The 180 acres of sprawling land with walking trails, a labyrinth and a golf driving range are not simply aesthetic bonuses to treatment at Beauterre. The dining room, with crisp white tablecloths overlooking a forest of trees and colorful fresh food is more than simply a nice eating experience.
There is focused intention in every aspect of our treatment including our driving range and the fruit infused water available 24 hours a day.
We believe strongly that recovery is not only recovering the mind, but the body as well. Therefore, we are intentional about exercise, healthy nutrition, and re-connection to nature to restore a body ravaged by addiction.
Beauterre’s attention to these three powerful recovery tools only enhances the work a patient does in treatment.
- Nutrition for healing – It is common in the recovery community to enter treatment and overfill the body with an excess of sweets and carbohydrates. Why not? The mind is doing vigorous mental gymnastics fighting the battles of addiction and food sometimes feels like the only joyful escape. But the reality is, this only hinders the body’s recovery process by continuing to ignore its signals and masking them with food.
Proper nutrition helps recovering addicts (and everyone else) feel better because nutrients give the body energy, help build and repair organ tissue, and strengthen the immune system. Because recovering addicts have usually damaged vital organs during the course of their drug or alcohol abuse, good nutrition provides them with the nutritional building blocks they need to begin restoring these damaged tissues.” – Medlineplus
Our chefs strive to reduce the amount of sugar and salt in the food we serve and increase the overall balance of organic nutrients in each meal.
- Exercise for release – Patients love the mindful walk around the labyrinth and gazing up at our mammoth eagle’s nest. Many find release from their stress in the winter through cross country skiing and snowshoeing. And imagine the release a patient feels after a tough therapy session vigorously hitting golf balls on our driving range!
When you exercise, your body releases endorphins which create a natural high. These are the same endorphins your body released while you abused substances. However, abuse of drugs and alcohol causes an imbalance that interferes with a person’s ability to feel pleasure, happiness, and satisfaction. Dedicated physical activity during treatment and recovery will help you reintroduce natural levels of endorphins in your system. This not only helps you feel better, but reteaches your body that it is capable of regulating your own brain chemistry and mood in healthy, natural ways.” – Bradford Health
Exercise can give you a natural high to replace the artificial ones you’ve been chasing. When an addict is trying to recover, the body and mind crave the endorphins that lead to the high he or she is so accustomed to.
3. Nature for the soul –Patients participate in Equine Assisted Psychotherapy and special time with our pet therapy dog. This not only calms a body trying to repair but mends up a soul ripped open by the effects of substances.
It Nourishes The Soul. Many people entering recovery feel as if they are empty inside. They feel as if their soul is malnourished and their connection with a Higher Power is severed, but nature is a beautiful resource we can use to nourish the soul back to health. Nature can help revitalize the soul and bring back to life many dreams that perhaps you’ve put on the shelf and forgotten about. It can also bring you closer to your Higher Power and yourself.” – The Addiction Advisor
These three key treatment components offer a holistic approach to healing for not only the mind, but the body and soul as well.
Beauterre strives to treat the whole person, so you can return to your family, your career and your aspirations renewed, refreshed, and in recovery.
*photos from Unsplash