Everyone’s journey in life follows a different path. The road toward recovery and away from addiction does not follow a straight line, does not pursue any one form of treatment. In addition to the other modes of treatment at the Transformations Treatment Center, experiential therapy helps many on their journeys.

Overview of Experiential Therapy

Experiential therapy refers to several different therapeutic interventions designed to involve clients in experiencing some activity, creative process, form of expression, or form of cooperation. These techniques typically supplement other forms of therapy.

Sometimes you gain a better understanding of yourself through observing your emotional and behavioral responses while performing an engaging activity. Experiential therapy helps people access the emotions and behaviors underlying their substance abuse that may be buried in memories or the subconscious. Experiential therapy helps people express feelings they struggle to verbalize due to embarrassment, shame, or fear.

Benefits of Experiential Therapy

Experiential therapy techniques can help you become more open, develop a better understanding of yourself and your addiction, relate to others, and release negative feelings.

Participating in experiential therapy can help you to:

  • Develop an enhanced sense of self-esteem
  • Improve self-control
  • Feel a sense of accomplishment
  • Learn about your own fears and beliefs
  • Access emotions and buried memories

Types of experiential therapy involving work in groups can help you to:

  • Improve interpersonal skills
  • Trust in others
  • Learn you can and should rely on others sometimes

Additionally, experiential therapy counters isolation and engages you in an interesting activity, which can relieve feelings of depression.

Experiential Therapy at Transformations

Transformations Treatment Center uses several therapeutic techniques that use expressive tools and cooperative activities that allow clients to focus on the experience.

Social Interaction and Recreation

Transformations’ activities and recreation programs play an important role in recovery, since learning to enjoy life and function without drugs and alcohol is part of living sober. Activities help clients interact with others, function soberly in a social or recreational environment, and have fun. Exercise and fitness activities, entertainment outings, trips to the beach, cooking classes, yoga, and more are available.

Clients can choose from a wide variety of on-site and off-site recreational activities. These exercise both the mind and the body, improving mental and physical health, aiding in the recovery process.

Adventure

Adventure therapy takes place in Florida’s natural habitat, with a licensed mental health counselor facilitating the group’s hands-on experiential process. The activities allow clients an opportunity to challenge themselves mentally to see how much they can overcome, as well as a chance to enjoy the benefits that come from exercise, movement, and connection to the surrounding tropics where the center is located.

Clients can participate in opportunities such as:

  • Paddle boarding the Intracoastal Waterways
  • Snorkeling the nearby reefs
  • Practicing meditation in the Labyrinth

Adventure activities are led by an ecotourism guide as well as a licensed therapy team.

Nature is a proven stress reducer. Nature combined with the well-documented benefits of exercise help calm the entire person. Being active and being outside helps you get “into the moment” and at least briefly escape the negative thought loops in your brain that heighten anxiety and bog you down mentally and emotionally.

Sound Therapy

The use of music in addiction treatment can help people express their emotions and access their creative energies. Music can be a powerful tool for processing emotions and dealing with cravings. Music therapy has been shown to reduce stress, lessen anxiety, and help verbalize thoughts and feelings.