Discover Private and Peaceful Recovery in Switzerland

The One Client at a Time Model

Many treatment centers in Switzerland opt for the single-client model, including Paracelsus Recovery and CALDA Clinic. This approach is the ultimate option for privacy and confidentiality and is designed for celebrities, politicians, and high-profile business people who can’t be treated in more public facilities.

Single-client rehabs are designed so that only one client is in the center at any given time. Because you’re the only person receiving treatment, you will receive the complete focus of your care providers. There is no group therapy, and the rehab facility is totally private. And because there is only one patient, these programs are also highly customizable. They often offer bespoke programs that fit the needs of the patient, including incorporating family visits, business meetings, access to a driver, and highly specialized program offerings or treatments.

Centers that intake one client at a time tend to be holistic and integrated. This includes mental and physical health care, along with emotional and spiritual support. Patients typically stay in luxury accommodations and have access to outdoor activities, personal trainers, nutrition support, and a wide variety of cutting-edge therapeutic treatments. And because this environment is a unique way to get care, single-client rehab centers provide ample aftercare to support patients as they transition back to their daily lives.

Treatment for Executives

Along with offering single-client style treatment, many rehab centers in Switzerland focus their attention on caring for executives in recovery. Executives have unique needs when it comes to treatment. They’re used to fast-paced, high-stress jobs, and may be concerned about the ability of their team to manage their business without them. Many executives also worry about privacy and confidentiality. They don’t want their healing journey to be painted in a way that might damage the reputation of their company or brand.

Luxury rehabs in Switzerland understand the unique stressors of this group because they have deep roots in business and finance. Many recovery centers offer access to the internet, phones, or even conference rooms so executives can fulfill their professional duties while in treatment. This is quite different from other centers, in which patients are totally cut off from the outside world. Rehabs that are designed for executives understand that not all CEOs can step away from work for an entire month.

On top of treatment for substance use, many of the centers that specialize in executive treatment also include treatment for anxiety. Studies show that 10-40% of people struggling with alcohol or drug addiction have an anxiety disorder.⁵ Executives, who are in high-stress roles and feel constant pressure to achieve, are likely to experience symptoms of anxiety at some point in their careers. By treating underlying anxiety and panic, executives can find healthy ways to cope without substances.

Rehabs for executives also frequently offer customized programs that appeal to this group’s passion for productivity. For example, they might offer therapy on creating healthy work habits or finding work-life balance. These treatments will prepare executives to live a healthier and more sustainable life when they return to the office.

Traveling to Switzerland

Switzerland is widely accessible by plane, and most clients fly into one of the country’s many airports. Both Zurich and Geneva have airports, as well as the larger towns of Bern and Lugano. If you’re located in continental Europe, you may also choose to have a sobriety coach or loved one drive you to the center, or accompany you via train to ensure you arrive safely. Rehabs typically offer car services from the airport or train station, particularly at bespoke or ultra-private centers.

Jan Gerber of Paracelsus notes: “From a medical travel perspective, Switzerland is great because it’s very easy to come to Switzerland no matter where you’re from. A lot of our clients come from countries where you normally need a visa to travel to this part of the world. When you come for medical treatments, it’s quite easy to access Switzerland.”

In terms of the environment itself, Switzerland offers both bustling cities and rural retreats. Centers in Zurich and Geneva will have a more metropolitan vibe, though these cities are on the smaller side, with only a few hundred thousand residents each. That means that patients can enjoy city life without sacrificing peace and quiet. Meanwhile, mountainside chalets and rural retreats offer the opportunity for patients to heal privately while surrounded by nature.

No matter where you choose to get treatment, Switzerland is a geographically small country, and it’s relatively easy to travel from one city or town to another. If you’re hoping to partake in hiking, skiing, or other outdoor recreational activities as part of your healing journey, there are options near virtually every city or town.

What to Do in Switzerland

Patients who choose to get care in Switzerland are often drawn to the area because of its skiing and hiking opportunities. Others are attracted to the historic and cultural aspects of the country: Switzerland has more than 900 museums in total, the most famous being the National Museum of Zurich.

Treatment centers in the area take advantage of the cultural and natural wonders Switzerland has to offer. Clinic Les Alpes, for example, offers both adventure therapy and art therapy. They describe their approach to adventure therapy in recovery: “At a height of 1200 meters, Clinic Les Alpes has many winter-themed activities, such as snowshoeing in the forests and sledging, while in summer, hikes in alpine meadows and forests, along with excursions to lake Geneva and picnics in the wildflower meadows.” Meanwhile, their art therapy program “provides an environment where the kind of creative thinking that enhances our recovery can be stimulated and facilitated by our highly qualified Art Psychotherapists.”

The CALDA Clinic in Zurich also allows patients to explore the local area and enjoy its natural beauty. They offer shopping and sightseeing excursions with a chaperone, as well as dance therapy, horseback riding lessons, and equine therapy. The CALDA Clinic sees these treatments as an instrumental part of treating addiction because they help alleviate the underlying stress and trauma that often leads to substance abuse. “In my opinion, chronic stress and how we react to it is the source of nearly every problem,” says the clinic’s founder Dr. Claudia M. Elsig.

Finally, if skiing is a part of your recovery plan, Switzerland has several world-renowned Alpine ski resorts, including Grindelwald, St. Moritz, and Zermatt. Skiing, snow-shoeing, hiking, and other activities found in the Swiss mountains can help patients heal both physically and mentally, while enjoying the views from the snowy peaks.

Rediscover Yourself in Switzerland

Many patients find that removing themselves from their current environment allows them to reconnect with their sense of self—and ultimately find healing. Traveling can be a powerful way to force yourself out of old patterns, and Switzerland is a particularly beautiful and safe place to break free of toxic habits and reconnect with yourself.

For high-net-worth individuals and executives, Switzerland offers a unique opportunity to start recovery in a confidential and safe space. The country is known worldwide for its private facilities and its focus on patients who may struggle to find care elsewhere. Plus, its focus on co-occurring disorders means that patients who struggle with more than just substance abuse can find healing here.

Though luxury rehabs in Switzerland may look like resorts from the outside, they are so much more than that. They offer innovative and holistic therapies to help you rebuild your life from the ground up, with continuing care to help you stay on track even after you return home. With so much natural beauty around you, it’s hard not to find something in Switzerland that will inspire you to move forward and embrace all that life has to offer.

See our curated list of luxury rehabs in Switzerland.

Frequently Asked Questions About Rehab in Switzerland