Our approach to treating addictions

If you are struggling with an alcohol or drug addiction, an important first step in your addiction treatment journey may be for you to undergo a medically assisted withdrawal detoxification or ‘detox’ process, before you commence with comprehensive addiction therapy.

Alcohol detox and drug detox can differ slightly, but detox process involves removing all traces of addictive and harmful substances are removed from your body, whilst managing any withdrawal symptoms that you may experience as a result of no longer having alcohol or drugs in your system. The detox process at Priory typically lasts for 7 – 10 days and is delivered by our highly trained, multidisciplinary teams of consultants and other addiction specialists. Our detox experts are also able to offer medical intervention and prescribe medication during detox, if this is required, in order to ensure that you are physically stable in preparation to start addiction therapy. You will also benefit from 24-hour mental health nursing support for the duration of the detox process. 

The Addiction Treatment Programmes that we offer at Priory consist of patients staying at one of our hospitals, usually for a 28-day period. Whilst 28 days is the recommended treatment length for addictions, we are also able to consider flexible treatment lengths, if appropriate, at some of our hospital sites. As part of your residential programme, you will have the opportunity to tackle any physical symptoms that are associated with your addiction through our detox service, before undergoing intensive therapy in order to address the underlying causes and triggers for your addictive behaviours, and reduce the chances of addiction relapse.

You can read more about Priory’s inpatient addiction treatment offerings by visiting our inpatient treatment page.

Day care treatment for addictions is typically used as a step-down in treatment intensity once you have completed your 28-day inpatient treatment programme at one of our Priory hospitals, although it can also be used as an entry-point at some of our hospital sites, depending on your unique needs. This form of therapy consists of you attending a Priory hospital for a set number of days each week, depending on the intensity of the support that you require, and taking part in addiction therapy groups alongside current residential patients. However, unlike our residential programme, you will not stay at the hospital overnight and will return home following a day of therapy.

Outpatient treatment for addictions is characterised by you attending hourly therapy sessions, usually on a weekly basis, with appointment times that can be flexible according to your existing commitments. Outpatient therapy can be delivered at our hospital sites as well as through our national Priory wellbeing centre network. 

Whether it takes place on an inpatient, day care or outpatient basis, we are able to deliver addiction therapy in a number of different formats at Priory. For more information on each of the therapy formats that we are able to offer, please click on the following links:

• 1:1 therapy
• Group therapy
• Family therapy
• Couples therapy

We are also able to offer a wide range of therapeutic techniques as part of addiction treatment at Priory, which can be delivered in an inpatient, day care or outpatient capacity, and in different formats, depending on your personal needs. The types of therapy that we can offer at Priory include:

• Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) for addiction
• Dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT)
• Mindfulness
• Eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing (EMDR)
• Cognitive analytic therapy (CAT)
• Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT)
• Interpersonal therapy (IPT)
• Compassion focused therapy (CFT)
• Emotion focused therapy (EFT)
• Person centred therapy (PCT)
• Psychodynamic counselling
• Integrative counselling
• Schema therapy
• Rational emotive behaviour therapy (REBT)
• Transactional analysis (TA)
• Solution focused therapy
• Existential therapy
• Psychoeducation
• Equine assisted therapy - for more information on equine assisted therapy, the benefits we see when using horses as part of addiction treatment, and to view our equine therapy video, please visit our equine assisted therapy page
• Art therapy
• Psychodrama
• Wellbeing activities

For more detailed information on each of the types of therapy that we are able to deliver at Priory, you can visit our therapy types page.

At Priory, we are dedicated to your ongoing recovery, which is why we offer comprehensive aftercare support to each individual who completes their 28-day Addiction Treatment Programme with us. The majority of our hospitals offer free aftercare for 12 months following addiction treatment. Priory Hospital Roehampton are able to provide free aftercare for life.

Our exceptional aftercare programmes consist of ongoing access to support groups, continuous networking assistance, talks and advice for patients, as well as family support groups. In addition, each and every one of our patients will finish their Addiction Treatment Programme with a tailored Continuing Care Plan and we are dedicated to supporting you in your ongoing transition from hospital back to your day-to-day life.