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Meditative Therapy

If you’ve been considering meditative therapy for addiction, TruHealing Riverbend Addiction Treatment can help. We’re located right at the border of Indiana and Kentucky so we can serve clients from both states.

But is meditative or meditation therapy right for every client struggling with addiction? Thousands of people are practicing meditation worldwide, and it’s become essential for some of them. You can find meditation classes at cafes, parks, local libraries, yoga studios, and even online. For many, it’s a path to healing — and perhaps their doctor or therapist suggested trying it or even included it in a medical or therapeutic session.

Meditation is a powerful yet simple technique that offers many health benefits to those practicing it. Due to these positive impacts on practitioners’ health, meditation has become more available as a therapy, particularly in addiction treatment programs. Searching for meditative therapy for addiction near Indianapolis? Reach out to TruHealing Riverbend Addiction Treatment today by calling [Direct] or contacting our team online.

What Is Meditative Therapy?

Meditation therapy involves methods of relaxation and consciousness expansion. These methods typically have practitioners focus on an image, keyword, mantra, or sound while eliminating outside stimuli from their awareness. Similar to yoga, meditation can help reduce feelings of anxiety, depression, and emotional triggers.

There are many types of meditation, for addiction treatment and otherwise. They can be categorized into insight or calming and guided or unguided. There is a meditation approach for every client, and it’s usually one of these:

  • Mindfulness meditation: It’s one of the most popular methods of meditation. Mindfulness involves increasing your focus, concentration, and awareness.
  • Zen meditation: This brings about calmness and encourages non-reactivity. Zen meditation reinforces attention to the present moment and encourages practitioners to clear their past.
  • Guided meditation: This method can encourage practitioners to visualize peaceful mental images as someone facilitates the act of meditating.
  • Transcendental meditation: This involves a silent mantra and teaches effortlessness to reduce stress and achieve peace.

Each type of meditation has a few things in common — choosing a quiet spot, finding a comfortable posture, and focusing attention. The duration of a meditation session can be as short as one minute or as long as several hours. There is no “right” or “only” way to practice. Meditation — especially when used as therapy — is as diverse as its practitioners.

How Does Meditation for Addiction Work?

Meditative therapy for addiction is a component of comprehensive substance use disorder (SUD) treatment programs. It can’t be the only form of therapeutic care that a client struggling with addiction undergoes as they walk their path to recovery.

A mental health professional providing meditative therapy guidance to clients may use various techniques based on their training and the clients’ needs. These techniques may include the  following:

  • Diaphragmatic breathing: Clients are instructed to sit or lie comfortably, then breathe through their nose with their mouth closed. Then, they should exhale slowly through the mouth with their lips pursed. When doing diaphragmatic breathing, clients should try to make their exhalation longer than their inhalation.
  • Straw breathing: This is another great way to extend exhalation. Clients should breathe in through their noses and exhale through a plastic straw until all the air leaves their lungs. This action should be consistently repeated within a period of two to five minutes.
  • Progressive muscle relaxation (PMR): Clients are instructed to sit or lie comfortably, as with diaphragmatic breathing. Then, they should take a few deep breaths and close their eyes. Beginning at the top of their body, they should slowly tense and then release the muscles in their body. 

When Should You Consider Meditative Therapy for Addiction?

At the beginning of an addiction recovery journey, meditation therapy may not help a client as much as medication-assisted treatment (MAT) or behavioral therapy. But in cases where withdrawal symptoms such as anxiety, depression, or insomnia keep a client from focusing only on recovery, meditative therapy can assist in grounding the client and calming their nervous system. A calm nervous system results in better sleep and better mood management.

Meditation therapy also allows clients to regain control over their impulses actively. Transcendental meditation, in particular, has been used to reduce addictive substance use and the risk of relapse. Meditative therapy’s other benefits include altering brainwaves, which contribute to cortisol reduction and improved psychological function. Mindfulness meditation can enhance the performance of the frontal cortex, a part of the brain that regulates planning and thinking. Meditation also impacts the amygdala, which reduces fear and increases the activation of the anterior cingulate cortex — which governs motor control and motivation.

You should consider meditative therapy for addiction, especially if it’s offered by the facility hosting your primary addiction treatment program. Did you know that studies show a 65% boost in dopamine release in the brain when people struggling with addiction meditate? This means that any motivations for addictive substance use — such as feeling anxious, filling a void, or thinking of the worst-case scenario — may improve with consistent meditation.

Ready To Learn More About TruHealing Riverbend’s Meditative Therapy for Addiction in Jeffersonville, IN?

If you’re looking for meditative therapy for addiction near Indianapolis, contact TruHealing Riverbend Addiction Treatment today. Reach out to our team online or call 855.652.0546.

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SHANE AUSTIN
COMMUNITY OUTREACH REPRSENTATIVE

I have worked at TruHealing Riverbend for a year now and have enjoyed every minute of it! I started with case management and grew into my role of community relations. I enjoy meeting individuals in the community, creating ways to work together, and supporting others in the industry. Helping individuals make the changes necessary for recovery motivates me to continue the work I do.

Outside of work, I like spending time with my family and friends!

Shane Austin is the Community Outreach Representative at TruHealing Riverbend.

Hometown: Saugus, MA

 

Passions & interests: The greatest passion of mine is being able to dig into the work with men in early recovery. There is nothing better than witnessing and being a part of the change. My journey in long-term recovery has taught me to value the little things in life that I am now able to do. I love to do anything that allows me to be present with my wife, family, and friends. My wife and I enjoy traveling, trying new foods, and taking long motorcycle rides with our friends. If I am not on the road working or with my wife, I am studying or playing softball.

 

The best part of my job is being able to show up for my team and clients; they all mean the world to me. I get to brainstorm and strategize with tons of different personalities. A lot of the team does not know, but I love learning from them. If I am not learning something about our industry or workplace, I am certainly learning how to effectively collaborate with different types of individuals.

 

Together, we can change the narrative and be a part of the solution to better treat those trapped in the problem.

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Marty Markovits is the Chief Information Officer at TruHealing. He oversees the people, processes, and technologies of the whole organization to ensure the business is running smoothly.

 

Markovits grew up in Brooklyn, NY (which he calls “the greatest city on Earth”) and graduated with a degree in Clinical Psychology from Queens College.

 

Markovits is a veteran in Information Technology within the healthcare field. He ensures that IT processes are simple, cost-effective, and secure. His expertise spans the entire healthcare domain, from billing and claims, to clinical, to Human Resources. He says, “My passion is to provide fully automated and operationally meaningful Business Intelligence analytics, with absolute data integrity.”

Avi Burstein is VP of Clinical Services at Amatus Health. He manages all therapeutic programming at all facilities nationwide.

 

Avi is originally from New York, and graduated from Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology. He brings over 13 years of experience in the Behavioral Healthcare Industry, in both the public and private sectors. He is passionate about therapeutic communities and the fellowship they foster between patients. Through his work in LGBTQIA, urban, rural, and religiously observant populations, Avi recognizes that each patient is unique. Therefore, he strives to ensure clinical approaches, staffing, administration, and education meet the expectation of each community Amatus Health serves.

 

“Our work must also include ending the societal stigma surrounding such conditions by building safe and supportive networks that include clients’ families whenever possible,” Avi said. “By valuing change and owning imperfections, we can strive to be better providers and walk through the door of recovery with our clients.”

Avi Burstein is VP of Clinical Services at Amatus Health. He manages all therapeutic programming at all facilities nationwide.

 

Avi is originally from New York, and graduated from Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology. He brings over 13 years of experience in the Behavioral Healthcare Industry, in both the public and private sectors. He is passionate about therapeutic communities and the fellowship they foster between patients. Through his work in LGBTQIA, urban, rural, and religiously observant populations, Avi recognizes that each patient is unique. Therefore, he strives to ensure clinical approaches, staffing, administration, and education meet the expectation of each community Amatus Health serves.

 

“Our work must also include ending the societal stigma surrounding such conditions by building safe and supportive networks that include clients’ families whenever possible,” Avi said. “By valuing change and owning imperfections, we can strive to be better providers and walk through the door of recovery with our clients.”

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Allison was born in Columbus, Ohio and was raised in South Florida. She graduated from the University of Florida’s College of Journalism and Communications. After college, Allison started working at the largest talent agency in the world, William Morris Endeavor. There, she learned marketing from top leaders specializing in global PR and endorsement campaigns, in both the Latin and English markets.

 

Through strategic public relations and creative campaign concepts, Allison has secured more than 200 national broadcast and print media placements for behavioral healthcare organizations. She brings over 15 years of marketing and PR experience, with a strong background in leading communications strategy for addiction treatment and behavioral healthcare facilities. In her role as VP of Communications, she oversees branding, public relations, social media, marketing, events, and content creation.

 

In her spare time, she loves cooking, boating, yoga, and traveling. She and her husband Bryan reside in Boca Raton, Florida.

Melissa McCarthy is the Vice President of Business Development at Amatus Health. With a decade of experience in the behavioral healthcare and addiction treatment industry, McCarthy is passionate about recovery. She has her finger on the pulse of marketing trends, with the end goal of helping businesses grow so they can serve more people in need.

 

McCarthy has worked at large enterprise recovery centers across the country spearheading business development teams. She has a wide range of experience, including transforming a third-party digital marketing and client acquisition services company into a full-continuum behavioral healthcare provider, managing several successful rebrands, and growing annual revenue fivefold.

 

As VP of Business Development, McCarthy leads a team of over 20 business development professionals nationwide. She manages client acquisition, coordinates in-service trainings with various referents and hospitals, and presents at conferences on addiction and mental health disorder treatment.

 

“Sadly, many individuals die waiting for access to life-saving behavioral healthcare services,” says McCarthy. “I am in relentless pursuit of better—better access, better care delivery and better outcomes. I consider it a privilege to work in an environment where miracles unfold daily.”

 

McCarthy lives in Maryland with her daughter.

MADISYN BOWER
DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS

I embrace compassion, integrity, and high standards in my everyday work of operations and leadership. I am a solution-focused individual, with a work ethic that influences others to become better each day.
Working in substance use treatment has given me a newfound love for helping others and creating a better community. Encouraging people to be their best selves is the most rewarding part of the job.
In my time off, I enjoy spending time with my dog Peach and relaxing!
Madisyn Bower is the Director of Operations at TruHealing Riverbend.

Yaffa Atias is the Director of Special Projects at Amatus Health. Atias is a leadership professional with a decade of experience in healthcare. She holds a BA in interdisciplinary studies from Thomas Edison State College, and a Master’s in Healthcare Management with a concentration in project management from Stevenson University. She completed her graduate capstone at Mosaic Community Services, now an affiliate of Sheppard Pratt.

 

In her role at Amatus, Atias leads and manages interdisciplinary team projects, creates solutions for any operational gaps, and continually strives for quality improvement in all processes. Atias led the organization’s COVID-19 preparedness strategy, resulting in all facilities remaining operational, and in 600 employees being retained as staff without resigning out of fear. In her role so far, she implemented licensure for three new states.

 

Atias believes Amatus Health and TruHealing stand out because every employee, from corporate to center staff, has a real passion for helping people. Atias shares this passion, “My natural compass always tugged me to behavioral health. I’ve always been fascinated by the human psyche. I have also been intimately privy to those suffering from mental illness and substance use. I later understood that my experiences weren’t unique, and quickly realized how pressing the need really is to effectively prevent and address. Moreover, how life-changing proper intervention truly is.”

 

Atias was born in Los Angeles, California and grew up in Israel and Maryland.

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Dr. Adam Cusner, PhD is an organizational psychologist by training and has brought his decade-plus experience to the healthcare field serving as the Executive Vice President of Operations for a 22-facility portfolio of skilled nursing facilities, assisted living and independent living centers across Ohio and Arizona, with an annual revenue over $250MM. While serving in this position, Dr. Cusner brought accelerated growth to these facilities, while increasing employee retention and workflow optimization. Dr. Cusner has a proven track record in the healthcare industry of providing successful leadership through his financial acumen, strategic planning, interpersonal skills, along with his ability to build strong, effective teams.

 

Dr. Cusner’s credentials include a Philosophy Doctorate in Organizational Psychology (PhD) from Cleveland State University, a Master of Arts in Psychology (MA) from Boston College with an emphasis on Psychology of Work, a Bachelor of Science in Psychology (BS) from Boston University with an emphasis in Organizational Behavior in Business and is a board-certified Nursing Home Administrator (LNHA). He has published and presented research articles in the field of organizational psychology at national healthcare conferences. Dr. Cusner is completing a book on organizational psychology in the healthcare field, which is expected to be published late early summer 2022. He is also a member of the American Psychological Association (APA), has served as the APA’s Division 17 communications chair, is a member of the Society for Industrial Organizational Psychologists (SIOP), and was selected as a professional reviewer for national conference research presentations.

 

Dr. Cusner is an advocate for his employees and is drawn to the tie between culture and quality. His extensive strategic and operational skills have delivered a high degree of success across all department levels. Dr. Cusner facilitated the establishment of an in-house financial team to provide billing and collections, accounts payable, vendor management, along with financial reporting. This provided $1.5MM annualized savings. Further, he developed department efficiencies for: Medical Staff recruitment, service-line growth, quality and safety, corporate accountability of budgetary expectations balanced with direct reporting to investor groups.

 

Dr. Cusner coordinated the financial turnaround of a 300 bed CCRC (skilled nursing, assisted living and an independent living center) in Arizona, which has been epitomized as the most financially challenging state to manage CCRC facilities. Dr. Cusner also strengthened the business growth of the Ohio facilities by 12%. He was recognized by the Governor for demonstrating a “care-conscious approach” during COVID, when Dr. Cusner carefully consolidated facility residents to accommodate staff and improve clinical care. Dr. Cusner demonstrates a results-driven culture by delivering a high-quality level of care and employee engagement.

As we continue to grow Amatus Health, the need to stay competitive and differentiate ourselves in unique ways is crucial. Building creative approaches to reach more people will take our company to new heights. This is why I am pleased to announce that we are officially rebranding. Our new national name, TruHealing Addiction & Mental Health Treatment, will eventually replace Amatus Recovery Centers.

You may be asking, “Why are we doing this?” This new name will give us national uniformity and help brand ourselves as a whole, which will be done in phases. You will still see our existing facility names co-branded with TruHealing for the time being.

Healing is what we do. Everyone who comes through our doors is in a moment of profound struggle in their lives. We support them through a life-changing process of healing and recovery, and they leave our facilities changed. This new name is a representation of that process. As mentioned above, it also allows us to have a national brand, which will make us a recognizable name in the addiction and mental health field.

In summation, these changes present an excellent opportunity for our organization to develop our mission, vision, and purpose. I look forward to prosperous growth as we head in a new and positive direction.

Sincerely,

Mark Gold
CEO
Amatus Health

CARLOS LOBATO
ADMISSIONS DIRECTOR

I have worked in recovery for almost two years now, and I am continuing my education so I can one day be a counselor for TruHealing Riverbend!
Working in recovery has taught me accountability and ambition. It has given me the opportunity to connect with individuals on a new level. I get the opportunity to educate people about recovery—and our program—to get them the help they need.
In my time off, I enjoy spending time with my dogs, watching tv, and cooking!
Carlos Lobato is the Admissions Director at TruHealing Riverbend.

JESSICA VANDER ESPT
DIRECTOR OF CLINICAL PROGRAMMING

I have worked in the recovery field for over ten years. I am a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor, Certified Clinical Supervisor, and a Certified Trauma Professional. I am passionate about helping people achieve their goals and providing them the autonomy to choose their own path.

I love teaching about health, doing insane workouts, scary movies, and winter!

Jessica Vander Espt is the Director of Clinical Programming at TruHealing Riverbend. She obtained a Bachelor of Art degree in psychology at Indiana University Southeast in 2010, and is currently working towards a Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Liberty University.
She earned her CADAC II certification in 2013, certified clinical supervisor certification in 2018, and certified trauma professional certification in 2020.

Hometown: Savannah, GA

 

Passions & Interests: I spend my time outside of work with my wife and children and am actively involved in various community needs and causes.

 

The best part of my job is knowing that we are creating a safe, healthy, nonjudgmental environment where people can come and better their lives. There is nothing more satisfying than helping others learn to live again and piece their lives back together as they become strong, productive members of society.

Together, we can bring families back together and promote healing and well-being.