Do you, or someone you love, suffer because of a past trauma or a current addiction? The two often go hand in hand with depression. The healing involved in such profound life situtations is very difficult and, unfortunately, often temporary. The powerful healing sciences of Ayurveda, yoga and meditation can actually change the mental, physical, and energetic patterns that keep a person in a state of post-traumatic stress, or depression, or addiction. Here's some insight into how a holistic recovery program in Santa Fe that incorporates these mindfulness practices can bring about genuine growth and healing.
Life Transition Therapy
In addition to my private Ayurveda and Chinese medicine practice, I work with an extraordinary team of specialists at a trauma and addiction treatment center called Life Transition Therapy in Santa Fe, New Mexico. We treat substance abuse, post-traumatic stress disorder, and a wide range of psychological conditions. I conduct the client's Ayurvedic nutritional program, herbal detox process, and acupuncture treatments. Our other team members include a psychotherapist/meditation instructor, a yoga teacher/massage therapist, and a psychiatrist. We offer a very unique, holistic, natural approach to changing difficult life situations. All of our treatment sessions are one-on-one, and privacy is guaranteed.
Mindfulness Training
While each client's 10-day program is custom designed to meet their specific needs, a large portion of everyone's treatment is spent learning mindfulness practices. What is mindfulness? This means paying attention - to our physical sensations, mental patterns, emotional respsonses, and our general way of being in the world. Meditation is one way of practicing mindfulness. Sometimes meditation is done sitting, but for some people it is done walking or lying down. Becoming aware of what we're feeling in our bodies as we talk about difficult experiences is another way of increasing mindfulness. The more and more you become mindful, the less and less you operate on auto-pilot, ruled by past patterns rather than intentionally directing your own experience. Staying present with the breath is another mindfulness technique we teach. The act of paying attention to one's breath is simple yet extremely powerful. It is free of any religious tradition or dogma, and is easy to learn. Especially as difficult and traumatic experiences are being processed, staying with the breath helps to stay centered and in the present moment. This is one of the most important skills each client brings home with them.
Ayurveda, Acupuncture, and Massage
Through acupuncture, yoga and massage, our clients experience a renewed repect for and connection to their physical body. Stress and substance abuse create a lot of stagnant energy in the body. According to Ayurveda and Chinese medicine, good health depends on the smooth flow of energy in the body. At Life Transition Therapy we use these ancient manual therapies to increase circulation and free up the areas that are "stuck." A lot of people have never experienced compassionate touch, so the simple act of being contacted physically with loving kindness becomes healing in itself. Practicing yoga regularly during the program helps people to free up their energy themselves, and is an invaluable practice to take home.
Ayurvedic medicine offers several very potent cleansing herbal formulas that are an integral part of the detoxification process our clients go through. I lay out specific dietary guidelines for each client according to their Ayurvedic constitution to assist in the elimination of toxins. As the program progresses, each client moves into a rejuvenation process as well. The body gets cleansed and then rebuilt with nourishing herbs and therapies. You can read more about my Ayurvedic and Chinese medical approach to healing trauma and addiction here.
Taking Action
At Life Transition Therapy, we combine many different mindfulness therapies into an intensive program for people that are in acutely difficult life situations. These practices, however, are useful for everyone. Everyone experiences stress and emotional disturbances. Everyone wants to live life more fully and in good health. Meditation, breath awareness, and yoga are practices that are free, can be done anywhere, anytime, and are of incredible mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual benefit. I encourage you to incorporate more mindfulness into your life to move that auto-pilot switch into a place of intention. For more information about Life Transition Therapy, you can visit www.lifetransitiontherapy.com or call 505.982.4183.