Courage to Change - Not Your Ordinary Recovery Program

The Courage to Change Addiction Recovery Program ranges in length from 30 to 365 days depending on an individual's need. The program provides a neuro-biological regime, strategically integrated with behavioral therapies, ranch work, lifestyle changing experiences, life planning skills, and spiritual balance. Time-tested socio-psychological therapies, as well as cutting-edge neuroscience with a "systems" approach to wellness are incorporated into the recovery plan.

In the past, addictions were perceived as illnesses and the person suffering from the addiction was thought of as "sick." However, with the advent of neuroscience, scientists and therapists have begun to understand that the underlying cause for addiction is a bio-chemical imbalance - not a "sickness", or "flaw" in a person's character.

Bio-chemical imbalances are the underlying reason as to why addictive behaviors are out of most people's control.

No matter the intent to "quit," to "end" the destructive behavior, to "change" the way people they love are treated- the resolutions themselves are a temporary fix until the imbalances in the brain dominate and override the intention. And then the addiction is back in full force - many times worse than before.

People with addictive behaviors often feel like "failures" because they are unable to "beat" their addictions. Their lives spiral out of control in a downward cycle of self-abuse that also affects the people they love.

Courage to Change Addiction Recovery Ranch treats the whole person - body, brain, and spirit -without judgment and with respect - in order to heal the many facets of a person's life ruined by the chemical imbalances that are the underlying causes of addictive behaviors.

Medical Detox is available (not included in the monthly care package).

When one begins to understand that addictive behavior is truly out of one's control - that it is not a result of being a 'bad' person or too 'weak'- the guilt and lack of self-esteem disappear and the doors swing open for hope and the 'courage to change.'

- Dr. Judith Ann Miller

Bio-Chemical Imbalances are Corrected through the Courage to Change Program

Bio-chemical imbalances may be the result of a combination of varying factors genetics, environment, nutrition, lack of spirituality and connectedness

Genetics - Imbalances and nutritional deficiencies along with health issues may be passed down from generation to generation. With each generation the lack of information, education, nutrition and therapy only deepens the addictive and dysfunctional tendencies.

Environment - Environmental toxins are playing a larger role in the health and well being of everyone and are becoming a major factor in the diagnosis of disease. Toxic build up from chemicals prevalent in foods, medicines and household cleaners create the "sludging" of the passage ways to the brain - impeding blood and oxygen flow to vital cells that affect the psychological and physical state of a person's health and well being.

Nutrition - A critical factor in healing the body, brain and mind. Foods that do not have nutritional components actually harm the body. Most foods on the market are made of chemicals and synthetic nutrients that may harm the biochemical makeup of a person. Whole organic foods are crucial to healing all aspects of the person. Diet changes alone can facilitate an incredible healing. When the cells in the body receive the nutrients they need, the spectrum of imbalance begins to close.

Spirituality/Connectedness - Imperative to becoming a whole person. The self cannot function in an optimum state without understanding its relationship to the sacredness of all of life. Addictive behaviors put the focus on the self as number on - and only in relationship to itself. Perspective is lost on the value of other people and the experiences that are called "life." The focus becomes on the next drink, or "fix," and not on the quality and joy of being in the moment.

Seven Comprehensive Components of Change for
Sustainable Recovery

1. Neurotransmitter Re-Balancing - Correction of the neurological imbalances involved in addiction with natural neuroceuticals - naturally occurring food supplements with beneficial effects on health - and a nutritious whole foods and organic diet. Unfortunately most consumer foods are lacking in the essential nutrients, minerals and amino acids that the brain and body need to thrive. The lack of these ingredients actually causes the cells in the body to starve and they become dependent on addictive chemicals to satiate their needs. When the brain receives these essential nutrients the dependency on chemicals abates, thus aiding the body to reach its optimum health potential.

2. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy - Proven techniques are used in groups and individual counseling to re-pattern how the heart and brain exchanges information. The objective of CBT is to identify individual negative thoughts, assumptions, beliefs and behaviors that lead to dysfunctional, addictive and self-destructive behaviors. The goal is to replace the negative perceptions with positive thoughts and feelings that will translate into the development of positive belief systems ultimately influencing positive behaviors.

3. Spiritual/Experiential Therapy - Courage to Change Ranch not only embraces the traditional AA and NA programs, but also the Native American12-step Wellbriety program of the White Bison Council. Wellbriety means to be both sober and well. The message is strong and challenging to a recovering addict.

Wellbriety also means not only coming through the recovery from a chemical dependency - it teaches the principles of how to be a recovered person who moves beyond survival to thriving in one's personal life and within the life of the community. The "well" part of Wellbriety means to live the healthy parts of the principles, laws and values of the traditional Native American culture.

4. Court Liaison - The professional staff at Courage to Change Ranch work closely with the Judicial and Criminal Justice systems to support, mediate and advocate on behalf of patients when they are faced with criminal situations their destructive behaviors may have caused.

5. Vocational Rehabilitation - Courage to Change Ranch introduces patients to new skills based on resourcefulness and fortitude. New avenues of education and career experiences are introduced that will translate into opportunities for obtaining satisfying and fulfilling jobs in the market place.

6. Family Relationship Repair - The staff at Courage to Change Ranch is highly experienced in Conjoint Family Therapy a process based on the perception and understanding that people are a product of negative family patterns. Addictions are viewed as a reaction to existing dysfunctional patterns of behavior within the family system instead of an individual's pathology. This takes the focus off the perceived "sickness" of the addict and into the larger picture of where the addict may also be a victim of family history and patterns of behavior/ situations that may be beyond their control. In order to heal the addict, the social context of the entire family needs to be explored and understood. Families are encouraged to be actively involved in the healing process. Courage to Change also challenges families to change their patterns of dysfunction to ensure a healthy system where all members thrive. Courage to Change Ranch is the proud parent of many happy family reunions.

7. Lifetime Continuing Care - Courage to Change Ranch understands that recovery is a day-to-day process and that each new dawn poses new challenges to a committed life of sobriety. The staff is committed to ongoing communications and maintaining relationships with all patients to facilitate and support lasting recovery.