We hear it all the time: “celebrities are just like everyone else.” And in many ways, that’s true. But you might have some unique concerns when it comes to rehab. For example, privacy, flexibility, and maintaining your lifestyle might be especially high priorities. In a luxury rehab center, you can start addiction and mental health recovery without sacrificing your other needs.
Why Is Addiction So Common in Celebrities?
Addiction doesn’t discriminate. Whether or not you’re famous, you might develop an addiction for a variety of reasons. But certain aspects of fame contribute to higher rates of addiction among affluent people:1
Easier access to drugs and alcohol
Isolation from trustworthy support systems
Trauma from abuse and neglect, especially during childhood fame
Pressure from demanding professions
Like anyone else, some celebrities may also have a genetic predisposition to addiction.2 This risk is further increased when combined with a stressful lifestyle.
Unique Challenges of Recovery for Celebrities
If fame plays a role in developing addiction, it also affects how you access treatment. Many celebrities have ongoing contractual obligations like games, tours, or interviews. So if you take time off work for treatment, you might face career and financial penalties. And those commitments don’t end after rehab. Many of them even come with an expectation to drink or use drugs with your colleagues and fans.
High achievers also face significant financial pressures. You might be supporting a large staff, artistic collaborators, and loved ones. So if you stop working, they could feel immediate effects. And fame doesn’t always bring financial success. High-profile activists, politicians, and artists can’t always afford rehab centers with the strict privacy they need.
For this demographic, public opinion has a major impact on the recovery process. And unwanted media attention can interfere with healing. Because of this, confidentiality is a major concern for high-profile clients—as it should be. You have the right to recover on your own terms. That’s why most rehabs have privacy policies that keep celebrities safe from prying eyes.
Celebrity rehabs understand the unique ways that fame affects addiction and recovery. There are a few key ways rehabs approach treatment for high-profile patients.
Confidentiality
For most celebrities, privacy is essential for recovery. That way, you can focus on yourself and the changes you want to make, without distractions. With this in mind, celebrity rehabs have strict privacy policies.
Location can also play a role in keeping your recovery private. Swiss rehabs, for example, take anonymity to the next level. Jan Gerber, CEO of Paracelsus Recovery in Zurich, explains:
“In terms of confidentiality, that’s basically the second name of Switzerland. It’s the banking secrecy, the whole discretion. The Swiss mindset is, in a way, non-sensational. We get clients who are celebrity, A-list Hollywood actors, who go to the local Starbucks. Of course they’re recognized, but it’s not in the news, the local tabloids don’t write about it, and they’re not harassed for autographs either.”
Flexibility
With success comes responsibility. If a team of employees depend on you, you might not be able to take time off work for recovery. Or you might need to attend social functions, or stay in touch with your family. At many elite rehabs, you can keep these commitments during your stay.
Some centers have more relaxed device use policies, so you can stay connected throughout treatment. Others even allow you to work remotely. As long as these activities don’t interfere with your progress, you can continue taking care of business while you heal.
Gerber describes how the clinicians at Paracelsus Recovery accommodate each patient’s individual needs:
“We’ve had people with regular scheduled TV appearances, such as entertainers who have had to be in front of the camera once a week in a different country. We could accommodate that. We have people who run companies, or family business empires. They have to have work calls every day. We have to accommodate that.”
Tikvah Lake Recovery provides clients with a sober companion to join them at special events.
At White River Manor in South Africa, for instance, patients can go bungee jumping, whitewater rafting, or even on safari. Director Co-Owner Giles Fourie describes the therapeutic value of these activities:
“There’s great therapy in that. It’s also just about having fun. There’s great value in our clients experiencing what it is to have fun outside of addiction, outside of the substances that they believed they needed in order to experience joy in their lives.”
And these experiences don’t just bring joy to your time in treatment. They can also set you up for long-term success.
Comprehensive Aftercare
When you leave inpatient treatment, you’ll probably return to the same world you left behind. Even if you’re sober, you might need to keep attending high-profile events where drugs and alcohol play a role. And you’ll still face the same pressures you did before entering treatment.
That’s why many celebrity rehabs offer comprehensive aftercare. You can return to the center for a follow-up stay, or meet with your therapist remotely. Some rehabs, like Tikvah Lake Recovery, even offer sober companions to join you at special events. Their presence can help you work through triggers and avoid relapse.
What Rehabs Do Celebrities Go To?
Recovery is unique for everyone—even high-profile clients. While many celebrity rehabs are lavish retreats, that’s not universally true.
As extravagant as this sounds, not all celebrity rehabs are expensive. And most of them accept insurance since the adoption of the Affordable Care Act. Treatment in some parts of the world, like Thailand, is particularly accessible. Whatever your budget is, you can likely find a luxury rehab that fits your lifestyle.
The Hills Rehab Chiang Mai and other rehabs in Thailand offer luxury amenities at an affordable price point.
Bespoke Luxury Rehabs
When you’re used to a high standard of living, leaving it behind can interfere with healing. But if luxury amenities are a priority for you, many rehabs can meet your needs. You might have a private chef, personal trainer, and house staff assigned to you during your stay. And you can stay in a 5-star room, private suite, or even an entire villa. Many luxury rehabs also offer a 24/7 concierge service. You’ll have somebody there to act as a liaison between you, the staff, and your loved ones throughout treatment. And they can also be an important source of emotional support outside of your treatment team.
In rehabs like Orenda at Futures, this approach is central to recovery. Their team believes “freeing patients to concentrate fully on therapy produces better outcomes.”4 To that end, their team is dedicated to meeting each client’s unique needs. They’re always available to answer your questions and make your stay as comfortable as possible.
These types of rehabs treat the whole person, addressing your physical, mental, and spiritual wellness. At Alta Mira Recovery in California, expert staff “address neurobiological, psychological, social, physical and spiritual aspects of addiction” with therapies ranging from cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to equine therapy.
Celebrity Rehabs: Joyful and Private Places to Heal
When you find fame, it’s all too easy to lose yourself in the process. In treatment, you can get to know yourself again without the pressure of public opinion. And you won’t have to choose between career success and recovery. Celebrity rehabs show you how to keep the best parts of your lifestyle, and let go of the behaviors that aren’t serving you.
Search our collection of luxury rehabs to learn more about their locations, approaches, and special considerations.
Addiction and mental health don’t discriminate: even rich and famous people need help sometimes. But if you have a high standard of living, it might be hard to imagine residential treatment. In the world’s top rehabs, you can start recovery without giving up the best parts of your life.
What Makes Celebrity Rehabs Special?
Luxury rehabs offer various benefits, but some outdo the others—like rehabs for celebrities. Along with high quality treatment, celebrity rehabs provide once-in-a-lifetime experiences. You can go skydiving, rafting, whale watching, or opt for a sunset yacht ride. At these centers, comfort and recovery go hand-in-hand.
From the outside, a celebrity rehab might pass as a high-end resort or tropical getaway. But their treatment offers more benefits than a ritzy vacation. At a celebrity rehab, you’ll get a blend of 2 worlds: luxury living and effective addiction treatment.
Celebrity Rehab Centers Around the World
You can find celebrity rehabs around the globe, with a wide variety of treatments and amenities. Whether you prefer the tropics, a mountain retreat, or a private island oasis, there’s most likely a center that meets your needs.
Exclusive Hawaii Rehab
Exclusive Hawaii Rehab offers holistic treatment for addiction, eating disorders and mental health.
Clients are safe from prying eyes in a gated residence, hidden from the road. And a security team guards the property for extra privacy. Exclusive Hawaii Rehab has 3 room options: shared, private with a shared bathroom, or a private room with an en suite bathroom. They treat a maximum of 7 clients at a time.
Along with privacy, Exclusive Hawaii Rehab offers comprehensive care. They tend to your mental, physical, and even spiritual health throughout treatment. Nutritional counseling and concierge IV therapies restore your body’s nutrients. They also offer traditional Hawaiian Ho’oponopono sessions (a prayer for forgiveness), channeling the goddess Madame Pele to nourish your spirit.
If you need to, you can keep up with work during recovery. This center allows you to use your phone and laptop, and provides a dedicated workspace. And when you’re not in therapy, you can feed manta rays, take a cooking class, visit waterfalls and caves, or just relax on the beach.
Passages Malibu
Passages Malibu is housed in 5 estates, equipped with extravagant amenities, on the Pacific.
In sunny California, Passages Malibu offers holistic treatments like hypnotherapy, acupuncture, and massage. Individual therapy is central to your recovery process, with 60-80 hours of 1:1 therapy each month.
Patients can choose either a shared or private room. You’ll also have access to luxurious lounge areas and multiple pools. You’re free to bring your phone and laptop and stay connected to work during treatment.
On-site chefs offer nutritious meals tailored to your dietary needs. Passages Malibu doesn’t use 12-Step therapies, instead favoring a holistic approach. They see addiction as a fully treatable condition, not something you’ll have for the rest of your life. Working with your individual therapist and treatment team, you’ll explore the root causes of your addiction. And once you understand where your behavior comes from, you can learn to make different choices.
NEOVIVA
NEOVIVA, an ultra private rehab on Lake Lucerne in Switzerland, caters to executives and high-profile clients.
NEOVIVA welcomes celebrities to a discreet lakeside location in Switzerland. Their treatments focus on what causes addiction, like trauma or a mental health diagnosis. In daily 1:1 and group therapy sessions, you’ll get support from both your care team and other patients. The program encourages close relationships, with a 1:3 staff-to-client ratio. And for even greater privacy, they treat just 5 clients at a time.
This rehab center operates within a hotel. So you’ll have access to all the hotel’s amenities, like their sauna, restaurant, and outdoor pool. You can even bring your pet! Each private room overlooks Lake Lucerne. But with no signage or staff uniforms, you’ll look just like any other hotel guest. And your treatment sessions stay in a private section of the hotel, away from other guests. All staff—including NEOVIVA’s and the hotel’s—comply with strict confidentiality requirements.
Reflecting their holistic approach, NEOVIVA offers wellness treatments like yoga, breath work, and Qi Gong. When you’re not in therapy, you can explore your surroundings and see the famed Lake Lucerne up close. Your weekends could include forest hikes, trips into nearby villages, and time at the lake.
AToN Center
AToN Center offers daily individual sessions and a holistic approach in an exclusive, luxurious setting.
AToN Center offers the privacy and luxury most celebrities need. Their San Diego residence has private rooms and sits on 10 acres, giving you plenty of space to explore the outdoors.
Here, you’ll have 4 hours of therapy a day: 3 group therapy hours and a 1-hour individual session. And if it’s helpful, your family can join you for weekly therapy sessions too. AToN Center won’t restrict access to your devices either, as long as it doesn’t interfere with your treatment.
Their holistic practitioners offer weekly sessions of acupuncture, massage, personal training, yoga, and hypnotherapy. You can also go on hikes, attend a painting class, meditate, and heal your energy with Reiki.
Istana
Istana provides confidential bespoke treatment at locations in Barbados, Bali, and Ibiza.
Istana has locations in Ibiza, Bali, and Barbados. Each location treats just one client at a time in a private villa. These serene retreats become your recovery oasis. And your family can come too, if you and your treatment team agree that it would help you heal. You can also keep up with work, thanks to their flexible technology policy.
This program offers customized treatment each step of the way, using evidence-based and holistic therapies to meet your needs. Their evidence-based practices include cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which teaches you new ways to respond to the thoughts and behaviors that led you to addiction.
Istana prioritizes confidentiality for therapeutic and privacy reasons. Private airport pickups keep your care secluded from the beginning. Staying in their unmarked, 4-bedroom villas protects you from the public eye. And with a care team fully versed in confidentiality, you can trust that your recovery process will be protected.
You’ll have a butler, personal chef, and life coach, among the many other personnel. And in your free time you can enjoy island tours, cooking classes, making music, and learning new dances.
Raindrum
Raindrum provides evidence-based treatment for one client at a time, administered from luxury homes by a dedicated and personal team.
At an ultra-private center like Raindrum, you can choose between several private residences. Whether it’s on the beach or in the countryside, you’ll have a luxurious living space all to yourself during treatment.
You can attend Raindrum to heal from addiction and co-occurring mental health conditions like burnout, depression and anxiety. This rehab offers experiential therapies like surf therapy, equine therapy, dance, and photography. You can also get creative with art therapy or pottery, and even learn a new language.
Raindrum prioritizes individuality. Treatment is specially tailored to support your needs and goals for the future. Their staff even come to your residence, instead of meeting you in a clinical setting.
At Raindrum, every element of treatment takes place 1:1, talk therapy to personal training. You’ll have individual therapy sessions each day. You’ll also have a full team of support staff including housekeepers and a personal chef.
The Sanctuary Vancouver Island
The Sanctuary Vancouver Island provides ultra-private, personalized care for high-profile clients with mental health struggles, addiction, eating disorders, and executive burnout.
The Sanctuary Vancouver Island offers bespoke, high-end treatment. This center can meet almost any medical or emotional need you may have. Along with addiction and mental health treatment, they also focus on chronic pain management, post-operative care, and weight stabilizing. And their chronic pain track helps clients manage ongoing pain without prescription medications, or with a lower dose.
This center offers both evidence-based and alternative treatments. For example, you might combine a talk therapy like CBT with transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). More than 100 on-call staff members support your recovery, from chiropractors to psychiatrists.
In addition to world-class care, The Sanctuary Vancouver Island offers elite amenities. You’ll stay in one of several private residences on Vancouver Island—close to the shore, in the quiet forest, or somewhere in between. Between therapy sessions, you can enjoy delicious meals from your personal chef, go whale watching, or even explore the area in a seaplane.
Finding Recovery as a Celebrity
Addiction treatment won’t take away all your problems. But it can teach you new ways to manage ongoing challenges. After rehab, you can bring those coping skills wherever you go next—whether that’s on stage, on the field, or in the privacy of your own home.
Recovery is an immensely personal journey, but it doesn’t have to be isolating. 1-on-1 treatment, otherwise known as individual therapy, offers the opportunity to build a unique and strong bond with your therapist or care provider. For many people, this personal connection facilitates healing in a powerful way.
Most luxury rehab programs include a balance of one-on-one treatment, group therapy and activities, and family therapy. The goals of each are different, so one isn’t necessarily better than the other. They all have the potential to powerfully impact your treatment experience.
A core component of one-on-one treatment is the additional focus your provider has on you, allowing both of you to explore your situation in depth. Many people find this beneficial, and it might even be necessary for certain patients. Some conditions, for example, require one-on-one attention. Or if you’re a high-profile person, you may need to remain anonymous throughout treatment, which makes attending groups a challenge.
Here, we’ll guide you through the different aspects of one-on-one treatment.
Understanding One-On-One Treatment
Individual vs. Group Therapy: What’s the Difference?
In individual treatment, you attend one-on-one sessions with your therapist, counselor, or care provider. This type of environment offers some unique takeaways:
You are the focal point. Your provider focuses solely on you, allowing them to gain a deeper understanding of different aspects of your life.
You can address a wide range of topics per session. Because it’s just you and your provider, you can work through issues that may be more unique to your situation, like employment status, legal matters, and more.
You can make adjustments to your program. In a group setting, you may not have the opportunity to address your individual treatment plan. 1-on-1 sessions give you the space to discuss the nature and structure of your recovery program. If certain things aren’t working for you, you can talk to your provider about changing them.
You have greater privacy. You can work through your issues in confidentiality, but without having to go through your healing process alone.
You can work at a pace that’s comfortable for you. Addiction treatment involves a lot of goal-setting and skill-building work. During individual sessions, you can go through these at your own pace.
Group Therapy
Group therapy usually involves 5 or more people. 1 person leads these sessions, though a co-leader may be involved in larger groups. While some treatment facilities may have groups of 15 people or more, many luxury rehabs have groups of around 6-8 people. Group settings offer a different dynamic from individual treatment:
The door opens for conversations to flow. Participants can jump in and offer feedback, creating opportunities to discover new insights.
You can focus on a topic that unites all participants. While conversation topics may fluctuate in individual treatment, group treatment often centers on a singular topic that involves all participants. For example, you may join a group that focuses on eating disorders or depression treatment.
Group treatment more closely resembles real-world situations. You’ll gain skills for being part of a community and speaking more openly with others.
What to Expect From a One-On-One Treatment Session
1. Getting to know you: Your first 1-on-1 treatment session may look different from the following ones. It’s an opportunity for you and your therapist to get to know one another. The relationship you build with your therapist is a fundamental aspect of individual treatment, so most therapists will use this chance to learn as much about you as possible. You can expect them to ask questions about your personal history, substance use history, needs, and goals. This is also a good time to address any questions or concerns you may have.
2. Laying out a treatment plan: Next, you’ll work on a treatment plan that’s suited toward your recovery goals. At centers that offer highly individualized care, like single-client rehabs, you have the option to be heavily involved in the planning process. For some people, taking such an active role in designing a treatment course might be overwhelming. If that’s the case, you can follow a predetermined plan laid out by your therapist. Once you’ve agreed to a treatment course, you’ll begin your sessions.
3. Open up in a private, safe environment: In an individual treatment session, you can discuss anything that comes up in private, without judgment. Your therapist will be there to guide you through challenging thoughts, behaviors, and feelings using various psychotherapy techniques. Goal setting and skill building are both key aspects of individual therapy. Skills you may learn include how to set healthy boundaries, or finding healthy ways to cope with emotional hardship. As you progress through your healing journey, you can expect your goals to change.
4. Doing the work outside of sessions: Your therapist will help guide you through your process. However, your readiness for change will influence what you get out of treatment. That is, the actual healing work falls on you. Oftentimes, this happens outside of therapy sessions. You’ll have time to reflect on your thoughts and behaviors while learning how to integrate lessons from therapy into your daily life. This process can help you glean further insight into your thoughts and feelings. Bringing this information into your next session allows you to dive deeper into the therapeutic process.
Common Types of Therapies Used in 1-on-1 Treatment
Most luxury rehab programs offer a mix of psychotherapy, otherwise known as talk therapy, and experiential therapy. This helps maintain a balance between the intensity of talk therapy and the immersiveness of embodied experiences.
There are many different styles of psychotherapies and therapeutic activities. You may even want to choose a program depending on which of these they have available.
Psychotherapy
Popular types of individual therapies include cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT), and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT).
DBT is a proven effective evidence-based treatment3 approach that incorporates mindfulness techniques with practical skills to help you tolerate and regulate your emotions. DBT draws from principles of Zen Buddhism and teaches you that your emotions are valid, however,you’re not your emotions. Your therapist will guide you through 4 distinct modules of DBT, often taken from the first or second edition of Dr. Linehan’s original DBT workbook:4 mindfulness, emotional regulation, interpersonal effectiveness, and distress tolerance. DBT is especially beneficial for people with certain diagnoses, including borderline personality disorder and PTSD.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Acceptance and commitment therapy5 is an approach of behavioral therapy that focuses on mindfully accepting, rather than avoiding, unhelpful or challenging situations. The underlying thought behind ACT is that all of our feelings, even the difficult ones, are a necessary part of life. Your therapist will take you through techniques to help you accept your psychological experiences (acceptance). You’ll clarify your personal goals and values. From there, your therapist will teach you the skills to build psychological flexibility, so you have the tools to act in a way that’s in line with your values (commitment
Experiential Therapy
Popular one-on-one experiential therapies offered at luxury rehabs include animal-assisted therapy and different forms of physical movement.
Equine Therapy
Equine therapy involves working with horses to treat trauma and suffering from addiction. At some luxury rehabs, a health professional will work with you alone through a series of activities designed to achieve therapeutic goals. In this 1-on-1 environment, they can help you process any emotions that come up in the moment. Benefits of equine therapy6 include improved social connection and self-esteem, enhancing your trust levels, becoming more perceptive to the needs of others, and more.
Physical fitness
Several studies reveal that physical exercise improves mental health,7 so you’ll see many private rehab centers that include physical fitness in their program. Some centers offer sessions with a personal trainer, allowing you to explore your fitness needs in depth.
The team at Paracelsus Recovery in Switzerland strives to gain a comprehensive understanding of their clients’ needs when it comes to fitness.
“We start with an assessment process, looking at the client’s exercise history, what they’re doing, and whether they have injuries. We assess their relationship with fitness, whether they’ve been to a gym or have worked with a trainer before, and examine their current state of health. Then, we build the program around that. It’s really important for me to gauge their fitness levels and design the right type of exercises for it.”
If you’re searching for mental health or addiction treatment, it’s a good idea to look for a program that blends individual and group therapy. This can target various aspects of your recovery for a more complete healing journey.
Is Individual or Group Therapy More Beneficial?
Because everyone’s recovery journey is so unique, most rehab centers offer a number of healing modalities to accommodate different needs. This includes both individual and group therapy. Each has different goals, and both can be valuable to your healing journey. Some clients find that a blend of the 2 modalities is a good way to gain the benefits of both.
Benefits of Individual Therapy
1. The focus is on you: In individual therapy, all the focus is on you: conversations with your therapist are tailored to your story. Your therapist will try to gain a more in-depth understanding about different aspects of your life. This type of individualized attention can help you unpack very specific issues.
3. Individual therapy may be more effective in the short term: A meta-analysis comparing individual versus group therapy in the treatment of adults with depression showed that individual therapy can be more effective9 than group therapy in the short term. There may be higher risk factors for drop out in group therapy10 due to challenges in compiling the right group. However, findings at this stage shouldn’t discourage people who may truly benefit from group therapy.
4. Your therapist can meet you where you’re at: Not everyone is at the same stage of readiness for change in their recovery journey. With individual treatment, your therapist can meet you where you are, and you can work on your issues at a pace that matches your situation.
5. You can open up in greater privacy: In individual treatment, it’s just you and your therapist. You’re working through your issues in complete confidentiality. For some clientele, like high-profile people, this level of privacy is a requirement.
6. Certain clientele require 1-on-1 focus: Some demographics have a unique set of needs for recovery, and certain conditions require more 1-on-1 attention. Someone with a dual diagnosis may need more individualized sessions with their psychiatrist, for example. Meanwhile, people with severe social anxiety may not be able to open up in group settings.
Benefits of Group Therapy
1. You have a support network: Many people who face mental health or substance use disorders feel isolated in their struggles. Speaking about it in a group setting can help you realize you’re not alone.
2. You can gain new perspectives: Group settings allow for dynamic conversations to occur. Other people in your group may offer feedback that helps you realize aspects of your healing you weren’t previously aware of.
3. Empowerment through support: An important aspect of group therapy is the peer support it offers. You may feel empowered to support others in their healing journey, and this can inspire your own.
4. Diversity of opinions: You can hear from diverse voices in a group setting. Seeing how different people work through their struggles may offer inspiration.
5. You can open up in a social setting: In group therapy, you have the opportunity to speak about topics you may not otherwise bring up in your normal social circles. Some people find it therapeutic to open up to others, and this teaches valuable social skills that you can carry into life outside of rehab.
Good-quality private residential rehabs offer even more hours with a well-rounded clinical team. Luxury programs tend to provide 2 or more individual sessions a week.
For example, at McLean Fernside in Princeton, Massachusetts, “patients have the opportunity to meet with psychiatry 5 days a week and may meet with a case manager 3 times a week,” according to Quinn Tremblay, Admissions Coordinator.
More clinical hours with a therapist means you can address important emotions and needs as they come up. Your therapist has more time to learn about you, allowing you both to explore your situation thoroughly.
How Much 1-on-1 Treatment Do You Actually Need?
The length and duration of 1-on-1 treatment sessions you need will depend on your situation.
Individual Treatment Lets You Dive Deeper Into Your Healing Process
1-on-1 treatment allows you to build more rapport with your therapist or care provider, which can aid recovery in powerful ways. Strong therapeutic relationships are a cornerstone of successful treatment. As you spend more 1-on-1 time with your therapist, you may find yourself more comfortable opening up about intimate aspects of your life. And in 1-on-1 settings, your healthcare provider is dedicated to offering care for your distinct situation.
It’s important to remember that other modalities, like group therapy and family therapy, also provide benefits that you may not be able to get from 1-on-1 treatment. Unless you need to attend a single-client program, most rehab centers offer a balance of group therapy and individual treatment for well-rounded care.
That being said, your circumstances and rehab program requirements are unique–not everyone is comfortable opening up in group therapy, and this can hinder the recovery process.
Frequently Asked Questions About Individual Treatment in Rehab
What is individual therapy in rehab?
Individual therapy in rehab refers to one-on-one sessions with a trained therapist. It provides personalized attention. This lets individuals explore their unique challenges, develop coping skills, and work towards recovery goals in a private and supportive environment.
• Explore personal issues in a focused environment • Address any co-occurring mental health conditions • Identify underlying causes of addiction • Gain individualized strategies for long-term recovery • Promotes self-reflection and emotional healing
What can I expect during individual therapy in rehab?
During individual therapy in rehab, you can expect a safe space to discuss your experiences, emotions, and concerns. Your therapist will guide the sessions and tailor them to your needs. Expect collaborative goal-setting, skill-building exercises, and ongoing support to help you navigate challenges and work toward sustainable recovery.
Recovery is an extremely personal process. Each person’s needs are different, whether you’re healing from a broken leg or a substance use disorder. With that in mind, many luxury rehabs offer individualized treatment.
“Every person is very different, and this one-size-fits-all approach to treatment, mental health, and addiction rarely works well. Everybody has a different background: culturally, in terms of their family values, political views, hobbies, what gives meaning to their lives, and their lack of purpose in their lives.”
Most rehab facilities offer some aspects of individualized care, such as one-on-one talk therapy. However, some programs take this approach much further. Certain residential rehab centers offer every individual client a completely bespoke experience, tailored to meet their exact needs.
What Is Individualized Rehab?
If you choose to attend an individualized rehab program, the treatment process may begin even before you arrive. You’ll begin by going through a detailed intake process, in which providers get to know you. Dr. Christine Merzeder, Senior Clinical Coordinator at Paracelsus Recovery, says,
“We start with an interview on the telephone or people write their own history of how they think their situation is. Then we work our way through the medical file. There’s no routine – it’s always something very, very different. Every client is a very individual case.”
Paracelsus Recovery goes to great lengths to offer individualized care to each client.
Once your team is familiar with your personal needs and priorities, they’ll collaborate with you to create a treatment protocol that fits your values, needs, and goals. For example, some clients may benefit from 12-Step programs, such as Alcoholics Anonymous. Others might prefer to focus on one-to-one therapy. At White River Manor, for example, groups are not mandatory. Jeanine Fourie, Therapeutic Director and Co-Owner of the facility, firmly believes:
“Each client is here for their own treatment, and their own journey of recovery…it’s important for us that they feel that they get what they need out of their time with us. We accommodate what each client specifically needs.”
These bespoke programs offer benefits that may be hard to find in more structured rehabs. Notably, clients are more active in the process of choosing which therapies they’ll engage in. This allows you to practice making healthy choices in a safe context, surrounded by treatment providers who can provide structure as needed.
Who Is a Candidate for Individualized Care?
Individualized care isn’t for everyone. If you’d prefer to recover in a more structured and predictable environment, you may prefer a different style of treatment. However, certain demographics are more likely to benefit from a highly personalized approach.
Dual Diagnosis
Many people with substance use concerns present with co-occurring disorders. And clients with co-occurring conditions often find great value in programs tailored to meet their unique needs. For example, if you’re in recovery from both substance use and PTSD, you may require a very different treatment plan than a person recovering from both substance use and treatment-resistant depression.
The Hope House Scottsdale, for example, offers individualized care to treat dual diagnoses. According to their philosophy, “There isn’t one way to treat mental health problems.” This program utilizes a variety of treatment options—such as biofeedback, EMDR, family therapy, CBT, DBT, and group therapy—to treat clients with substance use disorders and additional mental health concerns.
Executive Clients
Like any other demographic, high-level executives are sometimes subject to substance use disorders. However, high-achieving people often have a unique set of needs during recovery. You may be unable to step away from work or family commitments to get the help you need. You may also be accustomed to a certain standard of living, and concerned about spending time without necessary amenities.
A number of rehab facilities offer executive treatment programs, which are specifically designed to address these concerns.Giles Fourie, Director and Co-Owner of White River Manor, says,
“A lot of business executives, business owners and professionals come through our program. And that’s because we offer our clients the ability to use their phones, to work from the luxury of their rooms or the business center, and keep whatever they need to keep going at their office still running.”
This approach makes recovery accessible for clients with demanding schedules. Individualized care is often a good solution for people who need to balance their health with their responsibilities, instead of sacrificing one for the other.
Individualized care programs tend to have a strong emphasis on discretion, which may be important to high-profile clients. Safe from prying eyes, you’ll be able to focus entirely on your own healing process.
It’s important to note that while these environments are protected, they don’t have to be isolating. Clients are often encouraged to continue the activities that make them feel the most grounded and capable. For example, Orenda at Futures is home to an addiction and mental health treatment program specifically designed for athletes. In residence here, clients continue to train throughout the recovery process.
Recovery in Private, But Not Alone
Research suggests a link between social isolation and substance abuse.1 And many clients benefit from honing their interpersonal skills during rehab. Individualized care often offers a greater degree of privacy, but doesn’t have to be isolating.
Of course, your specific rehab program will determine how you connect with the people around you. In some facilities, you’ll go through recovery with a small cohort of peers. Soberman’s Estate, for example, hosts a maximum of 10 people at a time. This format allows clients to find common ground and build relationships with each other. You’ll also be able to practice social skills in a safe, supervised context, which may alleviate concerns about falling back into unhealthy patterns.
Dr. Thomas Gazda of Soberman’s Estate is very focused on providing individualized care to each of his clients:
“When I sit down with a patient, I want to know more about them. I want to know about their background. What are their passions in life? What passions have they lost during their addiction? Have they become bored or distracted by something? What are they getting away from? Those things kind of come out…It’s very individualized.”
Clients are able to receive a high level of personal attention, as well as observe their peers in recovery. For many people, this is an effective way to balance their need for a specific type of treatment with the universal need for community.
Other programs take individualized care a step further, treating only one client at a time. Mercui Recovery is one such rehab center. Clients are hosted in a remote wilderness location, far from the hustle and bustle of urban life. Each person’s experience is unique, and “every client service is customized for the individual, every time.” This experience would likely not be a good fit for people who want to focus on peer-to-peer support during rehab. However, this unfettered access to your clinical team gives clients the time to create a comprehensive aftercare plan before completing the program. That plan may include a network of family and loved ones, local support groups, continued therapy, and medical care.
For many clients, the experience of individualized care is “the first time in their life that they pool all their medical information together,” says Dr. Christine Merzeder, Senior Clinical Coordinator of Paracelsus Recovery.
“With one client at a time, the knowledge base and communication base are very efficient. It’s a lot of being alert and not missing any information, and there’s no standard clinical path you can develop for that because every case is individual…it’s efficient, it’s fast, it involves the client and their family. And when they leave they get a written summary with all the findings and recommendations.”
In some highly individualized programs, you’ll be able to stay in touch with your friends, family, and possibly even your colleagues. This is most often true of rehabs that treat only one person at a time, and those that cater to high-achieving professionals. This strategy allows you to connect with people from afar, and then process your recent interactions with them during therapy. Even without on-site peer support, you’ll be able to practice interpersonal relationships. By engaging with the people who matter the most, you can learn not only about general social skills, but about how those skills can have the greatest possible impact within your own community.
Choosing an Individualized Care Program
Although individualized care aims to meet your unique needs, not every program will offer the exact mix of programming and amenities that’s right for you. It’s important to find a rehab center whose treatment philosophy aligns with yours. In the right context, you’ll be surrounded by providers with expertise that applies to your experience, and able to engage in activities that support your personal healing process. There are many different therapeutic modalities to choose from, and individualized therapy invites you to do just that.
Experiential Therapy
Experiential therapy is a way to process your emotions from a brand-new perspective. Rehab programs around the world offer a wide variety of activities that you may find engaging or inspiring. For example, if you want a fully embodied, adventurous experience, several rehab centers in Orange County invite clients to go surfing. At The ‘Ohana, in Hawaii, you can swim with the dolphins. Activities like these invite you to examine your behavioral habits in a greater context, and not just in a private room with a talk therapist.
There are countless ways to approach healing. It’s quite common for individualized treatment programs to offer holistic care, with the intention to heal the body as well as the mind. You may have the opportunity to receive massage, reiki, acupuncture, or similar treatment modalities. These techniques encourage clients to learn about mindfulness, come into the present moment, and accept themselves just as they are.
Outpatient Care
Recovery is important, but it’s not always convenient. But you don’t have to delay your own healing process. Many clients choose to attend intensive outpatient programs (IOPs), which may be more feasible than residential treatment.
For example, Evolve Treatment Centers has several locations in California, treating adolescents from 12 to 17 years of age. This program allows them to continue living at home and going to school, while still engaging in treatment that’s tailored to meet their needs. Because of this flexibility, clients can get the help they need without interrupting this important chapter of their lives.
Bespoke Treatment Puts You Back in the Driver’s Seat
People of many demographics can benefit from individualized treatment programs. Alex Spritzer, Family Addiction and Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner at The Hope House Scottsdale, says,
“For example, a middle-aged mom of two children going through a separation is going to have very unique needs…versus someone who might per se not have a family, not be married, might be a single male, youthful, 18 years old. Considering where the person exists before the disease process, their home environment is really essential to their recovery.” In the context of individualized treatment, healthcare providers seek to honor each client’s experience, providing the best possible care for that particular person, at that particular time in their life.
However, bespoke care isn’t right for everyone. For some clients, it may be overwhelming or counterproductive to take such an active role in designing their own treatment course. Individualized treatment is founded on the idea that your unique needs are important. If what you need is a predefined structure, it’s important to respect that.
Rehab is, among other things, a way to regain control of your own life. When you begin treatment by working with a team to assess and understand what your life entails, you will almost certainly learn a great deal about your needs, goals, and values. This process mirrors the process of recovery itself.
Frequently Asked Questions About Individualized Addiction Treatment
What is individualized care in rehab?
Individualized care is a type of treatment that is tailored to the needs of each individual. This can involve a number of factors, such as the individual’s substance use history, mental health history, and personal goals.
What are some of the different types of individualized care available in rehab?
What are the benefits of individualized care in rehab?
Individualized care in rehab can help you get the most out of treatment by addressing your specific needs. Your therapists and treatment team will consider your substance use history, your mental health, and personal goals when creating a treatment plan for you. This attention to detail can help you stay on track and motivated during recovery.
A rehab center’s size influences your treatment experience in big ways. It impacts important factors like facilities, level of personalized attention, types of therapies offered and more.
When it comes to rehab size, one isn’t necessarily better than the other. What will work for you depends on your needs and preferences. Some people need intimate settings to open up and are more comfortable at a boutique rehab. Others require specific programs or therapies that larger treatment centers tend to offer.
To help you determine which type of center could work for you or your family member, we examine the benefits and differences between small and large luxury rehab centers.
What Classifies as a Small Rehab Center?
While there’s no official definition of what constitutes a small rehab center, they tend to have the following:
An intake limit of 10 to 15 people
A 1:1 (or better) ratio of staff to patients
Many have an intimate home-like setting with a limited number of bedrooms
Some small rehab centers are family-run
How a Small Rehab Center Can Be Beneficial to Your Recovery
You Receive More Individualized Attention
At smaller rehab centers, multiple staff service one person at a time. Some even have a 3:1 staff to patient ratio, like The Sanctuary at Sedona in Arizona which has around 30 staff members serving 10 clients.
As Quinn Tremblay, Admissions Coordinator at McLean Fernside in Princeton, Massachusetts describes:
“Our staff-to-patient ratio allows us to provide higher amounts of individualized sessions with case managers and psychiatrists. Patients can meet with psychiatry 5 days a week and with a case manager 3 times a week. With that, more processing and evaluation can be done with each patient.”
Meeting often with the clinical team gives you more opportunities to engage in important dialogue. You can discuss matters like what therapies work for you and what doesn’t. Open, frequent dialogue helps people feel heard by their clinician, which is therapeutic2 in and of itself. According to a study from McGill University Health Centre, a listening doctor can offer patients “relief from the stress and anxiety that can be induced and exacerbated by illness.”
A family-run center in Southern Spain, the team at Camino Recovery brings personalized attention to the fore.
And since clinical staff at small rehabs often service fewer people at once, they have more time to map out your bespoke treatment plan.
You’re unlikely to fall through the cracks, as Don Lavender, Program Director at Camino Recovery explains:
“When you’re working with 7 or 8 clients maximum, they don’t get lost in the shuffle because there is no shuffle. And because it’s so small and the clinical crew is rather large with a lot of expertise in the clinical mix, treatment is truly bespoke.”
Programs Are More Flexible
Inpatient rehabs with lower intakes may offer more program flexibility. With fewer people to treat at a time, they don’t have to be as stringent with bureaucracy because it’s easier to oversee everyone. And as the clinical team builds a more personal relationship with you, they are more likely to keep track of your requests.
Dr. Thomas Gazda, Medical Doctor at Soberman’s Estate talks about how flexibility is a welcome change for some of their patients:
“We can be more flexible with a smaller number of intakes, which suits a lot of our patients. Many have been through rehab before and found it onerous or too regimented. It didn’t suit them as individuals and they were alienated in the process. Many of those patients come here and it’s a breath of fresh air because we try to be as flexible as possible with them.”
In rehab programs where you meet with staff more often, you might be able to adjust your treatment plan as necessary. Soberman’s Estate, for example, holds a staff meeting each week with the medical director, clinical director, and nursing team. Clients are invited to sit at the table, discuss their treatment goals and make adjustments to their plan if needed.
You Have More Access to Staff Members
Staff at smaller rehabs often have higher availability to meet with patients outside of regularly scheduled sessions. In these instances, you can pull someone aside when you need questions answered or simply want to talk.
For many people, building a connection with the center staff makes them feel supported and more at home. It creates a sense of belonging. This level of staff-patient relationship, where two or more people intend for healing to occur, is a key component of an optimal healing environment,3 or as defined in the Global Advances in Health and Medicine journal, a healthcare system “that is designed to stimulate and support the inherent healing capacity of patients, families, and their care providers.” In short, it supports a patient’s recovery.
At some small treatment centers, the founders and other senior staff members are hands-on in day-to-day operations. You’ll often see this at family-run rehabs. Founders will get to know each client personally and oftentimes give a deeper, more personal story about the center’s origins. Access to senior staff can promote a sense of trust and help people feel more comfortable at the center.
“(Co-owner) Jeanine and I live on the property. We feel it’s important that we’re available to our clients. We’re always at hand, should our clients need us. We’re very proud of it. We’re here every day because this is where we want to be and this is what we want to do.”
Giles Fourie, Director and Co-Owner at White River Manor in South Africa comments says core team members are always on hand to help clients:
You Can Be Part of a Tight-Knit Community
The intimacy of small treatment centers creates opportunities to build close relationships with others. Whether you choose a residential or inpatient rehab, you have a full schedule and spend lots of time with others in the program. You get to know the others on a deeper level, especially with a smaller group of people.
Alex Spritzer, Family Addiction and Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner at The Hope House Scottsdale, talks about the importance of this camaraderie:
“Small groups allow you to know people on a bigger level and learn details about their lives and the circumstances that they came from, which makes a lot of difference. Intimate settings promote trust, and trust promotes healing.”
If you have social anxiety, large group settings can be daunting. This might cause you to withdraw or avoid participating in activities, which hampers the recovery process. Smaller rehab centers can provide a more comfortable environment with less intimidating group sizes.
Group therapy is a powerful tool for treating substance abuse4 and may even be as helpful as individual therapy. Participating in group therapy has several rewarding benefits, including decreased isolation. If you can’t open up because a group size is too large or intimidating, this can be a barrier to treatment. It may prevent you from going deeper in your recovery journey.
If you have severe social anxiety, some boutique rehab centers are flexible–you may not be required to participate in group activities at all.
With an intake limit of just 15 people, White River Manor can accommodate the needs of clients with social anxiety. “None of our groups are compulsory. Each client is on their own recovery journey. It’s important they get what they need out of their time with us, so we accommodate each client’s specific needs,” states Jeanine Fourie, the center’s Therapeutic Director and Co-owner.
There’s no industry standard for what classifies as a large treatment center. They tend to have more than 30 beds, with some that intake over 100 people. Oftentimes, these centers are located on larger grounds with lots of room for guests to roam and more facilities. They usually have a big clinical team to keep a favorable staff-to-patient ratio.
Larger rehab centers are often thought of as overly clinical or sterile. But this stereotype doesn’t paint an accurate picture of the larger treatment landscape. Bigger addiction treatment centers can offer many benefits to your recovery.
What Are the Benefits of a Large Rehab Center?
Better and More Specialized Facilities
Large rehab centers can often invest in better and more specialized facilities. Since they tend to be located on bigger grounds, they may have more room for these facilities compared to smaller centers.
Spotlight on: Sierra Tucson
One of the larger rehabs in Arizona is Sierra Tucson, set on a 160-acre property. They have the facilities to assist clients through the full spectrum of care, from on-site medical detox to outpatient programs.
The option to stay with one treatment center throughout the recovery journey is beneficial for people who feel uncomfortable with a lot of environmental change, or for those who want to work with certain doctors and therapists throughout their treatment experience.
“We manage various levels of care. When individuals need medically-supported detox, we can do that on-site in our inpatient unit. Afterward, they can transition seamlessly to the residential setting and further to our partial hospitalization and intensive outpatient programs,” says Dr. Jasleen Chhatwal, Chief Medical Officer at Sierra Tucson.
On top of that, Sierra Tucson has a number of specialized facilities to support different types of therapies, like experiential therapy and equine therapy.
Sierra Tucson in Arizona offers equine therapy directly on their campus.
Fitness amenities here include a pool, sports court, fully-equipped gym, climbing wall and a ropes course. They have unique onsite facilities to support the spirituality component of their program, including a labyrinth and Kiva arena. Their center even houses an equine area with stables and an arena.
The lack of certain amenities or facilities can be a hindrance to healing. If equine therapy played a necessary role in someone’s recovery journey, but it wasn’t available anywhere, this would be more than frustrating. Larger rehab centers tend to house facilities that are very important to some people’s recovery journey.
Spotlight on: All Points North
All Points North Lodge in Vail Valley, Colorado is set on a verdant campus with a 77-square foot main lodge. They’ve invested in cutting-edge facilities to support specialized therapies and treatments.
On top of an on-campus indoor pool, spa center, boxing arena, game room, and golf courses, this rehab houses state-of-the-art equipment tailored for certain therapies.
All Points North recently introduced a hyperbaric oxygen chamber to their campus. This equipment helps feed the body with the right levels of oxygen to quickly heal itself when faced with different injuries and illnesses. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) is now a part of their athletic program and promotes healing for athletes with concussions. But they also introduce other clients to this specialized treatment.
“We have a lot of patients that come from other parts of the country and we can give them a chance to let their bodies oxygenate. It helps them feel better quickly and really assists in treatment,” says Lana Seiler, All Points North’s Associate Director of Clinical Operations.
One of their clients who received HBOT reported, “the facility here goes to depths that most hyperbaric therapy doesn’t go. My experience was almost immediate, where my fog of war disappeared.”
If you need more specific facilities for treatment, it can be difficult to find them at a smaller rehab center. For those in situations with unique treatment needs, for example, an athlete who has had multiple concussions, it can be a huge relief to find a program with specialized equipment.
Specialized Programs and Therapies
If you’re looking for specialized programs or therapies, you’re more likely to find them at a large rehab center. These programs can get pretty specific and can accommodate the unique needs of their clientele.
For example, Hanley Center At Origins is an 80-bed center in Florida with a Center for Older Adult Recovery. This program is specifically designed for older men and women and includes medically supervised detox that addresses the medical concerns unique to someone’s age.
Meanwhile, All Points North has specialized therapies that can be difficult to find otherwise, such as hyperbaric oxygen therapy and Deep Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (Deep TMS) for depression. Both of these therapies require special equipment operated by experienced professionals. They’re offered as a part of All Points North’s athletics program, a unique recovery program designed for current and retired athletes, created by professional athletes.
Some centers with large intake numbers give you the option to break out into smaller, more targeted groups. Not only does this give you a level of safety and comfort as you go into your sessions, you can open up about trauma in your specific groups knowing others have likely been in your shoes.
Below are examples of specific programs found at different large rehab centers:
LGBTQ+ Recovery
United Recovery Project in Hollywood, Florida is a 31- to 50-bed treatment center with an LGTBQ+ program. They address the treatment needs of patients in the community and focus on providing a safe environment for LGBTQ+ individuals to open up. Their staff are specifically trained in cultural sensitivity and issues affecting the LGBTQ+ community.
Veterans’ Recovery
Sierra Tucson in Tucson, Arizona offers a Red, White and Blue Program for members of the military and first responders. The program is designed to help people feel comfortable sharing their experiences with others who have also been through the line of duty. The clinical team includes former military members and first responders.
Breaking up into smaller, more focused groups helps people feel more comfortable expressing themselves and can improve therapeutic outcomes. One of the keys to successful group therapy6 is to identify common bonds between clients. According to Martyn Whittingham, Ph.D., an Ohio counseling psychologist and president of APA’s Div. 49 (Society of Group Psychology and Group Psychotherapy), “discovering commonalities is crucial to building group cohesion.”
On top of that, a study on behavior change7 published in the Health and Well-Being journal found that homogeneous groups were better at instigating behavioral changes compared to heterogeneous groups.
Large Treatment Centers Mirror the Real World
An important aspect of the recovery journey is the ability to take what you’ve learned during your time in rehab and apply it to your daily life.
Larger treatment centers offer an environment that better mimics the real world. This gives you the opportunity to put the work you’ve done in therapy into practice. You also learn how to be a part of a larger community.
“A larger facility mirrors being in a larger community as a whole: you can find your people and learn how to deal with others. You can make your way in the treatment center in a way that mirrors how you need to make your way in the world. Successful treatment usually involves reconnecting and learning how to function in a social society,” says Dr. Ryan Drzewiecki, Director of Clinical Operations at All Points North Lodge.
Greater Network of Resources
Larger facilities often have a healthy network of resources to support your recovery. Some even have the capacity to team up with industry leaders.
Take Axis Sports Medicine, for example. They employ the highest number of advanced certified physical therapists in the state of Colorado. All Points North Lodge teamed up with them to offer top-level physical therapy to clients.
If you’re looking to connect with specific leading resources, like a top teletherapist in your area, larger treatment centers may be able to help you. They tend to have a more robust network to pull from.
Find a Treatment Center That Fits You
Both small and large rehab centers offer their own set of benefits. One isn’t necessarily better than the other. Recovery is unique for each person, so the criteria that you’re looking for may differ from someone else’s.f
Frequently Asked Questions About Small vs. Large Rehabs
Should I choose a small or large rehab center?
The choice between a small and large rehab center depends on your needs and preferences. Small centers offer personalized attention and intimate settings, while large centers may have better facilities and more specialized programs. Consider what’s most important to you in your recovery journey.
What are the benefits of treatment at a small rehab center?
Smaller rehabs tend to offer more individualized attention, flexible programs, and greater access to staff members. With smaller group sizes, you can build close relationships with fellow participants. The intimate setting promotes trust, which is essential for healing and recovery.
What are the benefits of treatment at a large rehab center?
Larger rehabs can provide better, more specialized facilities and offer a wider range of programs and therapies. Large rehabs create an environment that more closely mirrors the real world, giving you a chance to practice the skills you learn in treatment. They may also have more resources to support your ongoing recovery.
Executives face unique stressors. With so many people depending on you, including employees, loved ones, and colleagues, it can be hard to recognize the signs of abuse. You may be so focused on your lengthy to-do list that you simply don’t have time to consider your own well-being. And even if you do recognize that you have a problem, it can be even harder to get help. Many executives feel like they don’t have the time or freedom to step away from work in order to begin recovery.
As difficult as this process may appear, there are options available. Some rehab centers offer treatment plans tailored to meet the unique needs of high achievers, without isolating you from your responsibilities.
Understanding Addiction Among Executives
According to popular perception, high achievers have it easy. That just isn’t true. In order to maintain your lifestyle, you may face extreme pressures coming from many different directions, including the workplace, home, and social situations. In these circles, it’s often important to maintain appearances. Because of this, many executives have no way of knowing how common it is for people like them to struggle with substance use and mental health. Everyone’s experience is unique, but a few concerns in particular are extremely common among this demographic.
Anxiety
With great power comes great responsibility, and with great responsibility comes a great risk of anxiety. If you’ve ever lost sleep over a board meeting, had to stop and catch your breath on your way to a gala, or spent hours replaying a sound bite from your last business lunch, this might be something to consider. According to experts, “Studies indicate that approx. 10–40% of alcoholics have a panic-related anxiety disorder,2 and about 10–20% of anxiety disorder patients abuse alcohol or other drugs.”
Perfectionism
When an entire team of people relies on you, you may feel that you need to be the best of the best. As Louise Stanger, LCSW, writes “People in powerful positions are associated with strength, confidence, and a rock solid moral compass. Unfortunately, our society still views addiction as a weakness or moral failure, which sharply contradicts the key qualities of successful individuals. Add in public visibility and it can be difficult for an influential CEO or celebrity to seek help3 in an honest and open way.”
When you feel like you can’t ask for help, it’s natural to develop coping mechanisms that replace community support. You may even feel like substance abuse is what’s helping you to succeed. In reality, though, addiction is far more likely to hold you back. Research suggests that there may be a connection between perfectionism and substance misuse.4
However, there’s a way to make perfectionism work for you. Positive perfectionism is the attitude of striving to achieve high goals “while maintaining the ability to be satisfied with one’s performance.” Striking this balance may help you recover from substance misuse.
If you’re a high achiever, there are likely aspects of your life and your personality that you don’t want to lose, even temporarily. Going to rehab can help you reintegrate the aspects of life that you find fulfilling, while stepping away from that which doesn’t serve you.
Unique Amenities at Executive Rehab Facilities
When selecting a rehab, high achievers have a very specific set of needs. There are a number of luxury rehab programs that are tailored to meet those needs, helping you heal in a way that won’t undermine your lifestyle.
Discretion
Mercui Recovery offers life and business coaching as part of their personalized treatment program at their centers in Malibu, Aspen, and Costa Palma, Mexico.
Mercui Recovery, a facility with locations in Malibu, Aspen, and Costa Palma, Mexico, is one of these. The program offers each guest treatment from several different schools of thought. You may do yoga and meditate, or participate in specialized therapies such as DBT or CBT. Most notably, Mercui Recovery also offers life and business coaching. Clients are not expected to simply step away from their entire life in order to focus on recovery. Instead, clinicians take a holistic approach, helping you heal every aspect of your life. This highly personalized program ensures that your specific concerns will be addressed during treatment.
Bespoke Treatment
White River Manor in Mpumalanga, South Africa has an on-site business center that makes it easy for executive clients to work remotely during their stay.
Personalized addiction treatment means more than just connecting with the right therapist. Jan Gerber, CEO of Paracelsus Recovery, explains that “every person is very different, and this one-size-fits-all approach to treatment, mental health, and addiction rarely works well. Everybody has a different background: culturally, in terms of their family values, political views, hobbies, what gives meaning to their lives, and their lack of purpose in their lives. We can only help somebody recover from all these factors that have fueled an addiction if you individually attend to all these underlying reasons. And you can only do that when you individually tailor a treatment so that every client gets exactly what they need.”
Paracelsus is just one of many rehab facilities that work with each guest to create a unique treatment program. If you participate in this type of treatment, you’ll be able to choose from a wide variety of options, from art therapy to rock climbing. White River Manor, in South Africa, even takes guests on safari.
Contrary to popular belief, rehab doesn’t need to be an isolating experience. Guests can continue to have adventures, learn about themselves in new contexts, and connect with the wider world.
Stay Connected During Recovery
Orenda at Futures in Tequesta, Florida connects clients with sober companions to support their return to work after rehab.
Rehab is a protected environment. In some programs, this means that guests have no phone or internet access, in order to focus on themselves instead of the people in their lives. However, this isn’t universally true. It can be especially important for executives to stay connected during their time in rehab. This makes rehab much more accessible to people who can’t take time off work.
Giles Fourie, Director and Co-Owner of White River Manor, says “A lot of business executives, business owners and professionals come through our program. And that’s because we offer our clients the ability to be able to use their phones, to work from the luxury of their rooms or the business center, and keep whatever they need to keep going at their office still running.” The healthcare providers at these facilities have a deep understanding of the stressors that may contribute to your emotional experience. As a result, they’re well-positioned to help you navigate the first stages of recovery.
If you continue to work while you’re in rehab, you may be preparing to return to the office as soon as you complete residential treatment. In that case, you may need to plan for social support in addition to therapeutic care. Some rehabs programs, like Orenda at Futures offer you access to a sober companion who can accompany you to business meetings and social engagements. Having someone there to support you in person can help ease the transition back into daily life after rehab. This external reminder of your new goals and healthy habits can remind you to strike a more sustainable balance, even as life returns to a faster pace.
Making Recovery Work for You
High-powered professionals often prioritize work over their own health. As laudable as this is, it can be unsustainable. Remember: you are the only person who can define what success means to you. It’s possible to achieve your goals while still living a healthy life.
Rehab facilities that work with executives understand this delicate balance. These programs won’t ask you to walk away from your responsibilities entirely. Instead, they’ll teach you how to maintain a positive relationship with your personal definition of accomplishment. Recovery is not just a way to set down unhealthy patterns. It’s also a way to find balance in your busy life.
Frequently Asked Questions About Rehab for Executives
What should I expect from a rehab program for executives?
Executive rehab programs offer personalized treatment plans that take your unique needs and work responsibilities into account. They may have flexible technology use policies and offer greater privacy, such as private accommodation and one-on-one therapy if group therapy isn’t an option for you.
How can I maintain my privacy while attending rehab as a CEO?
CEOs can maintain their privacy during rehab by enrolling in an executive program. These tend to prioritize confidentiality, with bespoke treatment plans and luxurious, single accommodation. Some don’t require group therapy for utmost privacy.
How do I manage my work responsibilities during rehab?
Many executive rehab programs let you stay connected to work during treatment. They may have more flexible technology policies, a business center, and even a sober companion who accompanies you to business meetings and social engagements.
Rehab is a place for you to build a sustainable life. In order to do that, you’ll develop healthy daily habits, learn to cope with cravings, and set goals. This is not a simple process. In order to create a better future, you first need to understand what led you to this point. By working through your emotional experience of your life so far, you’ll learn more about yourself and your own values. And when you truly understand yourself, you open the door to a life that can support your unique version of health.
Most rehab programs are designed to give you a type of structure you may have been missing up until now. You’ll likely have a full agenda, waking up early for a full day of activities and going to bed soon after you finish them. This schedule strikes a delicate balance. The intensive process keeps you focused on the work at hand, with little time to get too distracted by the cravings and triggers you came to get a break from. You will, however, have some opportunities for downtime to process the hard emotional work you’re doing in therapy. How intensive this journey is varies from program to program.
Because everyone is different, each rehab center offers a number of different healing modalities, ranging from individual therapy to recreational group outings. The process may feel more accessible if you have a sense of what to expect in advance.
A Typical Day in Rehab
Your time in rehab will be carefully curated by a team of healthcare providers. In addition to receiving medical care, you’ll spend time with the other residents, attending one-on-one therapy, and processing your experiences. Here’s what a typical schedule might look like:
7am – 8amYoga
8am – 9am Breakfast
9am – 10:30amIndividual therapy
10:30am – 12pmGroup therapy
12pm – 1pm Lunch
1pm – 1:45pm Medical aspects or energy work
1:45pm – 3:30pmTrauma therapy
3:30pm – 4:30pm Recreation therapy
4:30pm – 5:30pm Meditation
6:30pm – 7:30pm Group Activity or Speaker
7:30pm – 10pm Free Time & Homework
10pm Bedtime
You won’t have the same schedule every day, but it’s likely that each day will be tightly structured. Most facilities have time set aside for visiting hours, family therapy, and experiential therapies or outings such as skiing and rock climbing. Some rehabs offer even more flexibility. For example, at All Points North Lodge , a luxury rehab in Colorado, clients sometimes go on nature walks with their therapists during individual sessions.
As you can see, most centers maintain a balance between time alone, one-on-one sessions with a provider, and group experiences. Every one of these dynamics is an important part of healing. Because rehab is a place to reconnect with yourself, it’s valuable to learn how to be alone. Talking through your feelings with a trusted guide in a private setting will help keep you on track throughout that process. Social dynamics offer group support, and encourage clients to hone their interpersonal skills. Many clients even find the simple act of sharing meals with their rehab community gives them a helpful sense of camaraderie and support.
Personalized Programming at Bespoke Treatment Centers
Some residential rehabs serve only one client at a time, offering a completely bespoke experience tailored to meet their needs. Other rehabs take a holistic approach, treating a few clients at a time using a highly individualized approach. For instance, the team at Paracelsus Recovery works very closely with each person in their care to come up with a plan perfectly suited to their recovery goals. Louis Fitzmaurice, a therapist at Paracelsus, says:
“Everything that goes on in the therapeutic environment that we exist in has been created for and directed at our client. It’s designed. It’s tailor-made for our client, everything that goes on. That’s the food, the complementary therapy, the psychotherapy, the psychiatry. That’s me, the live-in therapist. That’s the physical work. Everything that goes on in the environment is focused on our client and is for the best outcome for our client.”
This careful scheduling offers clients the structure they were likely missing before rehab. It also ensures that you’ll have the chance to benefit from a number of different healing modalities.
Emotional Exploration in Individual Therapy
Individual therapy is a safe, private space for you to express yourself without being concerned about the listener’s reaction. Your therapist’s job is not to fix you, but to help you do the hard work of healing.
This is not a fast or easy process, but in the end, it’s worth the effort. By developing the skills to navigate whatever life throws at you, you can come to rely on yourself and go forward with confidence. Ryan Soave, Director of Program Development at All Points North Lodge, says that “With therapy in general, the goal is not to reach some place where nothing affects you and you’re happy 100% of the time. It’s really about building the capacity to experience difficult emotions, to experience hardship. We’re going to experience pain – it’s part of life. In fact, we can’t have joy without pain. The more we can build the capacity to experience the full amount of pain, the more capacity we have to experience joy in life.”
During individual therapy, you’ll get to process anything that’s coming up for you. You might feel called to talk about your life before rehab, your daily experience of the program, or your concerns about the future. This is also a place to discuss practical skills like how to manage cravings, how to define your goals, and how to set healthy boundaries in your relationships. Bear in mind, however, that one-on-one therapy is just a starting point. It’s your responsibility to take what you learn in this context and apply it to the rest of your life.
As productive as individual therapy is, it’s not a simple solution to all your problems. In fact, much of the work of therapy happens between sessions. This allows you to reflect on your observations, put what you’ve learned into practice, and gain new insights into your patterns. When you return for your next session, you’ll be ready to delve even deeper into your treatment process. As you integrate the lessons of therapy into your daily experience, you’ll develop a greater understanding of yourself. Eventually, you’ll start to define what you want your life to look like after rehab.
Group Therapy and Social Dynamics
Group therapy is another way to prepare yourself for life after rehab. This is an opportunity to connect with people at a similar point in their path. By building community with the other clients in your program, you’ll realize through sharing your experiences that you’re not alone. As valuable as it is to work with a therapist, there are some lessons that you can only learn from peers. As Lana Seiler, Associate Director of Clinical Operations at All Points North Lodge, says, “We’re social creatures by nature, so it’s a very different feel working one-on-one with someone versus working in a small group and in their community.”
If you attend a program for a specialized cohort—such as a men’s group, a women’s group, or a group for older adults—group therapy may allow you to speak in shorthand. If you’re the parent of adult children, for example, there are parts of your life that a childless 23-year-old might not understand without explanation. On the other hand, that same person can probably teach you a great deal about what it’s like to be a young adult relating to her parents in this era of history. There is no right or wrong group of people with whom to undergo group therapy, but it’s important to find the right group for you.
For many people in rehab, interpersonal skills are an area of growth. Group therapy is a safe, gentle way to learn or relearn how to build healthy relationships. Openly describing past and present experiences can help clients work against shame. “Group therapy is important for a variety of reasons. Firstly, addiction and substance use bring around a lot of isolation, shame and secrecy over time. People often feel very alone. So an important vehicle for change is to have support and encouragement from others,” says Dr. Monika Kolodziej, Program Director of McLean Fernside. This dynamic helps clients cultivate a sense of self-acceptance, which is essential in order to move forward from substance use.
Substance use can easily damage your relationships with family, partners, colleagues, and friends. As such, group therapy is a safe place to practice skills that will serve you well when you return to your community after rehab. The act of building relationships in this context provides a certain level of accountability, which may have been lacking in your life before rehab. When you see how the people around you approach their treatment, you may be inspired to commit to your own process even more fully. Data shows that group therapy can improve clients’ engagement with recovery.4
Recovery is hard work; there’s no way around that. However, recommitting to yourself and your wellness means building a better life. In support of that goal, there are many therapies that focus on relaxation and fun. Inpatient rehabs often offer complementary therapies, giving you time and space to process the more demanding aspects of treatment.
Bodywork: Healing the Body to Heal the Mind
Many luxury rehabs invite clients to receive bodywork such as massage, acupuncture, and other spa services. These experiences have a dual purpose. On a therapeutic level, they help your body heal from the negative impacts of substance use. They’re also an opportunity for you to relax and enjoy yourself. Some of these modalities have a component of mindfulness, which can contribute to your emotional recovery.
Recreational Therapy: Emotional Processing Through Self-Expression
Depending on where you go to rehab, you may have the opportunity to participate in recreational therapy. Arts and crafts, film, and psychodrama—to name just a few—offer a different way of relating to yourself and expressing your emotions. Veronique De Buck, Evolutionary Art Therapist at Camino Recovery, explains:
“By working with art, you can reconnect with your resources, your potential, your talents and all the beautiful things you have inside of you. Sometimes people can’t put their trauma into words. So it helps to feel, to contact their heart, to feel the emotions and to put those emotions on paper.”
Adventure Therapy: Exploring Your Inner and Outer Worlds in Tandem
Some luxury rehabs are known for their adventure therapy programs. These experiences vary widely from location to location. In California, you might hike a beautiful mountain trail. Some Florida rehabs offer beach activities from surfing to wave running. At White River Manor in South Africa, you can even go on safari. These activities are a fun and exciting way to learn about your own reactions to life in different contexts. According to Ryan Soave, these experiences are more than just a break from the intensity of therapy:
“Fun and play are super important to getting well. It actually allows people to access creative states, which we want people to be in. In behavioral health, it’s about inventing a new way of relating with oneself and others and the world around them. So being able to get out and have fun can really help their process.”
Through these experiences, you’ll develop more sustainable ways of relating to the world. And having positive memories to draw from can make the next chapter of your life feel more accessible.
People are complex, multifaceted beings. Rehab is designed to treat every aspect of self. The demanding work of individual and group therapy encourages you to delve into your reasons for being in rehab in the first place. By balancing this work with enjoyable low-stakes activities, you’ll be reminded of how much the world has to offer you. As challenging as recovery can be, it’s the first step in moving towards a life you love.
Frequently Asked Questions About What Happens in Rehab
What is a typical daily schedule like in rehab?
A typical day in rehab is highly structured from morning until late evening. Schedules usually include individual and group therapy, complementary therapies like yoga, other recovery activities, and downtime.
How long does rehab typically last?
The length of stay in rehab varies depending on individual needs, but most programs last between 30 and 90 days. Some programs are shorter or longer stays depending on the severity of addiction and the individual’s needs.
What kind of therapies are offered in rehab?
Rehab programs offer a range of therapies, such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT). These different styles of therapy may be delivered in a one-on-one or group setting. Luxury rehabs tend to offer complementary therapies like yoga or art therapy.
There’s a new luxury treatment option growing in popularity: single client addiction centers. These innovative, highly confidential—therefore ideally suited for high profile business people, celebrities, and politicians—luxury rehab centers treat one person only in an exclusive environment.
A client stays at these centers—The Bay in Australia, Paracelsus in Switzerland, The Cottage in the UK, Kusnacht in Switzerland—and is alone except for the team of professionals treating them.
There are significant differences between single client and multi-client centers. Single-client rehabs often have the following:
Complete client-focus: There is no one else at the center, the client receives a dedicated service.
No group therapy: Often, these clients do not wish to expose themselves and have an urgent need for confidentiality—some may be public figures.
A team of dedicated professionals: An entire team will deliver a tailor-made recovery program for their clients. In these single client centers, there is no such thing as a one-for-all program. Each client receives their own bespoke recovery based on their individual and unique needs.
Integrative approach to healing: Most single-client rehabs believe that addictions do not have one cause, but a complex combination of emotional, mental health, medical, physical and spiritual issues. Their approach tends to be multi-disciplinary.
Privacy: Accommodation is private and luxurious, helping clients relax.
Confidentiality: The client’s recovery is paramount and their personal journeys are held in absolute confidence.
Unique services: These centers deliver all sorts of extra services like cars for client outings, therapists to accompany their meals if they wish, and internet facilities for family and business meetings.
Aftercare: Single-client centers help with the transition back into everyday life with personalized aftercare support.
Four of the Best “One Client at a Time” Centers Around the World
One of the criteria that we look for when listing a center on RehabPath Luxury is the staff-to-client ratio, and most of the rehabs on our site have a great ratio. The most private, individualized care you can receive is found in centers that treat one client at a time.
The Bay programs are run in lovely private houses near the beach or hinterland amid tropical flora. It was founded in 2005 by a group of psychotherapists who wanted to treat addiction in a different way. “We believed that the addiction was being treated but not the underlying trauma and mental health issues,” says psychotherapist and founder, John Dass. “We wanted to address this so we created The Bay.”
Why did you want it to be a single client center? “We didn’t want clients to have to deal with other people because that can be a disruption to recovery. The idea was that the client would come to us and be able to have a totally private recovery experience and one that was dedicated to their personal recovery. Being private means that our international clients could relax more; and relaxation is a key to healing.”
Why is The Bay different? “Many rehabs do “one-to-one” therapy sessions, but in the context of having a group of clients staying in one facility, or attending on a daily/weekly basis. We have a range of highly qualified psychotherapists, nutritionists, doctors, nurses who all come to the client. There is a team of up to 20 professionals who dedicate themselves to one client.
Because of my multi-disciplinary background, we have created a holistic environment, which is truly unique at The Bay. Clients have said that it is more like a retreat than a rehab. We use meditation, yoga, qi gong, mindfulness, acupuncture and massage with one-to-one psychotherapy which produces an intentionally “emotionally warm” structure for our clients. The atmosphere is openhearted and welcoming. Warmth, nurture and nourishment are very important at The Bay.”
Why is it vital to recognize and treat the trauma behind the addiction? “If we only treated the addiction and its symptoms, we would be failing our clients. We know that most addictions have underlying reasons—often from childhood trauma—for being there. By creating a safe space in the psychotherapeutic context, we encourage clients to resolve past traumas, thus enabling a deeper recovery. It might be the first time that clients start to understand where their alcoholism, food or drug addiction comes from so we also use compassion-focused therapy in order that they feel fully seen, heard and understood in a tender, non-judgmental way. I think we’re the only Rehab in the world to provide this heart-centered approach. Clients often get in touch with a lot of shame—they feel they have let down their family and colleagues—and we find ways for them to let go of it.”
Why is one-to-one therapy so important? “Many clients don’t feel comfortable around group therapy. We design the programs for them specifically so that they trust the process. Many clients are well-known or high profile and our gentle but engaging regime helps them to gain this trust. They want confidential therapy and that’s what they get.”
Can a client keep on working? “Yes, there is plenty of room at the house for the clients who often come from the business world to keep on working. We don’t take their mobiles or computers, we just ask that they are ready to work with our therapists when they arrive. We recognize that it’s important to many of our clients to keep working.”
Paracelsus was founded in its current form in 2012 as a family business. It is located on the scenic lakefront of Zurich. They focus on the luxury aspects of their services as well as the single client core philosophy. “Our international team of highly qualified therapists, doctors, nurses, counselors and other professionals focus on the recovery of only one client at a time. Our team works with our clients eight to twelve hours a day, not weekly or monthly as is the case with most other addiction therapy providers,” says chairman, Jan Gerber MSc.
What makes Paracelsus different? “We have recognized the importance of a balanced bio-chemistry of the brain and body for recovery from addiction. We don’t only address the addiction itself, but we identify and treat the underlying reasons for the client’s addiction. We treat the entire person—body, mind and soul. We call it the 360 degree approach.
We also provide an unparalleled high-end all-round service during the treatment program from limousines, a chef, a butler and a 24 hour a day concierge service. We give 7 star service.”
Who are your clients? “Our clients are looking for the best treatment available. They are also looking for 100 percent confidentiality. That’s what we give. We also guarantee that they will never come across another client. We have treated heads of states so it’s very important to guarantee this confidentiality and privacy.”
How do you work as a team? “We assign a team around this client, pull information together and work together very much in a collaborative way until the client leaves,” says clinical coordinator, Dr Christine Merzeder, PhD.
How does the treatment work with psychotherapy? “The client arrives and I find this exciting because I know I have the opportunity to facilitate change. I am here 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. I am getting to know the client so that I can work in the best way with them. Sometimes if they would like, we eat together. It all supports the process,” states psychotherapist, Louis Fitzmaurice.
How does the bespoke program work? “Clients don’t adhere to a program that is already in place, they have their own program. We provide an interdisciplinary program that includes nutrition but also yoga, personal training etc,” says Dr Thilo Beck, the medical doctor.
How long can a client expect to be with you? “Normally they would stay for 4 to 8 weeks but it depends on the individual. We also provide comprehensive after-care in that they might come back for weekends or the psychotherapists visits them,” says Gerber.
What does Luxury Rehab mean to you? “It’s not about spoiling someone because they have an expensive lifestyle. You can’t judge someone because they have a lot of money or are very successful. They are vulnerable like everyone else, and they need support,” says Gerber.
The Cottage is part of Life Works, one of the Priory Group’s leading centers network and is located in the charming Surrey countryside with easy access to Heathrow and Gatwick airports. The Cottage is the only single client addiction center in the UK. They treat addictions and a wide range of mental health issues. They are the exception in this small group in that they do offer group therapy and 12 Steps, if the client would like them. “Our high end, bespoke treatment caters for clients who might be suffering from drug and alcohol addictions, eating disorders, prescription drug addiction, depression, gambling addiction and more,” Stephen Clarke, the hospital director.
What makes The Cottage’s approach different? “We believe that addiction and behavioural health issues require an in-depth and sophisticated approach that treats the physical, mental, social and spiritual elements of each person. Therefore our treatment program looks at us as a whole person, beyond, just their addiction and offers a person-centered approach to treatment. This vastly increases the chance of sustained recovery and enjoying a good quality of life.”
What is your core treatment philosophy? “We offer a range of treatment programs to help our clients with their recovery process. Our therapies are based on scientific evidence and research. We offer specialist programs for eating disorders, we offer CBT, sex addiction specialists, a mood disorder program, one to one psychotherapy, psychiatric care, group therapy. We also offer all the complementary therapies. We are comprehensive in what we have on offer.”
How does your team work together? “Our experienced team work with the clients to ensure they have maximum input into how their program is designed. Their entire stay will be organized by your own personal Program Coordinator who is available to support the client and tailor their treatment program according to their needs. Five star treatment begins before they even arrive with our private car and chauffeur service available to pick them up from anywhere in the UK if necessary.”
Why do you offer single client occupancy? “Our facility caters to clients looking for the most discreet and exclusive environment to relax, unwind and deal with their recovery. We only take one client at a time to ensure everyone we treat has the best possible care.”
The Kusnacht Practice opened in 2007 and is located on the beautiful shores of Lake Zurich. It prides itself on being one of the most exclusive and expensive Rehabs in the world. Both George Michael and John Galliano are said to have been treated there. Each client has his or her own villa—there are seven villas—with a butler, maid and chauffeur. “We make a home for our clients,” says owner and CEO Eduardo Greghi.
What makes the Kusnacht Practice different? “The level of luxury. This all-inclusive service, as if in a hotel, is characteristic of 5-star psychiatry and it includes 70 permanent employees and 90 freelancers, from a yoga teacher to an acupuncturist.
The clinical team here has a rich heritage of developing innovative methods of looking beyond the surface issues in order to identify the true underlying causes. We find these forms of compulsive behavior are usually associated with biochemical or neurochemical imbalances. We have developed our own Bio R methodology to deal with these imbalances.”
Why single client? “We prefer to treat clients individually rather than in a therapy group, as this enables us to tailor a unique care plan to the personal requirements of each individual. Clients stay at our exclusive luxury residences. We provide clinical excellence in luxurious surroundings.”
Do you include family members in the recovery process? “Many people who seek treatment at The Kusnacht Practice may be experiencing emotional pain or may have suffered trauma, which can also be distressing for family and friends.
Although not mandatory, in most cases we strongly recommend that family and close friends take part in our treatment program. This helps each party to truly understand what is causing their family member’s disorder and their part in the healing process. A thorough preparation for a healthier and happier life after treatment and during our continuing care for the whole family system is an important part of the lasting treatment success.”
What types of therapy are used? “We offer a wide range of innovative and science-based therapies and procedures delivered by qualified medical professionals, along with counseling, complementary treatments and 12 Steps spiritual programs. This may include biomolecular restoration, clinical hypnotherapy, psychotherapy/cognitive therapies, EMDR, Family Systems Therapy, Mindfulness work, Neurofeedback, Positive psychology, repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation and more.”
Finding Recovery That’s Tailored to You
Addiction can make us feel misunderstood. In that vulnerable state, feeling seen is so important. That’s what single-client rehabs do for their patients. By understanding and catering to the individual needs of their clients, these rehabs create a comfortable and nurturing environment for recovery.
Search our collection of luxury rehab centers to learn more about single-client rehabs, their accommodations, pricing, amenities, and more.
Frequently Asked Questions About Single-Client Rehabs
They can be—personalization improves treatment outcomes. Single-client rehabs address each client’s unique situation, including trauma or concerns that stem from addiction. They tailor therapies to clients and adjust treatment as needed, according to your progress.
Professional athletes battle with keeping up with the competition, and performance-enhancing drugs are one such way to do so.
But what about when athletes begin abusing drugs or other destructive behavioral patterns outside of the workplace? When depression and isolation overcome an athlete off the field?
Addiction in sport is quite common. And due to the nature of the work, it can be difficult for athletes to both accept and receive the help they need without it destroying their career. Yet, if you carry on without getting help, you put everything at risk—your career, your health, and even your life.
If you’re a professional athlete, here’s how you can attend rehab and get help without landing in the headlines.
1. Leave the Country
Some countries thrive on celebrity culture.
Their people soak in celebrity problems like they’re their own. But there are countries where celebrities can walk down the street without hassle (and attend rehab without landing in the tabloids).
Switzerland is renowned for its security, privacy and non-sensationalism. The country has some of the most exclusive rehab centers in the world. They prioritize your privacy and ensure that the tabloids can’t get to you.
Many centers here offer individual therapy and bespoke treatments so that you can get the help you need without fear of getting caught by reporters.
To find out more about rehab in Switzerland, watch our video series on Swiss rehab centers.
2. Get Exclusive Treatment, Tailored to You
If you’re a celebrity athlete struggling with addiction and you want to get help in privacy, consider avoiding group therapy sessions. While other people in therapy might not tell your story to the news, they may sell it at another point in the future.
Keeping out of the tabloids is about risk reduction. The fewer people that see you, the less likely your story will leak.
Before you go to rehab, you can take steps with the media to legally inform them that they can’t report on particular issues for the sake of selling a story.
In the U.K., a super-injunction4 is an effective way of minimizing reported stories about your rehab. However, it uses the term “reported stories” because it’s becoming difficult to avoid stories leaking on social sites like Twitter.
Ryan Giggs’ case is a famous example. He sought an injunction to protect his identity over an alleged affair with a reality TV contestant, as well as a super-injunction to protect himself against an affair he had with his brother’s wife for eight years.
While these stories were eventually leaked and brought to light by media sources, a super-injunction can be an effective way of reducing your risk of making the headlines, especially if your story is personal to you and uncontroversial.
4. Tell Your Team You’re on Holiday or Hiatus
In most cases, tabloid news stories are leaked from the inside. It’s not unusual for a member of your team to sell your story to make a quick buck. And while we encourage you to only work with trusted people, that isn’t always the case.
To minimize your risk of getting “caught in rehab,” avoid telling people. It might seem like simple advice, but money buys secrets, and the media has a lot of money.
Your team only needs to know that you’re away on holiday or hiatus; they don’t need to know more details.
5. Be the First to Share About It
This is definitely counterintuitive and not for everyone. If you don’t want to be in the headlines for a drug or alcohol problem or other mental health issues, submitting an honest, transparent statement to media sources or posting an update on your social media accounts is the last thing you would choose to do.
However, this approach may work really well. You may desire, for instance, “to be the change you want to see in the world” and show that it’s okay to seek out treatment for addiction and mental health issues. That it’s actually the best thing you can do and a sign of strength not weakness. You may feel that being straightforward and honest about your situation will actually help mitigate speculation and gossip, especially if you’re concerned about it leaking anyway. Although all were in blackmail situations, consider Alexander Hamilton with the Reynolds Pamphlet, Jeff Bezos’s Medium article,5 and John Skipper’s resignation statement.6 If you do choose this route, be prepared for potential consequences.
Be Sure to Seek the Help You Need
With all this said, the most important factor about attending rehab is to get the right help for you.
Many locations across the globe have unique and tailored solutions that will work for some athletes but not for others.
Be sure to do your homework on the rehab center you’re interested in and choose one based on the treatment available and the expert clinicians who work there. These clinicians, after all, are the ones who will help you get sober and stay sober.
To get the specialized treatment you may need, explore our collection of rehabs across the globe to learn about pricing, their treatment approach, clinical team, and more.
Frequently Asked Questions About Rehab Privacy for Athletes
Where can athletes with drug addiction get help?
Help is available for athletes struggling with addiction:
• Your primary care physician may refer you to treatment. • A specialized mental health professional can guide your recovery. • Find an addiction treatment program specifically for athletes. Some have unique therapies like HBOT. • Join a 12-Step or non-12-Step support group in addition to a treatment program.
Can athletes go to rehab without anyone knowing?
It’s possible. Single-client rehabs offer completely private treatment. Going abroad is another option. Countries like Switzerland have strict privacy laws and some of the world’s most exclusive rehabs.
Over the past few years, I’ve had the chance to visit a number (the current count is 19, I believe) of the luxury rehabs listed on our site.
I’ve enjoyed meeting the teams behind each one, but have come to particularly appreciate and recognize the unique benefit of family-owned and operated centers. Here are a few of the reasons that dynamic can be so special.
Financial Independence
There’s certainly nothing inherently wrong with institutional investors, but a key benefit communicated to me when visiting these centers is that without an institutional investor to answer to, family-owned rehabs find they are freer to make decisions that put client needs over profit when necessary.
Don Lavender (Programme Director) and his wife Meena (Family Therapist & EMDR Practitioner) run Camino Recovery in Malaga, Spain. Don and Meena spent many years working for institutional treatment centers in the US and UK, and Don was happy to share the benefits of operating a family-owned center.
Don (right) and Meena (front, 2nd from left) and their team at Camino Recovery.
“Meena and I wanted to do this on our own. Even though we’ve been approached a number of times, we haven’t gone with or worked with investors. Because when you have to pay more attention to the bottom line than paying attention to the welfare of the client, sometimes a good business decision can turn out to be a poor clinical decision.”
Jan Gerber, Managing Director of Paracelsus Recovery in Switzerland, who runs the company with his mom, the Clinical Coordinator, and dad, the Medical Director puts it this way, “I have a very strong belief that institutional money, institutional investments, and mental health don’t work together. Because when it comes to mental health treatment, be it addiction treatment, eating disorders, depression, or anything else, there is no objective decision. Does a person need more psychotherapy or less psychotherapy? More of that treatment or less of that treatment? It needs to be a clinical decision where the budget and financial side is completely cut off.”
Jan (center) and his mother Dr. Christine Merzeder (center right) meeting with their team.
Intimate Atmosphere
For the most part, family-run treatment centers tend to be smaller, more intimate environments. Of the four I mention in this post, Camino is the largest with a maximum of 8 clients, which is well below the norm for residential treatment centers.
Dr. David Nesenoff, of Tikvah Lake Recovery in Florida, provides an extremely personalized treatment experience with treatment taking place entirely in his home.
“Even though Tikvah Lake Recovery is a 15,000 square foot mansion on a 200-acre private lake, this is our home. My wife Nancy and I live here. There are no signs outside and if one were to poke their head in they would see a peaceful home with a few guests visiting. Our clients are considered guests in our home and they are treated as such. Discussions around our table can be anything from talking about the unbelievable food in front of us or about our day or just some fun stuff hosts and guests usually talk about around the family table. Our clinical director becomes part of the family as well as he often joins us around the lunch table and he and his staff are on-site working with our guests one-on-one every day.”
Dr. Nesenoff welcomes potential clients into his home in the short clip above.
David and his son Adam, who operate the center together, believe that the size of the facility (the program is limited to a maximum of 6 people) and the home-like atmosphere are key factors to their guests’ success.
Ameet Braich, Clinical Director of Camino Recovery (and the son of Meena Lavender) also sees great benefit in a more intimate setting. “We’ve all come from years in the field, working in larger institutions and have found that working in a clinical environment is detrimental to the therapeutic process. Having a small, intimate space where people can really get honest and open up about their issues, really works well in this setting.”
Addiction Is a Family Problem
My first exposure to a family-owned and operated treatment center was Duffy’s Napa Valley. From its founding in 1967 until it was acquired in 2015, Duffy’s operated as a family-run business, and frequently described themselves as “A family business for a family problem.” That slogan resonated with me, and I think its a key component to why family-owned centers are so special.
Addiction is a problem that affects the entire family and can also be a byproduct of problems within the family. So “it is natural for the solutions to these struggles and barriers to be learned within a family environment,” says Nesenoff.
Clients at a family-operated program get the chance to see family dynamics in action, which in itself can be helpful. Don says, “We’re imperfect just like every family. But when we mess up or make mistakes, we acknowledge it. And, in a way, it gives the clients the permission to learn.”
As a key part of their program, Camino invites the families of their clients to join them on site for a 5-day workshop, where according to Don, they teach them about the “disease concept and codependency” as well as a focus on enablement.
He doesn’t doubt that there is a connection between Camino’s family ownership and the effectiveness of their family program. “Camino is a family-owned and family-run business. … We pay attention to families seriously, not only our own family but the family systems of others. … Family is important. It is of value. And when people leave us, they return to family.”
A Dream Come True
“It’s a dream come true.” This is how Debby Berry, co-founder of Kembali Recovery described starting and running a treatment center with her son Clayton.
Clayton and Debby show us a nearby waterfall for our Bali Destinations episode.
As anyone who runs a family business knows, it has its challenges. But more often than not, the benefits are worth the effort, and felt not only throughout the organization but by the clients and their families in desperate need of help.
When considering treatment options, you should always investigate the quality of the program. Search our collection of rehabs and find key information such as licensing, accreditations, and pricing at a glance. Whenever possible, consult a trusted medical or mental health professional before a final decision is made.
Frequently Asked Questions About Family-Run Rehabs
What are the benefits of a family-run rehab?
Family-run rehabs may have more flexibility and tend to prioritize clinical care over profits. Most treat a few patients at a time in an intimate, home-like setting. This comfortable atmosphere helps patients open up in therapy.
What is the difference between a family-owned rehab and state-funded rehab?
The cost of treatment without insurance is a key difference between family-owned and state-funded rehabs. State-funded rehabs offer low- to no-cost treatment for uninsured people. However, it often takes longer to enter state programs compared to family-owned rehabs.
Do family-run rehabs have better family programs?
Family-run rehabs tend to pay special attention to their family program. Patients also get to see healthy family dynamics in action and can apply these to their own lives.
