Pets in Recovery – Best Friends or a Distraction?

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 […]

Therapy Dog Apollonia Inspires Patients at Sanford Behavioral Health

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 […]

Opioid Epidemic Rages On – Stats and Medication-Assisted Treatment

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 […]

Sanford Behavioral Health – Updates 2024 with Chief Operating Officer Katie Vokes

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. […]

Alcohol-Related Liver Disease on the Rise

According to a new study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), alcohol-related liver disease is on the rise. Alcohol-related liver disease is also the leading cause of death from excessive drinking. Alcohol-related deaths have increased over the past 20 years. Notably, there was a 29% increase from 2019 to 2020, attributable to […]

Why is Nutrition Important to Recovery? With Dr. Anna Flores

It’s Eating Disorder Awareness Week, and we sat down with Sanford Behavioral Health’s Doctor of Clinical Nutrition, Anna Flores, to talk about the role of nutrition in recovery. At Sanford, we incorporate nutrition education and dietician-guided meals into all our programs. We place great importance on the healing power of nutrition and supporting a healthy […]

The Importance of Food in Mental Health Treatment with Chef Peter

Chef Peter has been with Sanford Behavioral Health through a couple of kitchen moves. He has worked in the confined kitchens of historic homes and the vast, shining kitchen at Sanford West Behavioral Health Campus. He says over the years of growth at Sanford, he has also gotten “street-smart” when it comes to feeding those […]

A Day in the Life of Outpatient Addiction Treatment

Have you ever wondered what outpatient addiction treatment is like? Have you or a loved one considered getting help with alcohol or drug misuse but were afraid to call a treatment center because of the unknowns? Perhaps your schedule does not allow for a residential stay. Many options exist for treating drug or alcohol use […]

12 Hopeful Ideas to Improve Your Mental Health 2024

  During the holidays and beyond, we posted 12 articles with hopeful ideas to improve your mental health. We are heading into February with 2024 firmly under our belts. It seems like a good time to recap those 12 ideas while we still feel the newness of the New Year (and while our resolutions are […]

Sanford Outpatient Programs Guide for Mental Health

At Sanford Behavioral Health, we are ready to address today’s busy lifestyles with flexible physical spaces and expanding outpatient and telehealth programs for substance use disorders (SUD), eating disorders, and co-occurring mental health treatment. In 2023, nearly one in five U.S. adults live with a mental illness. These individuals also have work, family, school, childcare, […]