This program includes structured sauna sessions followed by brief cold exposure to train controlled physiological stress response and modulate dopamine and norepinephrine pathways. Each session begins with a short nervous-system primer and explanation. Clients practice slow, regulated breathing during heat exposure to increase tolerance and reduce anxiety reactivity. After heat, they engage in a brief cold immersion or cold rinse to activate parasympathetic rebound. The program includes journal exercises that help clients track their stress tolerance over time.

This track includes evening and end-of-day sauna sessions designed to initiate a natural cooling curve that promotes sleepiness. Clients are guided through downregulation techniques such as extended exhales and sensory quieting while in the heat. After the sauna, dim lighting and low stimulation help reinforce sleep cues. Optional educational content explains how circadian rhythms are disrupted during addiction and how heat exposure resets them. The program includes sleep journals where clients track sleep onset, duration, and quality. Staff receive a reference sheet summarizing physiological sleep mechanisms and how sauna leverages them. Weekly reviews help clients see cumulative improvements and connect their behavior to improved rest.

This program centers on using heat and steam to increase circulation, support lymphatic flow and reduce physical discomfort associated with withdrawal or medication stabilization. Sessions alternate between dry heat and herbal steam depending on client needs. Educational material describes how detoxification is supported by improved blood flow and sweating. Clients learn hydration strategies and mineral replacement to improve physical recovery. Optional light stretching or mobility work may be integrated to increase comfort. Staff receive a protocol sheet outlining contraindications and safety guidelines. Weekly physical comfort check-ins allow clinicians to monitor progress and adjust programming.

These sessions focus on gentle, structured group interaction within a low-stimulation environment. Heat naturally reduces defensiveness, making participants more open to safe social connection. The facilitator introduces simple group pacing—synchronized breathing, minimal shared check-ins or coordinated rest cycles. Clients learn how co-regulation feels: their nervous systems settling in the presence of others rather than activating. Optional educational content explains how loneliness and isolation contribute to relapse and how social safety buffers stress. Staff are trained to maintain predictable structure and avoid emotional intensity. Over time, group cohesion strengthens, improving treatment retention and interpersonal stability.

These sessions use steady, moderate heat to reduce tension, soften defensive postures and quiet limbic activation. Clients are encouraged to notice where the body holds stress and how heat changes those patterns. Breathwork and grounding cues are integrated to support downshifting into parasympathetic states. Therapeutic prompts help clients describe feelings using physical sensations rather than abstract language. Staff receive trauma-informed guidelines on pacing, consent and gentle redirection. Progress is noted through increased emotional tolerance, reduced agitation and better session engagement.

Rhythm-based and resonance-focused practices support autonomic nervous system regulation by providing predictable sensory input that can stabilize heart rate variability and reduce hyperarousal commonly seen in substance use disorder and trauma-related conditions. Structured rhythmic stimulation engages sensorimotor integration and bilateral coordination, which can improve affect regulation, attention and interoceptive awareness. Resonant sound and vibration have been shown to promote parasympathetic activation and support down-regulation of stress responses. When integrated adjunctively with sauna thermotherapy, rhythm and resonance can enhance somatic grounding and stabilization.