Many people are curious to know what makes The River Source different, unique. What sets us apart from every other addiction treatment center in the country? What can addicts truly learn during their time with us, and what support is available for the family? These are great questions to ask, and it shows that the addict is invested in their long-term recovery and that they have a great team of supporters standing by.
With this in mind, we want to take the time to talk about what makes The River Source the distinct, empowering treatment facility that we are. This isn’t about why you should choose us; it’s about what we can do for you that no other treatment center can.
The Early Days
The River Source was founded in 2003, but before that, the seeds were already being planted. Dr. David Arneson, one of the founders of The RS and a naturopathic medical doctor, had just finished medical school in 2000 when he was asked to start an inpatient detox program based on naturopathic principles. This was nearly 15 years ago when holistic care and naturopathic medicine were still in their infancy.
During the first couple of years, Dr. Arneson and his team focused their attention on relapse prevention. It was suspected that addicts were not recovering to their full potential and this is what was causing a relapse, but finding this missing link would be challenging. Dr. Arneson looked at what treatment modalities worked and which ones didn’t. He explored the possibilities as to where treatment was lacking. He researched up-and-coming therapies that could prove worthwhile.
What he found shaped The River Source as it is today.
A Mind/Body Approach
By 2003, Dr. Arneson had what he needed in place, and The River Source was born. Right off the bat, there were things that were being done that were foreign to other treatment centers, such as IV therapy and amino acid therapy. The objective was to repair and strengthen the body so that it would be strong enough to go through recovery. Otherwise, it was nearly impossible to properly counsel an addict if their body wasn’t recovered itself.
To speed up the physical repair, minerals and vitamins were given via IVs, and amino acids were given to bring up serotonin levels. These alternative therapies were not used loosely, either. It was found that things needed to be done in combination, such as the current relationship between nutritional IV therapy and infrared sauna detox. Ultimately, the goal was to push the body to repair itself rather than relying on conventional drugs to do the work.
Not only was the body of concern, but so was the mind. The body came first, and clients knew that the process was working when they started to feel better. All of sudden, it was as if the body would become stronger and more motivated, and the desire to lead a sober life came clearer into focus. Clients were then counseled, taking a closer look at the underlying reasons for why the abuse occurred and what could be done to prevent it in the future.
The River Source Today: A Spiritual Journey
Today, The River Source is very much the same, except that we have expanded on the same principles to offer improved, client-centered care. Our approach to treating addiction is holistic: we treat and heal the mind, body, and spirit. We still start with the body, as this is the foundation for everything.
Nutritional IV therapy pumps the body full of essential vitamins and minerals. Amino acids are also used to balance out the neurotransmitters in the brain and boost serotonin levels. Infrared sauna detox helps acupuncture and massage therapy purge toxins from the body via the skin. We work closely with our clients through group, individual, and family therapy to get deeper into the subconscious. But that’s not all.
The journey that clients take through The RS is also a spiritual one. We don’t push our clients to believe in a particular religion but instead connect with their spiritual side. Through this journey, recovering addicts are able to find purpose in their lives, as well as satisfaction for doing good things, such as helping others and being true to themselves. Why is this important? Because it teaches recovering addicts that they can lead a full life without drugs or alcohol.
In fact, this is one of the greatest jobs that our treatment teams have at The RS: helping our clients to find their purpose. Addicts are lost in their disease, and many don’t have a purpose outside of using drugs and alcohol. They may have lost their jobs, their spouses, their children, and their place in life. They keep abusing drugs, escaping their responsibilities, and refusing to look at their inner selves.
Our treatment teams get the wheels turning in our clients’ heads. We get them thinking about what their purpose in life is and what potential they have. What can they give back to the community? What can they do for others? What reason do they have to get up in the morning?
Dr. Viktor Frankl, author of a Man’s Search for Meaning and founder of logotherapy says that 90 percent of an addict’s need to use comes from the great sense of emptiness. Instead of waiting around for something to happen, or worse yet, believing that there is no potential, The RS works with recovering addicts to show them that EVERYONE has a purpose.
The River Source is a place of hope, inspiration, and healing. Don’t wait to call us and see if we would be the right fit for you or your loved one. We’re here, and we do things differently.