FAQ’s

While excessive use and abuse of alcohol, drugs, and food can be obvious addictions, the abuse of prescription drugs is an epidemic affecting millions. Prescription drugs often have serious side effects, are highly addictive and drain us of our life force energy. Additionally, obsessive use of the internet, video games, gambling, and pornography are examples of a broad range of process addictions. If anything is having an ongoing negative impact or taking up excess time, thoughts, or energy in your life, you most likely have an addiction.

No. A disease is any disturbance or anomaly in the normal functioning of the body. Most diseases are caused by some type of mind/body/soul/spirit imbalance. We believe addiction is also caused by an imbalance. The disease will persist as long as the imbalance exists. Relapse or picking up another self-defeating behavior is common when we do not resolve the underlying imbalance in our lives. Our Integrative Addiction Recovery℠ program addresses the underlying imbalance which allows the disease to heal.

At The Sanctuary, we define “recovery” differently than how it is defined in traditional treatment centers, 12-step programs, or the allopathic medical paradigm. In the traditional paradigm, recovery describes the process of combating a disorder. The word implies an ongoing disease-oriented process. In this paradigm, you are never fully healed nor do you ever get completely better. In the new paradigm, you do fully heal and you do get completely better. We believe that addictions and disorders are symptoms of underlying issues and that it is possible to identify and resolve these issues and to move into a state of being recovered. Being recovered means that you are no longer defined or identified by a disease, diagnosis, or any other disempowering or dysfunctional label.

No, because you are not going to want to. Through living the process of Integrative Addiction Recovery, you no longer have the desire, obsession, or compulsion to engage in hurtful, numbing, or harmful behavior. This is not fear-based, but rather from desire and excitement for the unfolding of your life. You will want to be present and vital for your life as you won’t want to miss anything.

No. At The Sanctuary, we work with the clients to resolve the underlying causes of imbalance that produce symptoms like addictions, depression, physical maladies, or even a generalized sense of fear or despair. “Addictions” are not just related to the abuse of drugs (illegal and prescribed), alcohol, food, sex, or gambling. Addictions are any patterns of behavior or habits that no longer serve you and are often perceived as creating “bad” feelings and are out of your control. We work with people who are stuck, and no matter what the label or diagnosis, we help them get past their blocks.

Other symptoms include codependency, family of origin issues, PTSD, depression, anxiety, numbness, eating disorders, dysfunctional relationships, and anger. Rather than focusing on the symptoms, resulting in a lifetime of fear-based symptom management; Integrative Addiction Recovery℠ focuses on the underlying causes of disease and imbalance.

The Sanctuary is appropriate for adults seeking sustainable change in their lives and who are willing to take decisive action to get there. You must be medically stable, willing, and able to take responsibility for yourself during your stay. You are not supervised or medically monitored. We guide you through a process but it is ultimately you that must step into your destiny.

We want our clients to feel safe and comfortable while staying at The Sanctuary. Each room is a single, private room with a private entrance and exit out onto our beautiful desert landscaped property. A few of the amenities offered in each room are a telephone, Wi-Fi, newly renovated private bathrooms and showers, and individually controlled heat/air conditioning. Our campus has a fitness center, labyrinth, medicine wheel, fire ceremony area, activity center, garden, healing room, dining room, meditation room, spirit/sweat lodge, and other internal and external features designed to facilitate your healing process.

The Sanctuary is intimate and very private. Because of our intentionally small size, we offer unparalleled personal attention and one-on-one time. We truly tailor your visit to meet your individual goals. Staff is always present and available so you are attended to and supported at every step of your process.

Yes. We believe that aftercare transition planning is vital to any recovery and healing program. We have designed a personalized Aftercare program that is unique to each individual in order to support them through continued recovery. Our Aftercare options are a month-long Bridge Program, weekly support calls, and in-person alumni retreats several times each year.

The Sanctuary does not accept insurance.

We are unable to accept:

• All Insurance
• Medicare
• Medicaid
• Blue Cross Blue Shield
• AETNA
• AHCCCS
• VA insurance
• State insurance

We accept direct payment by cash, credit card, wire transfer

We partner with M-Lend Financial to help you get the money you need for treatment efficiently and quickly. We took great care to evaluate financing companies and have found M-Lend Financial to be the most fair, reliable, and competitive option for our clients. M-Lend offers a range of options to accommodate personal credit circumstances, Qualification is based on an individual’s credit score.

Yes. You are allowed to use your phone or laptop as long as it doesn’t interfere with the healing program. We advise that our clients are not on their phone all the time and limit their usage.

Trauma is stored in the cells, not just in the brain. When we release trauma at the cellular level, there is an opportunity for a sustainable shift. DNA is the blueprint that provides the body with instructions on how to live, heal, as well as how to become sick and age. It is proven that DNA responds to human intention as evidenced by the power of prayer. It is well-documented that those who are prayed for get better than those who are not. Similarly, our beliefs about ourselves directly and profoundly affect our health and vitality. Our healing techniques facilitate cellular memory release and shift DNA that results in changes to the physical and emotional.

Transformation means a complete change, which implies that it is permanent or sustainable. Many of us have had powerful and meaningful experiences at spas, conferences, in therapy and treatment centers that while enriching were not sustainable and did not facilitate transformation. Everything at The Sanctuary was created with transformation as the intent. The healing programs are only the start. The environment, from the land to the art in the rooms, to the videos and music, to the ceremonies – all promote change.

In order to allow yourself the gift of healing and sustainable transformation, we recommend that you allow yourself 30 days. Although this may sound like a lot of time, it is the minimum amount of time that, in our experience, will allow you to make the deep cellular changes that you need to feel better and to step into who you truly are and your highest destiny. This will allow you to not only heal but also to learn, practice, and absorb the teachings in an intimate setting removed from your everyday world that may be full of stressors, triggers, and distractions. In some cases, some clients may need to stay longer than 30 days.

While we honor and respect all programs and traditions, we do not adhere to the traditional 12 steps. We are here to take you beyond where the steps have left you. We consider ourselves a step beyond conventional treatment, most being 12 step-based. Our philosophy is transcending and overcoming any addiction, behavior, or illness, rather than living with a disease or diagnosis. We help you to create new neural networks and restructure your cellular blueprint.

Yes, The Sanctuary is licensed by The Arizona Department of Health as an Adult Residential Behavioral Health Facility. This license covers behavioral health disorders such as depression, anxiety, and PTSD. This license also covers substance use disorders such as drug abuse, prescription drug abuse, alcohol abuse, and dual diagnosis.

While some individuals respond well to traditional therapies alone, the vast majority do not. For example, prescription antidepressant drug use has increased a dramatic 75% in the last decade with 27 million Americans currently using antidepressants, many taking more than one type at a time. Top treatment centers in the nation show staggering rates of recidivism, with at least 54% of those in treatment having been there at least once before. Obviously, there is room for improvement, and we believe that The Sanctuary’s Integrative Addiction Recovery℠ program is a viable alternative that offers our clients the best of what western medicine offers (psychiatry, psychology, therapy) and so much more. We take you beyond where medication, treatment, or therapy alone can.

We understand that certain individuals wish to keep their anonymity while in the program, and The Sanctuary’s location and philosophy are extremely well-suited for this purpose. Positioned on a private, gated road and nestled within thousands of acres of National Forest, The Sanctuary clients, should they wish, can be fully isolated from the prying eyes of the public, acquaintances, friends, and/or family. Further, when questioned by third parties, it is our policy to neither confirm nor deny the past, present, or future presence of any client at The Sanctuary.

No. The Sanctuary is not a medical facility and thus, we do not provide detoxification services that require medical supervision. However, for those guests requiring detox, we have established relationships with various detox facilities in Phoenix, central, and northern Arizona. Additionally, we can arrange for detoxification in your area prior to your arrival. Once you are medically stable and cleared, we can then help you through your remaining detoxification process.

There’s no “right” way to get sober from drugs and alcohol. That’s because people are diverse, and so are their needs when it comes to recovery. If a 12-Step program didn’t work for you in the past, you may find that an alternative treatment approach works better.

How long it takes to get sober is based on you: your life experiences, your past and present traumas and your individual healing process. Residential rehab programs typically last for a minimum of four weeks; following this up with continuing care, lifestyle changes and a solid support network dramatically improves your chances of lasting recovery.

Most people with a history of severe addiction find it best to completely abstain from alcohol to maintain their recovery. At The Sanctuary, we often notice that once our clients truly heal the underlying causes of their suffering, they no longer feel the need to drink or use drugs.

Yes, sobriety generally means completely abstaining from psychoactive substances. However, some people find it necessary to continue taking prescription medications. The Sanctuary’s psychiatrist can help you adjust your prescription regimen while in treatment if needed.

Being high is a feeling of euphoria or deep relaxation that can happen when you use certain types of drugs. Many people get high as an escape from the stress of life or from the pain of their traumas. A life of sobriety means you have healed your deepest hurts and no longer need to get high to escape.

Drunk is a term that describes the effects of alcohol on the body. The signs of being drunk can be different for different people, and can include: loss of coordination or balance, slurred speech, vision problems, slowed breathing and heart rate, poor judgement and slow reaction time.

Addiction is a compulsive behavior. This can include the use of substances like drugs and alcohol, or processes like eating, gaming, or sex. What makes these behaviors addictions is the inability to stop doing them. They’re often coping mechanisms that we form as a way to avoid some kind of underlying pain or discomfort.

Yes, denial is an inherent aspect of addiction, which is why so many people are able to continue self-harming behavior for years before they realize its real effects on their life. This is also why it’s often difficult to encourage loved ones to get help for their addiction – because it’s hard for them to see what may be obvious to you. Being honest with ourselves is the first step toward healing.

The four Cs of addiction are:

• Compulsion – feeling uncontrollably drawn towards a certain behavior
• Cravings – intense desire for substances
• Consequences – continuing behaviors regardless of their consequences in your life
• Control – loss of control over your behaviors, and your life

There are actually more than three models of addiction. Some of the better-known models of addiction include:

• Disease model
• Behavioral model
• Psychological model
• Spiritual model
• Social learning model
• Public health model
• Socio-cultural model

The spiritual model of addiction claims that addiction is caused by a disconnection from God or a higher power. According to this model, this spiritual disconnection is the main source of unhappiness.

Behavioral addiction is when you become addicted to doing certain behaviors or activities that don’t involve substance abuse. You can become addicted to behaviors because of the way your brain “rewards” you for doing those actions. Behavioral addictions include gambling, sex, shopping, food, exercise, work, and more.

According to the moral model of addiction, natural moral failures, and a lack of willpower is the root causes of addiction. With this model, recovery is based on strengthening your will or motivation to get and stay sober.

Holistic treatment is any treatment that focuses on treating the whole person rather than just one aspect of a disorder or addiction. Holistic treatment includes therapies and tools to heal all parts of your being, not just the mental aspects of addiction.

Technically speaking, a non-12-Step recovery program is any program that doesn’t follow the 12 Steps. At The Sanctuary, we believe that to be truly holistic, a recovery program must effectively treat the mind, body, soul and spirit.

At The Sanctuary, our recovery journey is based on four stages of healing:

1. Finding and changing your own limiting beliefs.
2. Learning to master your inner shadows.
3. Discovering your life’s passion.
4. Implementing real-life changes and empowering you to make your dreams a reality.

The five stages of recovery are: pre-contemplation, contemplation, preparation, action, and maintenance. Many rehabs and therapists use these stages of recovery to identify where you’re at in your healing journey and to help equip you with the right tools to continue working towards recovery. But it’s important to remember that recovery is a highly individual process and that your healing journey will be unique to you.

Holistic care or treatment focuses on healing on all aspects that make you, you: the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual. Rather than just trying to soothe the symptoms of addiction, for example, holistic treatment digs deeper and works on its root causes.

Some treatment professionals view holistic health care as focusing on five main components of who you are and your relationship to the world. These areas are: the physical, the mental, the emotional, the spiritual, and the social. Holistic health care is about whole-person healing in order to restore complete balance to all aspects of your life.

There are many examples of holistic care including: meditation, recovery coaching, nature therapy, breathwork techniques, creative therapies, and energy medicine. The core of any holistic care program is that it offers therapies that pay equal attention to all of your diverse needs.

The most powerful benefit of holistic care is that it empowers you to unlock the healing capabilities you already possess. And whereas most mainstream rehab treatment programs focus primarily on psychological treatment, holistic care at The Sanctuary also addresses your physical, spiritual, and soul-level needs.

At The Sanctuary, we provide holistic care through our 30-day residential addiction treatment program. Our program is completely customized to each client and draws on a diverse array of therapies to effectively meet your unique needs. Our program is science-based and comprehensive and is backed by measurable results.

The short answer is that, yes, holistic doctors are real doctors. Most holistic, or naturopathic, doctors hold a four-year graduate degree in their field. The Sanctuary’s team is led by a strong group of addiction and trauma recovery experts, who have an average of 30 years’ experience in their respective fields.

The Sanctuary’s non-12-Step rehab treatment center offers multiple avenues to access recovery in the way that makes the most sense for you. Unlike AA, there aren’t specific steps you follow to maintain abstinence from drugs and alcohol. And unlike 12-Step programs, we don’t believe addiction is lifelong. We believe that with true healing, it can become a thing of the past.

The goals of non-12-Step programs may vary from rehab to rehab. At The Sanctuary, we focus on four main stages of healing to help guide your recovery journey:

1. Calming your nervous system with gentle therapies that prepare you to work through deeper healing processes
2. Soothing the symptoms of the addiction, and then treating its underlying causes
3. Restoring your relationship with yourself through a variety of holistic healing methods
4. Empowering you to move forward in a life free from the constant fear of relapse

In general, the progression from addiction to sobriety may follow a few main stages (which can vary from person to person):

1. Detox – clearing your body of substances
2. Inpatient (residential) or outpatient treatment – an intensive therapy program to establish sobriety and work on the underlying causes of your addiction
3. Continuing care (aftercare) – follow-up treatment to help you maintain your recovery

The three main types of trauma are:

1. Acute trauma: A one-time stressful or dangerous event. Examples of this include sexual or physical assault, natural disasters, and car accidents.
2. Chronic trauma: A highly stressful event that happens repeatedly and for a prolonged amount of time. Examples include child abuse, bullying, or domestic violence.
3. Complex trauma: Long-term exposure to a wide range of multiple traumatic events. This may include childhood neglect, war, or community violence.

Letting go of trauma is never easy, but total healing from trauma is possible. Resolving trauma requires willingness, understanding, and work to heal it at its source. The Sanctuary is a trauma-sensitive space, and our team is experienced in guiding clients through this highly sensitive, yet hugely beneficial process.

Someone living with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) might experience the following stages, potentially in a different order or in cycles:

• Emergency
• Numbing
• Intrusive/repetitive
• Transition
• Integration

In general, the stages of rehab include:

1. Detox (if necessary)
2. Inpatient or outpatient intensive treatment
3. Aftercare

In holistic rehab, all stages of treatment also include complementary therapies to help your mind, body, soul and spirit integrate changes more thoroughly.

Some studies show that severe alcohol use disorder can shorten life expectancy by as much as 24 to 48 years. However, new breakthroughs in addiction science show that humans have a greater ability to change their neural pathways and genetic destiny than previously thought.

Life expectancy and alcohol tolerance are, to a degree, determined by genetic factors. Drinking 12 beers a day is of course not good for anyone’s health, and can lead to serious complications like liver cirrhosis, heart disease and stroke. How long these consequences take to develop varies from person to person. Those drinking at this level are advised to seek alcohol treatment as soon as possible.

In one addiction model, called the “Stages of Change,” recovery is thought of as taking place in five stages. These are:

1. Precontemplation (still in denial and actively using)
2. Contemplation (becoming aware of the problem)
3. Preparation (getting ready to make a change)
4. Action (immersing in treatment and learning new skills)
5. Maintenance and recovery (building a support network and utilizing skills)

Some trauma treatment professionals categorize the trauma recovery process into three phases. These are:

1. Establishing safety (getting into a safe space and developing a trusting relationship with your therapist)
2. Remembrance and mourning (recalling memories, becoming aware of emotions and identifying beliefs)
3. Reconnection (finding your personal empowerment)

Non-12-Step simply means a recovery program doesn’t follow the 12 Steps used by AA. At The Sanctuary, our program is based on a four-part process that helps you:

• Identify your core wounds
• Reclaim your power
• Integrate new life skills
• Move towards your higher vision

SMART Recovery is a nonprofit organization that provides free support groups. Unlike AA, their meetings aren’t based on the 12 Steps. SMART stands for “Self-Management and Recovery Training.”

While you can’t change traumatizing events that have happened in the past, you can change how you relate to them so that trauma no longer controls your life.

Trauma recovery varies according to each individual. Most clients at The Sanctuary find that their symptoms are eased within a few days of entering our 30-day residential trauma treatment program, and that they feel dramatically different by the time they graduate.