We reached out to a number of luxury rehab centers around the world and asked them “Why luxury rehab?” Responses from 10 luxury centers from around the world are reflected in this post.
Every so often you may read in the tabloids and newspapers that a celebrity has gone to rehab, but judging by the pictures that accompany the story, you question whether the celeb has simply gone on vacation. Shouldn’t a good rehab program strip you of material possessions and luxuries so that you can get to know your true self? Is it possible to overcome a debilitating addiction while hanging out poolside and enjoying gourmet food?
“Luxury denotes an all-pervasive quality standard that extends beyond infrastructure to the quality of the staff, programming, meals services, and the care and attention provided to each individual.”
John Derry, Director, Serenity Vista
In other words, luxury rehab is more than just a counseling service run out of a 4-star hotel. It is the highest quality addiction treatment option available. Luxury rehabs offer complete personalization, with the goal of complete recovery. And as you’ll find out, that’s just the beginning.
If you want to beat your addiction, it’s necessary to devote 100% of your time and energy to recovery. A luxury rehab program is designed to do away with anything that might be an obstacle or distraction for someone who is used to a specific level of accommodation and lifestyle.
As Darren Lockie, CEO of Lanna Rehab points out, “rehab does not have to be spartan, or have poor quality food, or force you do your own laundry, for example. These are distractions to why [our clients] came to rehab. They came to focus on recovery, and if we can take care of them and let them focus ONLY on recovery, then we find that our clients’ success rate is far greater.”
Jan Gerber, Managing Director at Paracelsus Recovery in Switzerland, speaks of “meeting clients where they are instead of pretending they are people who they are not.” There are certainly legitimate treatment facilities that use the work of chores, cooking, cleaning, and living in an uncomfortable setting to very successfully help clients recovery. However, when clients are used to a high level of comfort and luxury in their lives, and have been highly successful in their careers, forcing them to share a room, do their own laundry, and give up access to their cell phone is often more of a barrier to treatment success than a help.
To help clients recover spiritually, physically and mentally, luxury rehabs tend to offer a variety of healthy activities and alternative therapies. You might swim in the pool, get a massage, practice yoga, try a ropes course or meditate in the garden. Certain facilities may limit the amount of time you spend with technology so that you can focus completely on your mind, body and spirit.
When you check in at such a facility, unpacking your mental baggage, learning to be kind to yourself and living a healthy lifestyle are your main tasks for the next 30 or more days.
Although we dream of a world where there’s no shame associated with getting help for addiction, the reality is that stigma exists. “The threat of stigma and social judgement is a very real issue, and wealthy or prominent people in treatment have many valid reasons to insist on privacy and anonymity,” says Barbara Ellan, with The Sanctuary Byron Bay in Australia. She cites, “fear of loss of social standing, reputation and respect” as causes for concern among clients.
Luxury rehab centers are focused on providing the level of privacy that is appropriate for business executives and celebrities of all kinds and are often located in remote areas with strict security measures.
Centers that are located abroad have an added benefit: “When you choose a destination rehab, no one in your home community has to know you’re in treatment—you can simply tell them you’re on holiday” says Kayla Gill of The Cabin in Chiang Mai, Thailand. At a luxury rehab you can still answer emails and phone calls, not unlike when you are on vacation. And the poolside selfies you’d take at a luxury rehab rival those of 4-star hotels and resorts. In short, clients can keep up appearances while still getting the treatment they need.
But privacy does not stop there. Within the facility itself, prominent clients can maintain their privacy with single rooms or suites, and they can choose to only participate in one-on-one therapy.
“Many people with a public profile are unable to participate in group therapy, or prefer to spend the time with a focused therapy experience rather than sharing the practitioner’s time with 10 other people,” says Ruth Limkin, CEO of The Banyans in Brisbane, Australia.
Would you want to go to rehab if you felt like the staff did not understand you or, even worse, seemed to resent you? Of course not! Luxury rehabs offer executives and celebrities the assurance that their lifestyles will be understood and accommodated during the recovery process.