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Addictions can be an overwhelming and incredibly difficult to overcome. Often the addict needs an intervention to help him or her onto the road to recovery. That's why facilities such as The Ark of Little Cottonwood are so important.
The Ark of Little Cottonwood is a duel diagnosis, long-term residential treatment facility. Owner Gloria Boberg tells me the average stay is 90 days. Patients are treated for mental health and various addictions. The mental health aspect is essential because if a patient doesn't deal with the underlying causes of the addiction, he/she will have an even more difficult time conquering.
Gloria says the facility has two locations, one in Draper and another in Sandy. The 10,000 square foot Sandy center, complete with peace gardens where patients can study or relax, can treat up to 24 patients. It also boasts a vegetable garden where all produce grown is donated to the Utah Food Bank, five horses for equine therapy and tennis and basketball courts. The 5,000 square-foot Draper center is home to an intensive 10-12 week outpatient program.
What the Ark of Little Cottonwood is most known for, Gloria says, is its lifetime care. There's no limit on how long patients can come back after their initial treatment is complete. Prior to running the Ark, Gloria, a licensed substance abuse counselor, was a co-director for the Utah Alcoholism Foundation. She worked for a facility in Provo for several years before deciding to start her own center. The Ark of Little Cottonwood initially launched 12 years ago, but it took two years to get licensed, so the facility celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2009.
The Ark of Little Cottonwood is most known for its up-to-date treatments, talented addiction specialists and a high success rate. Gloria loves how dynamic the mental health field is and that it's constantly changing as new research is unveiled. She is in the process of opening a community education center within the Draper facility to teach more about drugs and addiction.
