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The Four Circles of Recovery
MENTAL HEALTH
We address mental health issues by using research-based clinical interventions that have proven effective with young adults who are recovering from substance abuse. We offer individual therapy, group, and family therapy; educational groups that focus on the disease of addiction, psycho-educational skill-building; mindfulness/mediation training; 12-step meetings; reading, journaling, and art therapy; and instruction in essential daily living skills.
PHYSICAL
As part of our holistic approach to substance abuse treatment, we make physical activity a highlight of the recovery process. As a wilderness-based program, we offer expeditions that last up to two weeks at a time. While hiking and camping, we will teach you how to live in the wilderness in comfort and safety. We use modern field gear including tents, backpacks, seasonally rated sleeping bags, and other gear that will keep you comfortable.
Our approach to physical health and wellness includes hiking, camping, recreational sports, martial arts instruction, gardening, nutritional education, yoga, high and low ropes courses, and primitive wilderness skills. As part of our wilderness component, we follow and teach Leave No Trace (LNT) ethics.
MEALTIME AND NUTRITION
Before committing to a wilderness therapy program, young men and women and their families often want to know, “How’s the food?”
We’re pleased to report that the meals provided at Four Circles, both in the field and at base camp, are superb. Designed by a nutritionist, our menu is filled with foods that are both nutritious and delicious. We use a wide variety of local, organically grown produce, whole grains, and minimally processed foods to produce three meals a day plus snacks that will fuel our clients’ minds and bodies while pleasing the taste buds.
In addition to eating excellent meals, our clients learn about the foods they’re eating through nutrition education directed by our staff nutritionist. We believe that a basic understanding of the food groups, the way food affects the body, portion sizes, and food labels is essential not only to enjoy a healthy lifestyle, but also to nurture in each client a strong mind and body that will lead them through the rough road ahead.
Between meals, the young men and women at Four Circles get plenty of exercise by hiking, playing sports, practicing yoga, and working through elements on our high and low ropes courses. Physical activity increases endorphins, reduces stress, and helps balance hormones and chemicals in the brain – not to mention how good it makes people feel physically and emotionally. We also make sure every client drinks plenty of water to stay hydrated and to flush the body of toxins.
Our approach to mealtime is just one more example of our holistic approach to recovery from addiction and substance abuse. Recovery can be a stressful time in a young person’s life, and a balanced diet and exercise are two basic, but essential components of both a healthy lifestyle and long-term recovery.
SPIRITUAL
Spiritual growth plays an integral role in our program. Although we do not endorse any particular religion, we encourage all clients to develop and enhance their own belief system. The wilderness is a wonderful environment in which to develop a spiritual center, as nature’s beauty is both awe-inspiring and humbling. Our spiritual component includes 12-step work, mediation/mindfulness, martial arts, wilderness expeditions, journaling, vision quests, and rites of passage.
EMOTIONAL
Emotional balance and growth is an important factor in recovery. This includes working with co-occurring mental health challenges in addition to chemical dependency issues. Our program is rich in metaphor, and we have a comprehensive recovery workbook designed to help clients gain insight into the recovery process. Based on personalized treatment plans, we offer individual and group therapy both at base and in the wilderness, as well as gender-specific treatment, journaling, family therapy, and extensive discharge planning.