as Maui Recovery, utilize their exotic location for both evidence based and experimental based forms of successful therapies. It’s important to keep in mind that just as each person in this world is uniquely different, so are their causes for addiction and therefore their specific need of treatment. While someone struggling with substance abuse may need a more traditional environment set in a hospital, another may need an exotic environment to escape their suffering. A group setting of community support may be ideal for one, while one-on-one support from a facility may work better for another. These factors that come with treatment are important to consider when finding the right treatment for substance abuse in Maui. Let’s explore the different forms of treatment you, or a loved one, should consider in your search for the right substance abuse treatment.
Evidence Based Forms Of Treatment For Substance Abuse
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing:
Also known as EMDR, this form of treatment uses a patient’s own rapid, rhythmic eye movements as a tool for insight and recovery. These eye movements dampen the power of emotionally charged memories of past traumatic events. In other words, EMDR is a structured therapy that encourages the patient to briefly focus on the trauma memory while simultaneously experiencing bilateral stimulation. These experienced eye movements are then associated with a reduction in the vividness and emotion associated with the traumatic memories.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy:
Also known as CBT, this active therapeutic modality is present-oriented, problem-focused, and goal-directed. As an evidence-based treatment modality, CBT is a proven effective treatment for substance use disorders, behavioral addictions (gambling, food, internet, sex), eating disorders, and specific mental health diagnoses. Finding the right treatment for substance abuse in Maui should include researching success rates of therapies such as this.
Motivational Interviewing:
This form of therapy is a collaborative, therapeutic conversation between licensed clinicians and clients that addresses the common problem of conflict for change with substance abuse. As defined by William Miller, the creator of motivational interviewing, its purpose is to strengthen the client’s own motivation for and commitment to change in a manner that is consistent with said client’s values. Therefore, rather than imposing or forcing changes, the practitioner will “meet the client where the client is” and help him/her move toward his/her goals by drawing out and building his/her readiness to change.
Dialectical Behavioral Therapy:
Also known as DBT, this evidence based form of treatment teaches clients how to regulate their emotions to reduce self-destructive behaviors. DBT is primarily a skill-building approach, that focuses on the development of four key skill sets:
- Distress Tolerance – being able to successfully and effectively work with short term or long term pain.
- Emotion Regulation – aims to identify behaviors and implement coping mechanisms to help modify them.
- Mindfulness – putting aside judgment and attention to understand how others may feel during a situation.
- Interpersonal Effectiveness – ability to balance the wants and needs of a relationship while respecting boundaries and priorities.
Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction: Also known as MBSR and developed by Dr. Jon Cabot-Zinn, this form of substance abuse treatment is a sequential method that teaches the individual who is struggling with racing and impulsive thoughts how to be in the “here and now”. By focusing on the breath or on an object in the room, the client slowly becomes able to collapse their awareness into the present moment.
Experimental Forms Of Treatment For Substance Abuse
Adventure Therapy:
Although considered a new and experimental form of substance abuse treatment, this successful modality allows clients the chance to experience a potentially life-saving “shift”. Activities such as hiking, outrigger canoeing, and snorkeling are forms of adventure therapy that can help someone go internally and connect with nature and therefore self. At Maui Recovery for example, clients even assist on a community farm in Kahakoloa, which is a sacred native Hawaiian Area. Clients struggling with substance abuse do agricultural work on the farm during the day, and share a meal from what they harvested at night. Live music is even performed by a support member of the facility, and the experience is shared collectively by all.
Nature Immersion:
Immersion in Nature uses a different approach to therapy by removing the clinical setting and focusing on experiencing change in a more natural setting. Nature Immersion Therapy can be even more powerful and transformative when the individual struggling with substance abuse begins to understand the deeper significance of certain experiences. In Jungian psychology, eminent psychiatrist Carl Jung pointed out that there are certain universal myths and archetypes that help us to not only better understand our lives, but also the universe around us. These myths and archetypes, often found in nature, can imbue our lives and our experiences with unimaginable power and meaning. So often, the individual finding the right treatment for substance abuse in Maui feels lost and devoid of a healthy sense of self or of a sense of purpose in their lives. But when they can finally begin to re-frame their experiences using the intrinsic power of archetypes such as the “hero’s journey”, they can then begin to understand and reframe their substance abuse. Thus, instead of the archetype of the villain or the victim that is so often unconsciously adopted by the addict, the person suffering from substance abuse can now begin to see the adversity of their addiction as an opportunity to be the archetype of “the hero”. Other examples of Nature Immersion Therapy include:
- Surf Therapy – The physical challenges of surfing parallel the emotional and mental processes that each client has long avoided with their substance abuse. For those who are removing themselves from addiction for example, surfing is a metaphor for balance. Therefore, allowing clients to think outside the box as they learn how to balance their internal processes.
- Equine Therapy – Equine Therapy also helps a suffering individual learn about the importance of boundary setting when in recovery for substance abuse disorders. Horses are not shy when it comes to letting someone know when their personal boundaries have been crossed. If you approach a horse with aggression, they will communicate with you instantly that your behavior is not acceptable. Also, if you are too emotionally detached, communication with the horse will become a struggle. Equine therapy is a great option for someone that is an animal lover and struggling with substance abuse.
Finding the right treatment for substance abuse in Maui can be accomplished with some time, effort, and an open mind. Understanding a struggling individual’s needs, whether your own or someone you love, can help substantially in the process of choosing which treatment is best.
