Therapists at The Ranch, an addiction and mental health treatment center noted for state-of-the-art integrative programs, are using music to help clients work through the addictive process and lock in therapeutic gains. Nunnelly, TN (PRWEB) Aug. 13, 2014 – Therapists at The Ranch are using music in novel new ways. The treatment center in Tennessee is widely known for offering a careful blend of traditional and experiential therapies for the treatment of trauma, mood disorders and intimacy disorders, as well as substance abuse and addiction. Noting that clients were responding to music and songwriting exercises, Robert Chapman, a therapist, and James Hudson, a facilitator, decided to incorporate the power of song into the curriculum. “We found that music can enhance a client’s experience and anchor concepts they have been working on,” says Chapman, who has also pioneered the facility’s highly popular adventure therapy program. The music program at The Ranch includes:
- Morning music meditation – Interactive songs with meditation three days a week. This sets a theme for each day and supports ongoing mindful practice for each client to draw upon.
- Therapeutic songwriting group – Clients have an opportunity to express their addiction and recovery experiences through songs every other week. For example, clients might use a theme of “Going Home” to explore what home life was like before recovery and how recovery might impact their family when they return home.
- BubbaFest music group – Building on the therapeutic songwriting group, the men’s recovery houses come together weekly for an evening of therapeutic sharing and expression through song, live performance and interactive songwriting.
- Music night – Once a month, residents in all houses come together to share songs they have written, as well as poems, art and other expressive modes of talent. The entire group participates in a “sing out,” with songs that are joyful, recovery-based and fun.
The music program is designed to encourage expression, personal insight and growth, as the client tells the story of his battle with addiction and other disorders in an environment of support and respect. “Music truly is a universal language,” says Hudson. “Sometimes when clients can’t be reached or have no other way of communicating, they can express themselves and how they’re feeling through music. It’s also a great way to break down barriers and create a bond and a sense of community with other clients in the house and with staff.”
About The Ranch
Since 1999, The Ranch has provided comprehensive therapeutic programs that treat the underlying causes of eating disorders, addictions and other self-defeating behaviors. The Ranch offers innovative therapies to address the multidimensional aspects of the whole person while teaching personal accountability in a safe, nurturing, real-life environment. Located on a working horse ranch in the beautiful rolling hills of Nunnelly, Tennessee, The Ranch offers programs with a variable length of stay, which allows each client to anchor new recovery behaviors needed for lasting change. For more information about The Ranch, call (855) 893-5987 or visit www.recoveryranch.com. The Ranch is part of Elements Behavioral Health, a family of behavioral health care programs that also includes Promises Treatment Centers, The Sexual Recovery Institute, The Recovery Place, Right Step, Journey Healing Centers, the Sundance Center, Lucida Treatment Center and Clarity Way. Elements offers comprehensive, innovative treatment for substance abuse, sexual addiction, trauma, eating disorders and other mental health disorders. We are committed to delivering clinically sophisticated treatment that promotes permanent lifestyle change, not only for the patient but for the entire family system. For more information about Elements Behavioral Health, visit www.promisesbehavioralhealth.com.
