Animal-assisted therapy is nothing new. We’ve all seen companion animals used to help people with special needs. Animals can benefit more than just those with physical issues, though. Psychiatrists, psychologists and physicians have begun prescribing pets to combat loneliness, depression, inactivity and even stress. The unconditional affection pets offer can be helpful in a variety of settings — including treatment for chemical or process addictions.

Why? Maybe it’s because so many of us have fond memories of childhood pets. Without even knowing it, our four-legged friends helped teach us responsibility, compassion and the cycles of life and death. They also helped build self-esteem and confidence. For those in recovery, they can provide a sense of stability and routine as well as some much needed emotional support.

Maybe that’s why La Paloma’s three resident cats are so popular. The mother and two youngsters have been called by an ever-changing list of names (clients name them and then as new people come in the felines are rechristened). They may not know what names to answer to, but they know they belong. They have permanent bowls on the back patio, where residents eat in nice weather, often sharing tidbits from their plates, but they also get regular food and water from La Paloma’s maintenance staff. While not an official part of the recovery process at La Paloma, clients agree the cats offer something extra and are welcome additions.

Of course, that doesn’t mean we promise you a life free of addiction issues (no one can do that), but we offer a limited guarantee that entitles anyone who participates in our residential program for 90 days and then engages in the Intensive Case Management program for a year to return to treatment free if they relapse.

Here are the detailed terms of our guarantee:

1. Provided the individual has been in a Foundations Recovery Network (FRN) residential treatment center for a full 90 days of residential care, and then is compliant with the Intensive Case Management program for a full year after that, if such an individual relapses they may return for treatment at the same facility for 30 days of additional care.

2. A “relapse” means using alcohol, illicit drugs or nonprescribed medication. The “same facility” means the FRN residential treatment center where the individual received initial care.

3. FRN retains the right to refuse a second residential treatment to an individual who was discharged for disruptive behavior, harm to other clients, or noncompliance with our residential procedures the first time. This is in order to ensure the safety and recovery of all clients.

Healthy eating. It sounds so simple, but it really does benefit someone already in treatment for a drug or alcohol addiction. In addition to the damage substance abuse does to relationships and families, it also depletes the body. Without the necessary nutrients, it’s harder to focus and to do the work required for a successful stay in treatment.

The Mediterranean Diet

That’s why treatment centers like La Paloma rely on the healthy Mediterranean diet to restore the physical health of those in their care. The diet is characterized by a high intake of vegetables, fruits, legumes and whole grain cereals as well as unsaturated fat in the form of heart-healthy extra virgin olive oil and a lot of wild-caught fish (unfried and unbreaded, of course). Conversely, adherents focus on eating few saturated fats (like those found in meat and dairy) and a low intake of dairy, meat and poultry.

It’s a diet that is frequently praised by health professionals and, when compared to a traditional Western diet, is associated with a lower risk of everything from cancer and heart disease to diabetes and Alzheimer’s. Recent studies even claim that it may prevent mental decline.

After weeks of healthy eating, many residential clients feel so good that they become committed to continuing their healthy eating once they leave La Paloma. That may be the strongest recommendation of all.

That’s why La Paloma’s head chef, Jordan Emerson, is so focused on planning and preparing menus that provide a healthy and balanced diet. He realized the opportunity he has to positively affect the recovery of others by helping them make healthy diet choices during their healing process.

Emerson has a varied background as a chef, thanks to his extensive work in the hospitality industry in the California Bay Area and Big Sur as well as providing corporate hospitality for racing companies like Players Racing and Forsythe Championship Racing. His current role at La Paloma allows Emerson to help others while doing what he loves — creating good food.

The Discovery Center for Professionals at La Paloma in Memphis, Tenn., is one such program. Rated by Dartmouth Psychiatric Research Center as in the Top 5 percent of co-occurring disorder treatment facilities in the U.S., La Paloma’s program has been called the “gold standard.” Using evidence-based treatment strategies taken from 11 federally funded research studies, their clinical program is fully integrated, offering simultaneous treatment for addiction and mental health disorders.

To find out more about this problem and the specific issues of treating professionals, we went straight to the source: Paige Bottom, CEO of La Paloma Treatment Center.

Question: Why are addiction rates so much higher in professionals?

Bottom: Because of the increased stress levels associated with certain jobs, business professionals are more likely to experience a high rate of chemical dependency and mental health issues as co-occurring disorders.

Question: What types of jobs are included in this group?

Bottom: The jobs include physicians, nurses and other health practitioners, as well as attorneys, executives and other professionals.

Question: How does La Paloma’s Discovery Program address these issues?

Bottom: In the Discovery Program, we believe that healing the body, mind and spirit requires a comprehensive plan of recovery for the professional client and the individual’s family. This process begins with a comprehensive evaluation and continues with specialized and individualized treatment, addressing the unique needs of the client.

Question: What does that include?

Bottom: Depending on the client, the Discovery Program services may include medically managed detox, partial hospitalization, residential and/or intensive outpatient services. Services at these levels of care could also include individual, group or family therapy as well as trauma resolution, professionals peer support and assistance, a professionals focus group, adjunct/integrative therapies and more.

Question: What about the special needs of professionals whose jobs require licensing that their addiction may have put in jeopardy?

Bottom: Our treatment for professionals may also include specialty reporting to licensing and other regulatory bodies monitoring certain professionals.