holistic healing

Are You Speaking Lovingly?

April 3, 2018 // by Aton Center

Buddhism offers very sound advice on how best to unite with others. Metta, the Pali word for loving-kindness, is a cornerstone of Buddhist spirituality. In Latin, Spiritus means “Breath”. How we choose to communicate with others may or may not “breathe” life into our relationship.

At AToN Center, we offer evidenced based research in all of our holistic approaches, educational classes, and therapy sessions. One of AToN Center’s guiding principles is, Maintaining Healthy Relationships. To support this goal, residents learn about healthy communication and the value of treating one’s self and others with respect, and kindness.

The following article (https://www.thoughtco.com/right-speech-450072) will help you learn more about the importance of choosing actions that breathe life into your personal – and intrapersonal—relationships.

Chris McDuffie, MA CADCC II
Chemical Dependency Counselor
AToN Center 888-535-1516

Building Assertiveness in Early Sobriety

April 1, 2018 // by Aton Center

People in early recovery often need help developing assertiveness skills. Problems related to caustic relationships, codependency and fear of conflict and criticism must be addressed. Depression, self-loathing and toxic shame add to the complexities of becoming assertive. Dr. Randy J. Peterson’s book, The Assertiveness Workbook is highly recommended to help those needing to learn how to assert themselves.

Dr. Peterson accomplishes building assertiveness by reviewing the four primary communication styles: assertive, passive, aggressive and passive-aggressive. He writes, “Being assertive requires: 1) that you have some very specific skills and 2) that you use these skills when it is appropriate to do so.”

At AToN Center our holistic approach to recovery helps the recovering individual build self-esteem through our Cognitive-Based Theoretical approach, our individual and group sessions and our rich educational curriculum. Our residents benefit from learning to identify the benefits of healthy assertiveness.

When the recovering addict becomes self-aware, goal orientated, physically healthy and appropriately assertive they find themselves happier and more content. Practicing healthy assertive techniques in all relationships allows the sober individual to maintain healthy choices and relationships.

Chris McDuffie
CD Counselor
AToN Center 888-535-1516

Developing Inner Strength with Pema Chodron:

January 18, 2018 // by Aton Center

Meditation Skills for the Advanced Meditation Practitioner

Buddhist Monk, Pema Chodron is a leading expert on using one’s inner strength to help defuse suffering. In this exciting lecture (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sLw5QFaFUgI), Pema leads the listener through the advanced meditation practice of Tonglen. Tonglen is an ancient Buddhist practice that is often referred to as, The Lion’s Roar.

Toglen, as explained and narrated by Pema is suggested for advanced practitioners of meditation which invites the practitioner to remember trauma, or other events that generated suffering and to diffuse the energy that has culminated in guilt, shame, and/or remorse. Toglen is called the Lion’s Roar because it reminds the individual that their inner strength is more powerful than the residue of any action or inaction than generated suffering.

Pema also helps the practitioner of Tonglen understand that fear manifests itself as guilt and shame. Moreover, we are reminded here that one need to be very mindful of one’s actions when one attaches to or avoids processing the energy that is manifested while in the emotional state of guilt and shame. The listener to this exciting presentation is invited to partake in a brief Tonglen sitting meditation. I advise only advanced meditation practitioners to partake in this guided meditation as its power lies in the ability of the individual to sit in and explore one’s source or suffering. For many in early recovery, this process may feel very overwhelming and triggering.

At AToN Center, we incorporate many holistic and therapeutic practices that help each client. I hope that this article helps you as you gather resources to help relieve suffering and prevent relapse.

Chris McDuffie, MA CADC II
Chemical Dependency Counselor
AToN Center 888-535-1516

Holistic Recovery

December 10, 2017 // by Aton Center

The holistic approach to recovery addresses the needs of the whole person.

In order to successfully treat the whole person, AToN Center focuses on a person’s physical, emotional, mental, spiritual and social needs. The way we address physical needs is through possible detoxification, medication, nutrition, sleep/rest as well as an understanding of what the body will go through during the different phases of recovery.

Emotional needs are nurtured through learning to identify feelings and communicate them honestly as they arise. Recovery is a learning process and mental health returns as coping skills build. Spiritual growth is achieved through spiritual practices and explorations of beliefs and is the inner strength that fuels our success. AToN Center addresses social needs by encouraging regular interaction with others, especially people who are also in the early stages of recovery.

AToN Center offers our residents four holistic sessions a week and have an array of holistic services to choose from. AToN Center strives to encourage the connection between the physical body as well as the emotional and spiritual components of self.

Kate Judd

CD Counselor

AToN Center 888-535-1516

Regular Physical Exercise is a key Component to a Healthy Lifestyle

November 14, 2017 // by Aton Center

For a lot of people, part of their recovery plan is focusing on holistic health: mind, heart and body. Regular physical exercise is a key component to a healthy lifestyle, because it works on both mind and body. According to the CDC, regular exercise helps to reduce your risk of some diseases, maintain a healthy weight, increase longevity, keep you active into your later years, and improve your mood and mental health.

Regular exercise can lower your blood pressure, which can help to reduce anxiety. It pumps oxygen to your brain, lowers your stress hormones, and even helps your brain to make new connections – which improves memory and learning. It also increases the “anti-depressant” chemicals in your brain like serotonin and endorphins, making exercise the best non-medication therapy for your heart and mind.

At AToN addiction treatment center, staff and alumni are participating this weekend in the Heroes in Recovery 6K in Mission Bay. This is a great way to either jump-start a more active lifestyle, or to keep that activity going – and a chance to do it while having a good time with good company!

Kirsten Helgager, PsyD
Psychologist
AToN Center 888-535-1516

Meditation to Help Psychiatric Illness and Substance Use Disorders

October 7, 2017 // by Aton Center

The following Abstract from Harvard Review of Psychiatry, evaluates the importance of using Meditation to help co-occurring disorders. This 2009 study is on the earliest studies that suggest the many benefits of using Meditation in conjunction with evidence-based medical uses to help co-occurring disorders.

Three particular forms of Meditation are critically reviewed in this research article: Transcendental Meditation, Buddhist Meditation, and Mindfulness-based Meditation. This article pays particular attention to the many benefits of using Meditation to help treat substance use disorders: “The medical benefits of meditation include improving hypertension, managing the stress of chronic illness, and promoting cardiovascular health. Long –term meditation may have a role, too, in slowing and perhaps stopping cortical atrophy and cognitive decline”.

This impressive research article highlights the need for more research on “determining what particular meditation exercises — concentrative, diffuse, and philosophical – would be most effective in those with substance use disorders”.

At AToN Center, we use evidence based research in our holistic and treatment modalities. Our residents and AToN graduates are highly encouraged to use healthy coping skills without the use of contraindicated medications. The benefits of Meditation and Mindfulness as they are infused in MBSR, DBT, and MBCT offer powerful – drug free—coping skills for those in recovery.

Chris McDuffie, MA, CADC-II
Chemical Dependency Counselor
AToN Center 888-535-1516

Fun In Sobriety

June 20, 2017 // by Aton Center

Laughter is the heartbeat of the human spirit. While the process of recovery requires commitment and dedication, it also requires that we enjoy life. The old saying “We are not a glum lot.” Week-ends are a great time to re-charge that silly kid in all of us.

AToN Center encourages residents to develop this balance by offering rich and exciting week-end activities. There is a lot of work in the process of healing from addictions, one important part is learning to laugh and have fun…sober!

AToN Center 888-535-1516

Holistic Recovery Solutions

May 22, 2017 // by Aton Center

One of the ways that AToN Center differentiates itself from other treatment facilities is our emphasis on a holistic approach to recovery. We do not make the assumption that the removal of the substances of abuse alone will lead to all other aspects of life magically falling into place. We also do not believe that a single discipline or philosophy can account for the complexities of how addiction affects a person. A thorough approach to recovery can span across multiple areas of life and can use various specialized treatment providers.

At the start of treatment, medical aspects are the most important so that a person can be ensured a physically safe detoxification from whatever chemicals are in their system. After that there are a multitude of areas of life that are in need of attention and fortunately there are many different providers trained to meet those needs. A chemical dependency counselor can help with education about addiction and develop more skills for relapse prevention. A psychologist can help explore emotional issues and mental health concerns underlying the addiction.

Psychiatrists can conduct evaluations to see if medications can be of assistance with decreasing cravings or mood management. Other holistic providers can include dieticians, hypnotherapists, yoga instructors, personal trainers, acupuncturists, meditation teachers and many others. This only scratches the surface of the available services that can help guide a person to a new sober lifestyle.

Remember, your addiction has likely affected many different domains of your life and therefore you may benefit from having a holistic “treatment team” that can address each area competently.

Chad K. Cox PsyD PSY23320
AToN Center 888-535-1516

Working Through Anger

April 24, 2017 // by Aton Center

“Anger is an acid that can do more harm to the vessel in which it is stored than to anything on which it is poured.” Mark Twain

We all experience anger, and all emotions are valid. The thinking behind the anger may not be, and could very well be distorted. In order to have better mastery of our feelings, thoughts, and behavior, we must begin to first explore what’s underneath.

Anger is a surface emotion, be curious the next time you feel anger. Ask yourself these questions to gain some insight and to find relief.

Why am I angry? This may start with finger pointing but find the source. It is important to identify the situational context of the anger.
How did this incident really make me feel? Be vulnerable and the answer should be clear – common underlying feelings are disappointment, entitlement, fear, shame, guilt, and powerlessness. Knowing the answer diminishes the intensity of the anger (relief).
Why was this underlying feeling so intolerable? This is where the more insightful work happens. What are the themes in your life around that emotion? Is this influenced by your past experiences?

AToN Center 888-535-1516

Yoga As A Means To A Stronger Self

March 26, 2017 // by Aton Center

Many addicts suffer from physical, psychological, and emotional stress as a result of the guilt, destructive behavior, and lifestyle consequences of addiction.

According to proponents of yoga as a path to addiction treatment, yoga poses, breathing techniques, and deep thinking can help practitioners establish a peaceful union between the body, mind, and spirit.

The holistic services offered at AToN Center are an integral part of the mind, body healing experience.

AToN Center 888-535-1516

Meditation Skills for the Advanced Meditation Practitioner

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