In addiction treatment, therapists use recreation to help you relax. During recreation, you participate in sports and games to engage socially. You also start experiencing pleasure without substances for the first time in many months or even years. Activities like this during rehab fall into the category of recreational therapy.

What Is Recreational Therapy?

A man looks out a window wishing he was participating in recreational therapyRecreational therapy provides many benefits, including teaching you how to enjoy yourself healthily. You gain benefits from socializing and even help retrain your brain to feel pleasure from everyday activities. You also learn how to relax naturally again, without substances in your body.

Having fun may not sound therapeutic at face value. However, the activities involve the guidance of a therapist who sets clear goals. As you reach those goals, you grow and evolve socially and personally.

Your recreational therapy takes place one or more times per week in rehab. In these sessions you do arts and crafts, participate in team sports, pursue physical fitness, dance, or go out into the community. While these activities feel fun, you stretch your boundaries and regain confidence in interacting with others.

Your Recreation Therapy Goals

Recreation therapy at Santé Center for Healing in Argyle, TX includes many fun activities. It gives you time to acquaint yourself with healthy social activities while you reach goals in your recovery. You tear down some of the walls keeping you from relating well to others and moving forward in life. You also build confidence in seeing your capabilities in new ways.

Recreation therapy also reduces your stress and anxiety. Being active and socially engaging with others lessens symptoms of depression naturally. You help your brain heal from the chemical changes of substance abuse, allowing natural pleasure chemicals to stabilize.

Your recreation therapist sets goals for your recovery. These usually focus on your physical, emotional, mental, or spiritual health. This makes the therapy both holistic and experiential, helping you heal your whole being.

Some common goals for recreation therapy include better moods, reduced anxiety, improved physical stamina or strength, and better coordination. Maybe you need to work better with others, enjoy greater independence, or build self-esteem. Overall, you can improve your well-being, work-life balance, and time management, all while having a great time.

Improving Your Odds for Lasting Recovery

Part of living a healthy life in recovery is enjoying life balance. You need fun ways to stay physically and mentally healthy, socialize, and spend your time. Recreation therapy helps you in these ways. By knowing how to have life-enriching fun, you lessen your chances of a future relapse.

Your counselors in recreational therapy help you understand yourself and your personal needs better. This therapy balances well with other types of therapies, such as evidence-based practices. At Santé Center for Healing, recreation mixes with the following therapies:

To reach new heights in recreational therapy, you need to let your guard down. This usually takes time for people suffering addiction or past trauma. You trust little at first, but start to deepen your bonds with others over time. In this way, recreation helps you tear down the walls addiction built around you. You stop hiding your feelings, isolating yourself, and avoiding others.

Of course, letting your guard down never comes easily. Most people struggle at first. But as you see real change in yourself, you start welcoming further growth and changes. This is why recreational therapy works so well.

Recreation Therapy in Argyle Texas

Addiction treatment at Santé Center for Healing in Argyle Texas involves a well-rounded approach. This approach forms around a schedule of individual, group, and family therapies. Recreation therapy includes offerings like creative therapy. These usually take place through group activities, so that you can form bonds with your peers.

Programs that Santé Center for Healing offer includes:

You can heal through a combination of recreational therapies and other types of evidence-based practices. You just need the treatment best suited to your individual needs. So call Santé Center for Healing in Argyle, TX at 866-238-3154 to learn more about available programs.