What to expect when entering a rehab centre

Aug 29, 2024 | News | 0 comments

Accepting that you need help, whether it is for drug and alcohol misuse, addiction, or a mental health problem such as depression and anxiety, is a huge first step, and one that should be congratulated.

When you are thinking about entering treatment or seeking help for a loved one, the idea of residential rehab can feel a little daunting and you may have questions about what it is like, and what to expect.

Only the staff at a specific centre can tell you exactly what happens at their clinic, however, most treatment centres work along similar lines, with structured days and a schedule to follow. The in-patient programmes are designed around therapy, support, specialised activities, exercise, and leisure.

A time for rest, recovery, and reflection.

On admittance to our rehab in Ibiza

Here in Ibiza your stay with us starts as soon as you get off the plane. One of the staff will meet you at the airport and you will be driven to the rehab centre. On arrival you are shown around; and seen by the medical team for a full assessment.

The estate is situated in the north of Ibiza, a short drive from several beautiful villages and beaches, which are famous for the crystal-clear turquoise water and spectacular sunsets. The property itself is built in the style of a traditional Ibicencan castle; set in a 13-hectare Mediterranean styled garden, which provides ample space for walking, relaxation, and contemplation.

There is room to relax and unwind, a pool and gym on-site to burn off some energy, and welcoming therapeutic spaces geared specifically towards talking. Individual, single-occupancy, ensuite rooms ensure all clients have their own space, and somewhere to retreat if they need a little alone time.

Once you have seen exactly where you will be staying, you will meet with the psychiatrist for an intake evaluation. During this initial appointment we will gather details regarding your fullmedical, psychological, and emotional health. The findings of this will be passed to the psychology team and an individually designed programme will be tailored to fit your needs. You will be matched with the therapists and counsellors best suited for you, and any required detoxification programme will start.

What is detox?

Detoxification is essentially the removal of harmful toxins from the body. Heavy or sustained alcohol and drug use can cause the body to become physically dependent on these substances, and if suddenly stopped can cause withdrawal symptoms, which range from mild to serious.

Withdrawal needs to be managed with the correct specialist care and supervised by a physician. Detoxing without the proper medical supervision can be both painful and dangerous.

Here at the rehab, we have a full team of doctors and nurses on staff all headed up by Medical Director, Dr Manuel Rodriguez. Manuel oversees all the clinical treatment at the centre and is highly specialised in caring for patients with addiction and other mental health disorders.

Detox and rehab at the centre in Ibiza

Detoxing is the physical removal of the substances from the body, which breaks the physical addiction. The next vitally important step is to look at the mental and emotional aspect of drug or alcohol use.

There is no single explanation for why anyone abuses a substance, it can be down to one specific factor or a combination of reasons. Generally, people will use drugs, alcohol, (or in some cases a behaviour) to change the way they feel – to make themselves feel better or to stop feeling bad. Rehab is about looking at the reasons why someone feels the need to change the way they feel in the first place; and then why they continue to use something to do so – often at the cost of everything else in their life.

This is done through a series of therapeutic practices, including one-to-one counselling; peer-group and fellowship support meetings; workshops, assignments, and treatments such as EMDR (eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing), TMS (transcranial magnetic stimulation) and equine facilitated therapy.

A typical day at the rehab centre in Ibiza

Structure and order are incredibly helpful when someone is recovering from addiction or mental health disorders. Days at the rehab follow a schedule and are designed to help those who are struggling.

Our programmes are a blend of counselling, group psychotherapy, mindfulness, and complementary practices, such as yoga and meditation.

This is what a standard day at our rehab centre in Ibiza would look like –

  • 8:30 am: Wake up.
  • 9:00 am: Breakfast and readings.
  • 10:00 am: Group therapy.
  • 11:15 am: Break.
  • 11:45 pm: Workshops/assignments.
  • 12:45 pm: Break and then lunch.
  • 2:00 pm: Art therapy/Workshops/assignments/group.
  • 3:00 pm: Break.
  • 3:15 pm: One-to-one counselling/individual work.
  • 4:15 pm: Yoga/fitness.
  • 5:00 pm: Break.
  • 6:30 pm: Dinner.
  • 7:30 pm: Fellowship/speaker meetings/goal setting.
  • 9:00 pm: Mindfulness.
  • 10:00 pm: Leisure.
  • 11:30 pm: Bedtime

In addition to the above – once a week clients will go out to visit the horses for equine-facilitated therapy. At the weekend there are excursions and more time for leisure activities.

Our programmes (individual care, full bespoke and “La Casita bespoke) all have a certain degree of flexibility within them. They are tailor-made programmes which enable clients to opt out of some, or all the activities; add in extra counselling, therapies, and alternative treatments; have more free time – perhaps to check in with work commitments; make use of an extra room for family visits or the family component programme.

Please see our brochure for more details on these programmes and availability.

Workshops at the treatment centre in Ibiza

We run several workshops for clients during their time at the treatment centre, these cover a variety of topics including –

Relapse prevention
Living life clean and sober
Powerlessness
Anger
Family Dynamics
Trauma
Acceptance
Resentments
Communication skills

 

Therapy at the rehab in Ibiza

Two of the key components to treating addiction, and other psychiatric and psychological conditions, are therapy and having a safe space in which to be able to share feelings. Therapysupports people so they can unburden themselves of long held fears, emotions, and resentments, works to eliminate them, and teaches coping skills to manage ongoing or reoccurring problems.

There are over 50 types of therapeutic approaches available, some will work better for specific conditions, whilst others can help with a broad range of issues. Here at the rehab centre, we offer a range of treatments and a secure and serene place to participate in them.

During their stay clients will have intensive one-to-one sessions with their counsellor, time to talk with the psychiatrist, and a chance to work through a variety of topics in workshops andindividual assignments.

Group therapy is a huge part of the programme at Ibiza Calm and whilst most people are reluctant at first; often experiencing trepidation at the thought of speaking in front of others. We do encourage them to go along and just sit and listen. Our clients have repeatedly told us they learn so much about themselves by listening to others.

Additional therapies at the rehab

The rehab also offers Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) which is a non-invasive form of brain stimulation therapy that has proved effective in the treatment of neurological and mental health conditions such as depression or addiction.

We also use equine-facilitated therapy as a part of our broader treatment programme, this is done with one of our specialist therapists Kate Stillman. Kate is a fully qualified psychotherapist and certified equine psychotherapist.

We treat a variety of mental health conditions including alcoholism, drug addiction (to illegal and prescription medicine) and process addictions (food disorders, gambling, and codependency). Our programmes are also suitable for people suffering with anxiety, depression, bipolar, trauma, PTSD, and burnout.

For further information regarding any of our programmes, and details on admissions, please contact sharon@ibizacalm.com

For free information and advice on issues related to mental health and addiction check out the following websites:

Alcoholics Anonymous (AA). A worldwide 12-step fellowship for individuals who have a problem with alcohol. Anyone with a desire to stop drinking is welcome. https://www.alcoholics-anonymous.org.uk

Narcotics Anonymous (NA). Is a global non-profit fellowship, a community of people who support each other to achieve and maintain a drug free life. https://ukna.org

Al-Anon. A mutual peer-support programme for people whose lives have been affected by someone elses drinking.  https://al-anonuk.org.uk

Mind. A registered charity in England, which offers information, advice, local services and support, for those individuals and family members struggling with a mental health condition.  https://www.mind.org.uk

Mental Health Foundation. A UK charity that provides individuals with advice and resources related to mental health. https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk

BEAT. The UKs eating disorder charity that provides information and support for those affected by an eating disorder. https://www.beateatingdisorders.org.uk