We sat down with Donna Doolen, Clinical Director of Avenues Recovery Center at Metairie, to hear about the role that holistic wellness plays in addiction treatment and recovery.
Hi Donna, thanks for joining us today! How would you define holistic wellness?
Holistic wellness is wellness that incorporates mind, body and soul in a structured, regimented environment, with the result of the client becoming the very best version of themselves.
What role does holistic wellness play in addiction treatment?
I’m in recovery myself, and I can personally say that my early sobriety worked hand in hand with caring for my body and becoming spiritually connected once again. It was key to my successful and sustained sobriety, and I believe it’s critical for anyone else in recovery.
What does holistic wellness look like in a treatment setting?
What it looks like for us here at Metairie would be spirituality groups, family groups, volunteering, exercise, meditation, music therapy, yoga, free choice of worship … and the clients’ ability to ask any clinical staff any wellness questions they have. And of course, it includes the medical and therapeutic component as well.
What would the medical component of holistic wellness look like?
Clients are seen by a medical provider right after admission in order to do all of the appropriate assessments. They receive a full medical workup and biopsychosocial eval. We also identify and address any deficits they may have as far as resources go – like clothing , special dietary concerns and food items, and any lingering outside issues. We try to address any psychosocial issues as soon as possible.
Can you describe one component of holistic wellness that you focus on in your facility? What can a client expect when they walk in the doors?
“Holistic Thursday” is the day we focus on holistic therapies. Clients rotate between music, yoga and recovery development groups - led by our therapists as well as outside instructors - and gain valuable self-regulation and coping skills. (I like doing all holistic therapies in one day so clients can taste each and see what works best for them).
Clients who have been with us for over thirty days move on to “Track B”, which grants more freedom and is definitely more holistic. Track B clients go on fun community-building trips on Thursdays. They also do service/ volunteer work, attend outside AA meetings within the community, and go to lectures and events. They also participate in “Sweat for Recovery”, a monthly fitness class exclusive to the recovery community.
Sunday is more of a holistic day too, because it’s relaxed and enjoyable. Clients can choose a method of worship in the morning, and we often have swimming followed by pizza or a BBQ in the afternoon. Clients also just began a Sunday bingo tournament, where they compete for cheap dollar store prizes. They love it!
What impact does holistic therapy and relaxation have on the treatment process?
Clients are refreshed each Monday morning, and ready to get down to the business of recovery – all because of the R&R they had on Sunday. They are more open, more patient, and more willing. The impact is so clear.
Is there any aspect of your holistic wellness program that you are especially passionate about?
One thing that’s especially close to my heart is the family group we began here. Each Saturday, I offer clients to bring in their families to a group therapy session. 18 to 24 people come, and any agenda I have immediately gets blown out of the water as the families just cry and process together for a few hours. It’s so incredibly validating and healing for them as they learn that they’re not the only ones to have gone through this. The atmosphere is just electric; it’s magical.
How does holistic wellness play into mental health?
“Zen Jen” teaches meditation here and does amazing work with our clients. She teaches them to combine their DBT skills with mindfulness, meditation, breathing, nature, … Clients learn to create their personal recovery toolkit of coping skills, so they don’t have to run to the pill the moment they feel discomfort.
One gal here was having a really tough time in group, so she walked out. I went out to check on her and she said “I’m just appreciating nature and trying to take it all in. I’m decompressing.” And I said “wow, okay, great” – and she learned that from Zen Jen.
A few other gals here are bipolar, and they’re learning to recognize their manic episodes, to be self-aware and use their recovery toolkit to help themselves. That is so incredibly important.
We also focus strongly on self-sufficiency and life skills. We teach clients to make their beds, sweep, mop, and clean, wash their own clothes… to take responsibility for themselves and serve as productive members of society. That’s all part of holistic therapy!
What gives you the passion and energy to push forward in your work?
I just love spirituality – I lead a spirituality group once every two weeks. When clients come to me and ask for more, ask to speak to me, ask to learn how to meditate or pray, it fulfills and gratifies me. Clients see us staff living recovery and want to emulate us.
Recovery has been very generous with me, and the opportunity to pay those blessings forward is very special. Modeling recovery, giving back, living what we teach - that is truth; that is holistic wellness.
I’m proud of the opportunities Avenues Recovery has brought to the recovery world - the guidance and structure they provide, along with the latitude and space to mold our own programs and become ourselves.
And it works; the proof is in the thousands of lives we’ve transformed!