Drug Rehabilitation: What is it Like to Attend Rehab?

Drug Rehabilitation: What Is It Like to Attend Rehab?

The idea of rehab can be intimidating. Between overcoming fears of the initial withdrawal symptoms during detox and feeling anxious about interacting with other treatment program participants and staff, the idea of rehabilitation may feel as challenging as battling addiction itself. Often, the first step to recovery can be the hardest.

You may also feel reluctant to sign up for a stay in a hospital-like environment with staff who enforce stringent routines with little empathy — it’s not uncommon to feel anxious about the environment and how the staff may treat you.

Fortunately, not all rehab centers are sterile, hospital-like environments. In fact, many clients of The Sanctuary get so much out of this incredible healing journey that they decide to extend their stay or come back to support others after they’ve completed the program. So, what is drug rehab like at our center?

Drug rehabilitation at The Sanctuary differs from mainstream 12-step treatment centers. Here’s what to expect in rehab at The Sanctuary.

Admissions 

It all starts with a simple phone call. From there, our dedicated admissions coordinator will personally help you every step of the way. Whether it’s helping you find a convenient flight, connecting you with a partnered sober coach who can accompany you for your travel or simply offering words of encouragement, we’ll spend as much time as it takes to ensure you arrive safely and comfortably.   

We know rehab is a big decision, and we’re here to demystify the process for you. We’re more than happy to provide the information you need, answer any questions and help you sort out your logistics so you can get on the path to recovery.  

What to Bring Along for Your Stay

When deciding what to take to rehab, we recommend bringing any prescribed medications you need for at least one month. Once you arrive, our doctor will help manage and adjust your prescription medications as needed. In addition to any medicines, pack your insurance card and some money.

Pack clothing with consideration for the season, and bring some warm layers for cold nights in our desert climate. Hiking footwear, comfy everyday shoes, leisure wear and swimwear are all essentials for your stay. Toiletries like toothpaste, soap, shampoo and skincare products are other necessities to bring along.

Optional extras to pack include your devices, a watch and hiking gear. While many centers won’t permit personal device use, The Sanctuary at Sedona is one of the few rehabs that let you keep your phone.

There are also a few things to leave at home. Candles, incense, cologne, perfume and medical marijuana are not permitted at our rehab center. These items may affect fellow residents with allergies and sensitivities.

Intake 

Before you begin treatment, you’ll receive detailed assessments that help us better understand who you are, what brought you here and what you’re hoping to get out of rehab. We look at all areas of your life and use this information to tailor a treatment program for you. Information we’ll gather may include: 

  • What trigger caused you to seek treatment.
  • What you want from your rehab experience.
  • Your strengths, needs and preferences.
  • Your medication and medical history.
  • Your substance abuse history.
  • Traumas.
  • Relationships.
  • Cultural considerations and minority stress.
  • Spiritual beliefs.
  • Your living environment, responsibilities and quality of life.

You’ll also receive a psychiatric exam with our board-certified psychiatrist and a medical exam with our on-staff nurse.

Adjusting and Settling In 

The first part of your stay with us focuses on calming your nervous system and helping you feel comfortable in our space. It’s also of utmost importance to us to treat you with dignity and respect.

When you arrive, we don’t search your luggage or give you a hospital band. We invite you to dinner with our family of staff and guests, and we hold a small ceremony to welcome you and invite you to set intentions for your stay. After a few days of clean eating, good rest and walks in Sedona’s restorative natural landscapes, you’ll feel more relaxed and ready to dive into deeper issues. 

Accommodation

There’s no need to feel anxious about settling into a rigid hospital environment. At The Sanctuary at Sedona, we ensure our clients have comfortable, spacious private rooms with heat and air conditioning units.

Each room offers a queen-size bed and dressers, quality bedding and towels. We decorate our rooms to uphold a healing theme with intricate hand-painted mandalas and comforting decor details. Each spacious room has access to a private bathroom equipped with a shower.

Our clients also have access to Wi-Fi, a computer, a telephone and a printer, as well as TV and DVD entertainment. You will be allowed to keep your devices with you, should you wish to bring them along for your stay.

The Schedule

You’ll receive a personalized daily schedule that ensures structure while prioritizing your needs and preferences. Beyond daily one-on-one therapy sessions, your schedule can include activities like yoga, meditation, trauma release work and other beneficial holistic therapies that cater to your goals and needs.

Our schedules include yoga sessions in the morning after breakfast, therapy hikes, meditation and goal-setting sessions before group therapy sessions. After a nutritious lunch, our clients dive into individual therapy sessions.

In the evenings, after a delicious and nutritious dinner, we host sound healing, welcoming ceremonies, graduation ceremonies and spiritual resource groups. We also show movies and host game nights. Between these activities, we ensure clients have free time allocated to their schedules.

The Healing Journey

Now, the real work of uncovering and healing the root causes of your addiction begins. The Sanctuary’s non-12-step drug rehab program is based on a four-part journey, which takes you through all the necessary phases of the healing process for a complete recovery. This journey helps you: 

  • Shed the limiting narratives of your past.
  • Uncover deeply held, hidden issues causing your addiction.
  • Discover your true passions.
  • Implement what you’ve learned on your journey to create the life you want.

Measuring Your Progress

At The Sanctuary, we use a technique called brain mapping to measure your mental activity. The changes in your brain reflect the changes in your life, and recent decades of neuroscience prove the brain’s ability to adapt and change.

After several weeks of living at our peaceful campus, eating a nutrient-rich diet and participating in an array of healing therapies, new areas of your brain begin to grow, and the ones that were active during your addiction begin to subside. By comparing a brain map taken at the end of your treatment to the one taken when you first arrived, you can see what changes have occurred from your rehab experience. 

Aftercare: Transition Wellness Coaching

Our 90-day drug rehabilitation program entails 30 days of residential treatment followed by 60 days of highly involved continuing care. This Transition Wellness Coaching program includes: 

  • Action planning and accountability tracking to integrate the goals you set in treatment.
  • One individual counseling session per week.
  • One group coaching call per week.
  • Continued addiction coursework that builds on what you’ve learned.
  • Connection to local resources, such as therapists, healers, coaches and support groups.

We also use biometrics to understand what’s physically and mentally happening in you. From your first day at The Sanctuary, you’ll wear the leading-edge Ora Ring device, which measures your real-time heart rate variability, activity levels and sleep patterns to help you predict and prevent relapse triggers.

Drug Rehab Can Be an Amazing, Life-Changing Experience

You don’t have to be stuck in a perpetual state of managing your drug addiction or feel held back by the anxiety of wondering what to expect in rehab. You can move beyond being in recovery and into living a life that’s fulfilling, inspiring and free of addiction.  

The Sanctuary is a drug rehab center unlike any other — you can find complete healing for all levels of your being. Sustainable change starts by taking those first steps towards living an empowered life. 

Contact us online to get started today. To learn more about our holistic addiction recovery approach, you can reach out directly at 877-710-3385 or by email at [email protected].

 

He is the Founder, Administrator, Counselor at the Sanctuary at Sedona.

He has a BA in Political Science and is currently Senior teaching staff at Four Winds Society, an international school of energy medicine. His credentials also include being an Ordained Minister; a Certified Shamanic Breathwork® Facilitator; a Founding Member Society for Shamanic Practitioners; a Member of Association for Comprehensive Energy Psychology; a Member of the National Institute for Holistic Addiction Studies. [email protected]