Do I need a detox?
Withdrawal symptoms are part of a condition called ‘alcohol withdrawal syndrome’, which can arise when someone (usually a heavy drinker) who has become physically dependent on alcohol stops drinking.Withdrawal symptoms should be treated as a serious warning sign that you are drinking too much and that your health is at risk. They are also an indication that you should not stop drinking suddenly and seek appropriate medical advice and help to stop drinking.
What are the signs and symptoms of alcohol withdrawal?
Mild symptoms usually start within 8 to 24 hours from the last alcoholic drink. Typical symptoms of alcohol withdrawal can include:
• Hand tremors (‘the shakes’)
• Sweating
• A pulse rate above 100 beats per minute
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Headaches
• Loss of appetite
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Irritability
• Restlessness
• Insomnia (difficulty sleeping)
Severe symptoms can also include hallucinations (seeing, hearing, or feeling things that aren’t real), as well as seizures or delirium tremens (‘DTs’). DT is a severe indication of alcohol withdrawal:
• Severe disorientation
• Increased heart rate, blood pressure and breathing problems
• Uncontrollable restless behaviour
To discuss our Alcohol Detox Programme please
What is a detox?
A ‘detox’ is the process by which a qualified practitioner will treat your alcohol withdrawal symptoms by using appropriate medication (diazepam or chlordiazepoxide) over a short period of time (a number of days) in order to reduce the withdrawal symptoms safely and comfortably so that you no longer feel the physical withdrawal symptoms. Once the ‘detox’ is completed, you are no longer physically dependant on alcohol. You may still experience the psychological aspects of dependence, known as ‘craving’.
Brynawel now offers Alcohol Detox Programme
Therapy
We offer
secular, scientific & evidence based holistic programmes
tailored specifically to the needs
of each individual guest.
At the core of our services, we offer Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), Motivational Interviewing, Relapse Prevention and Psychosocial Interventions including Family Therapy.
Alongside the therapeutic programme, we offer other services such as alternative therapies which includes meditation and mindfulness practices, yoga and reflexology.
Our full programme runs for 16 weeks and we offer an 8 week stay for private guests.
Group Therapy
Group therapy forms a major part of the treatment programme at Brynawel Rehab, and the group environment allows guests to communicate with and challenge each other, as well as providing an opportunity to receive constructive feedback. These interactions also give participants an opportunity to increase their self-awareness and practice new ways of being and interacting with others in a safe space. Group sessions occur twice daily with reflective time in between.
The group is based on cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and helps guests to understand how cognitive processes, that is their thoughts, beliefs and attitudes, impact on how they behave in response to emotional issues. The group aims to help guests change their underlying thought and behavioural patterns which in turn will alter how they feel and react in certain situations.
For some individuals, being in a group situation can be daunting, and the thought of discussing life experiences with strangers can at first seem very intimidating. We understand these fears and as such allow and encourage a period of adjustment during which time you can build up a level of trust and feelings of safety which, over time, will allow you to open up and discuss your problems more freely.
Many individuals when first arriving at Brynawel Rehab believe that they are alone in their experiences and that they are unique in having committed certain acts, having unacceptable thoughts and frightening life experiences. The group can help to highlight the similarities between guests, and being with others who have shared similar experiences and problems can help people to feel more connected and less isolated.
Often guests have described group therapy as highlighting the fact that they are not alone, that others understand where they are coming from and has given them the opportunity to feel accepted and validated. The group can offer individuals different perspectives on problems relating to their dependency issues, and also provides opportunities for timely feedback and support.
At Brynawel every resident is assigned an experienced and dedicated therapist educated to a minimum of post graduate level and accredited members of the BACP.
Our Therapy Team are also qualified to deliver a range of therapeutic approaches reflecting person centred care including the delivery of therapeutic groupwork session focussing on Dialectic Behavioural Therapies, Psychodynamic approaches, Transactional Analysis and systemic therapies. Our Therapy team deliver interventions on a group and individual basis providing guests with a safe, supportive space in which to explore personal issues.
Our recovery workers support the therapeutic approach within Brynawel by providing support to residents to develop care plans according to need as well as the provision of practical support.
The Admissions and Discharge Care Co-ordinator supports the transitional needs of people discharged from Brynawel by reaching out into local communities to ensure ongoing care co-ordination and support is available to people when they leave Brynawel.
Individual Therapy
Experiential Therapy
For the vast majority of guests coming to Brynawel Rehab, prolonged periods of dependency have generally overtaken their desire and/or ability to actively participate in life activities. At Brynawel Rehab, experiential learning forms part of the group sessions and takes place within our grounds as well as a number of external settings within the South Wales area, where a guests engage in a range of variety of physical, emotional and mental challenges.
The aim of experiential therapy for the guest is:
As an individual, enable them to:
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Learn to trust and on occasions rely on others to succeed in certain activities.
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Learn to communicate effectively.
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Learn to rebuild personal self-confidence.
And, within a group
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Experience physical and mental challenges resulting in group success.
Alternative therapies are provided by our Team to assist our residents in their rehabilitative needs and includes Art Therapy and meditation and shiatsu.
Brynawel grounds offer garden areas including vegetable beds where we support residents to grow vegetables for use in the kitchen.
There are also regular mindfulness sessions and walks to allow residents the opportunity take in the natural beauty of the surrounding forests, hills, rivers and beaches.
Becoming more aware of the present moment can help us enjoy the world around us more and understand ourselves better.
When we become more aware of the present moment, we begin to experience afresh things that we have been taking for granted.
“It’s about allowing ourselves to see the present moment clearly. When we do that, it can positively change the way we see ourselves and our lives”
Alternative Therapy
Canine Assisted
Therapy
Dogs have been used in the delivery of therapy since the early twentieth century.
Studies have shown that canine assisted therapy can increase the mood-boosting hormone oxytocin as well as decreasing the stress hormone cortisol. Pet therapy has also been shown to improve people’s satisfaction, energy levels, self-esteem and mood as well as decreasing depression.
When present in therapy, dogs can work as a great ‘ice breaker’ in both one-to-one and group sessions by making people feel more at ease, as well as lifting the spirits of patients on ward visits. Petting or stroking a dog can help with high blood pressure and stress levels.
Studies have found that just the presence of a dog can significantly help lower levels of anxiety and a survey by The Dog’s Trust found that 95% of dog owners in Britain believe that interacting with their dog made them happier, with 89% saying they talk to their dog when no one else is around.
Brynawel has two therapy dogs, who have been assessed as suitable as therapy dogs by the awesome charity Pets as Therapy.
Harriet. Our ‘Director of Well-being’
Harriet is a 6 year old Labrador and is photographed here with her owner, Paul Doster, our Head of Therapy.
Harriet is super affectionate and loves to lay her head on your lap for strokes and fuss. After working hard as a registered Guide Dog she now works at Brynawel, attending therapy sessions, enjoying group walks with our guests and Staff.
Myfi. Our ‘Director of Happiness’
Mifi is a 16 month old St Bernard. Myfie’s favourite past times are sleeping and eating. She will happily snooze, snore and roll over for tummy rubs. She loves attention but is not overly keen on a long walk, unless there is a promise of food at the end of it.
At Brynawel Rehab we value the role of the family in treating dependency and family counselling forms an integral part of our residential treatment programme. The counselling is often short term and comprises of 6 sessions, although this can be tailored to suit individual guests needs.
Family counselling can be useful in any family situation that causes stress, such as when a member of the family is drinking heavily. It can help you and your family members understand one another better and bring you closer together.
Our sessions teach you skills to deepen family connections and explore past communication patterns, and develop healthy ways of communicating. It can also help the family to understand and set healthy boundaries, explore the concept of enabling and to develop or renew intimacy within family relationships.
The counselling sessions can include all family members, although we understand that sometimes it can be difficult for family members to attend counselling because of work commitments etc, but every effort is made to accommodate this whenever possible.
Family Counselling
Contact Us
Your successful recovery is only one conversation away. So contact us. We're here to help you take the most important first step, whenever you are ready.