The friendly faces of the eating disorders admissions team, Erin McDowell and Christy Smith, at Sanford West Behavioral Health Campus! At Sanford Comprehensive Treatment for Eating Disorders, we are proud of how we have evolved since we opened the first standalone residential treatment center for eating disorders in Michigan. Our residential program is now two years old. Over the past two-plus years, we have also developed day programs and partial day programs for eating disorders, serving 14+ and all gender identities. Those in our eating disorder programs maintain the same individual the ..read more

Exercise with friends is a better way to cope with the stress of 2024! Since 2016, Sanford Behavioral Health has been writing articles about the health hazards associated with women and alcohol. We have warned women that they can’t “drink like men.” We have also listed the biological reasons why women are more susceptible to the ill effects of alcohol. However, new data from the CDC still show that death from drinking excessively is rising faster among women than among other demographics. According to the CDC, deaths from excessive alcohol use among women rose by 34% during the pandemic comp ..read more

Accessing the entire team at Sanford Behavioral Health Campus with virtual programs. Sanford Behavioral Health has offered virtual addiction treatment options since before the pandemic. Virtual treatment or telehealth is designed for those who need help with a mental health condition but have real-life obligations like work, school, or childcare. If in-person treatment is inconvenient or impossible because of a remote location or physical restrictions, virtual options have become a viable alternative. Likewise, our intensive outpatient programs have flexible schedules and meet only three hou ..read more

The physical act of cleaning helps reduce stress! What is it about spring that makes you want to box up the tchotchkes and embrace an open concept? Nature’s abundance and renewal after the long winter spur us to transform our surroundings, clean out the garage, and cull the sock drawer. This desire to declutter may have additional benefits beyond an empty laundry basket. Indeed, studies show that reducing clutter lessens distractions, allowing the brain to focus on important tasks.   Spring Cleaning Benefits 1. Decluttering Boosts Productivity The saying “clean space, clean mind” is bac ..read more

Anticipating spring is a familiar practice in Michigan! I am preparing for the family egg hunt next weekend. An extravaganza that accumulates new participants each year. It means dragging bins of plastic eggs from the attic, buying candy and trinkets, and planning brunch. Looking forward to the gathering of family and friends, children running on the grass, and the inevitable sighting of the “real” Easter Bunny (a mangy marsh hare that forages for seeds beneath my bird feeder) has given me a spring in my step. It is wonderful to have something to look forward to!   Positive Thinking Whe ..read more

  In 2017, I wrote an article about Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie’s divorce and the role alcohol played in their relationship’s demise. Brangelina was secondary to the theme of the article, but it has gone on to garner more than 150,000 views over the years. I have updated it many times, and it remains our most evergreen article. Even now, if you Google, “Is alcohol ruining my marriage?” the article will pop up on the first page. Why? Because folks go to the internet regularly to ask that burning question. So, thank you, Brad, for your honesty. It was the catalyst for providing some impor ..read more

We recently published two articles on our therapy dog, Apollonia, which were food for thought. Animals—especially dogs—are good for recovery. But what about during a virtual intensive outpatient session? Can a pet make you feel more confident or willing to share? And consider a puppy or other young animal. When is it appropriate to bring an pet into a recovery-friendly home? We’ve asked a lot of questions and offer some solutions below including the value of a therapy dog when you are in the thick of treatment. Click the link or photo to read!   Power of Pets in Virtual Addiction Treatme ..read more

Interacting with a dog produces the brain chemical oxytocin, increasing trust, emotion, and bonding. At Sanford Behavioral Health, therapy dog Apollonia (Apol) is a celebrity of sorts. When she trots through the halls with Sanford Founder Rae Green, both patients and team members brighten. She has inspired artwork in art therapy, love letters from patients leaving treatment, and even a set of personalized note cards. Apol also holds the record for the most Facebook shares (4.6k) from our first article about her: Benefits of a Therapy Dog in Mental Health Treatment. Owner Rae Green is al ..read more

Loneliness is a profound challenge for individuals with opioid use disorders. After the daily conversation about the opioid epidemic during the pandemic, the fewness of media features in recent months might lead one to believe the problem has lessened. However, overdose deaths spiked 30% between 2019 and 2020, rose another 15% between 2021 and 2022 and continue to rise. There were 111,355 overdose deaths in the 12 months ending in April 2023 (based on CDC data available for analysis on February 4, 2024). Nearly 70% of overdose deaths involved fentanyl and other synthetic opioids.   Opio ..read more

We are raising the bar on mental health treatment in Michigan. Rae and David Green founded Sanford Behavioral Health (Sanford House) in 2015 with a mission to elevate the effectiveness and availability of treatment for individuals diagnosed with addiction and mental health disorders. After nine years of intelligent, controlled growth, Sanford Behavioral Health is now a thriving substance use disorder, eating disorder, and mental health treatment center. With the opening of Sanford West Behavioral Health Campus in 2022, Sanford was able to “raise the bar” on mental health treatment in Mi ..read more