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A Native Healing Program for Tribes Across Arizona

Get Culturally Informed Support as a Tribal Member at Changes

Finding a native healing program that includes cultural practices with proven mental health treatment techniques has a positive impact on Native American communities. Unlike Western medicine, traditional healing practices and spirituality are closely connected in the culture. That means striking just the right balance is the key to success for a native healing program.

Changes Healing Center offers substance abuse and addiction treatment programs that blend the traditional health practices of indigenous communities with an evidence-based treatment process. We are committed to inclusion and proud to facilitate the recovery process for native communities from the Grand Canyon State and beyond.

We encourage you to read more to learn how our drug and alcohol abuse program can help native people and honor the Native American culture.

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Factors Contributing to Substance Use in Native American Communities

It’s essential to acknowledge that the cause of alcohol and substance abuse among Native Americans comes primarily from trauma.

Historical trauma involves long-standing memories of lives upended and entire populations killed or forced into government schools. It’s important to understand for drug and alcohol addiction treatment program providers to understand that the government schools remained in place as recently as 1978.

The federal government required each participant in the program to abandon their parents and native language, swap culturally appropriate clothing for Western styles, and cut their beautiful long hair. They were not permitted to receive traditional healing but had Western doctors forced on them instead. Those who graduated from these programs often developed substance addiction to cope with the pain of having their identity stripped away.

Alcohol and Substance Abuse among Native Americans

General and Intergenerational Trauma

Intergenerational trauma refers to the remnants of trauma shared across multiple generations. The oral traditions remind Native Americans of massacres and forced marches onto reservations. While those alive today didn’t experience these things firsthand, they have heard the tragic stories of the lived experiences of their ancestors and still mourn the loss of so much of their long, rich cultural traditions.

Completing a recovery program for tribal members will not help Native Americans get back all that they have lost over the past 400 years. However, it can help those impacted by substance use and co-occurring disorders lead more stable and productive lives today. Some past clients have explained that leading more balanced lives despite past attempts to subdue the tribal culture would make the ancestors proud.

A Native Perspective on Healing from Alcohol or Drug Addiction

The story of White Buffalo Calf Woman tells the story of a wise and sacred spirit woman. She introduced ancestral knowledge of the Seven Sacred Rites. Her teachings focused on spiritual harmony between all living beings, humans, and nature. She transformed into a white bison calf as she left, symbolizing hope and renewal.

Although that example is a Lakota teaching, which likely occurred near modern-day Rapid City, South Dakota, it still shares a compelling story of transformation and renewal. It suggests that tribal communities can reconnect with their cultural roots and find hope during the recovery journey.

Stories like this permeate the native culture. It’s up to the culturally informed treatment center to tap into this knowledge to deliver treatment services to Native American communities.

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Traditional Healing Practices and Current Mental Health Practices

Let’s look at the connection between traditional practices and ceremonies and receiving care for substance use disorders at a treatment center. Once we understand the spiritual healing traditions, we can support cultural diversity in mental health treatment and addiction recovery programs.

Psychotherapy and the Talking Circle

Native Healing Program - Psychotherapy and the Talking Circle

The talking circle creates a safe, non-judgmental space where Native American communities can meet and share lived experiences with their peers. Clients in psychotherapy can have honest, open conversations with their therapists.

In this setting, they can open up about traumatic events or contributing factors to drug use and/or alcoholism. Family and group therapy and peer support groups are even more closely related to the talking circle and similar cultural activities.

Undergoing Detox and the Purification Ceremony

In Native American medicine, a traditional practitioner conducts spiritual ceremonies and smudges herbs like sage or cedar to cleanse the body and spirit.

In the first days of substance use treatment programs, the body’s metabolic processes begin removing drugs or alcohol. Both the traditional ceremonies and today’s treatment support mental and physical healing.

Medication Management and Sacred Herbs

Traditional healing practices involve a healer with extensive education about herbal medicines. These herbs are essential in Native American customs.

Just as Indigenous communities have long relied on herbs, modern-day medication management offers a treatment approach that can honor ancient traditions while providing effective and safe treatment for drug or alcohol addiction.

Music Therapy and Drumming and Dancing

Native Healing Program - Music Therapy and Drumming and Dancing

Native Americans believe that drumming connects human spirituality to the heartbeat of Mother Earth, and dancing tells the story of past generations.

Drum ceremonies are similar to music and movement therapy, which brings emotional benefits. Access to drums and music, as well as spiritually supportive quotes and teaching, during addiction treatment helps with emotional release in a way that connects to cultural practices.

Mindfulness Practices and Sweat Ceremonies

The sweat lodge is thought to purify the body and mind according to cultural traditions. The sweat lodge changes lives by opening the mind to release stress and negativity.

Similarly, learning mindfulness to cope with triggers can help transport individuals away from current anxiety or triggers. It’s a mental escapism that is powerfully healing, similar to the impact of the sweat lodge.

Luna Overcame Alcohol Abuse

Alcohol Addiction Treatment for Tribal Community

‘Luna’ arrived at Changes Healing Center full of anxiety and fear that she had shamed her grandparents. She grew up in a tribal community and was a gifted child. She left her family to pursue a Higher Education; she planned to become a social worker and help her people. The pressures of college proved triggering for Luna, and she began drinking to relieve the internal stress.

The daily drinking turned into alcohol addiction. She soon started to skip a few classes and stayed home, sleeping off the effects of alcohol she’d consumed the night before. After discussing her problem with her grandmother, Luna took time over summer break to go to Changes.

In the recovery center, Luna learned about the impact of trauma. She was so afraid of bringing shame to the ancestors who had sacrificed so much that she created a self-imposed sense of pressure. The staff taught her coping skills, such as traditional dancing, to release her daily stress. Luna is back at college and on track to graduate.

Up To 100% of Rehab Cost Covered By Insurance

Recovery Changes Lives – Call for Help at Changes Today

Don’t let concerns about the cost of treatment stop you from getting help for yourself or a loved one. AIHP is an offshoot of AHCCCS in Arizona and is a form of insurance provided by the federal government’s Indian Health Services Department, covers mental health services and addiction recovery.

Your insurance covers your treatment center program at Changes, and can cover up to 100% of the costs. We can help you better understand your benefits and even get the program pre-authorization if needed. Reach out to our admissions department for help with this process.

Changes Healing Center understands that addiction recovery for Native Americans must align with tribal customs and practices. Our team has mastered balancing your traditional healing practices with new recovery methods.

Call us today – all calls are confidential, and we are here to learn more about your needs and support your recovery!

Why Changes Healing Center?

The mission of the CHC family is to assist in any way possible our client’s desire to achieve and maintain a life of long-term sobriety.

We are a licensed drug rehab in Phoenix, AZ, with substance abuse and Arizona alcohol rehab programs.

Our Programs serve Maricopa County and the surrounding cities and regions with evidence-based behavioral healthcare provided by individuals passionate about recovery.

We are JCAHO accredited for addiction treatment by the Joint Commission and strive to continuously improve our offerings and make treatment more accessible for all in need.

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Changes Healing Center

29 W Thomas Rd # 205

Phoenix, AZ 85013

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(602) 691-7244

The information on this website should not be taken as medical advice for any individual case or situation. This information is not intended to create, and receipt or viewing does not constitute, a doctor-patient relationship. © 2023 All Rights Reserved.