Alcohol rehab at Priory
Get help for alcohol addiction from our world class experts.
- Evidence-based treatment options
- Inpatient, outpatient and online treatment
- Highly qualified specialists
- FREE Addiction Assessment
Alcohol rehab is a clinically supervised treatment pathway that helps people stop drinking and recover from alcohol dependence. It typically involves medical detox to manage withdrawal, followed by therapy to address the behavioural and emotional aspects of addiction.
At Priory, our private alcohol rehab services are led by a team of experts and delivered in secure, therapeutic settings across the UK. We offer a choice of inpatient, outpatient, and online programmes — all including evidence-based therapies like CBT, plus 12 months of aftercare.
With a free addiction assessment available, you can get the guidance you need to take the first step towards recovery.
What is alcohol rehab?
FAQs
Here, you'll find some commonly asked questions about addiction treatment.
How much does alcohol rehab cost?
Our treatment plans are tailored to each person’s needs, and rehab costs reflect this. The cost for addiction treatment at Priory can vary, depending on a number of factors. These include the intensity of the support you require for your alcohol addiction, as well as the location of the rehab centre you wish to receive treatment at.
For more information on the cost of rehab, contact our friendly and confidential team.
How do I pay for rehab?
Our addiction treatment services can be paid for via self-funding, PMI or through corporate funding arrangements.
- Self-paying - you can choose to pay for your treatment yourself. This option allows you the flexibility to select the specific treatment and duration that best suits your needs
- Private medical insurance - Priory is an approved provider for all the UK’s leading private medical insurers, including Aviva, AXA Health, Bupa, Cigna, Healix, Vitality and WPA. You can use your private health insurance to cover the cost of your treatment, subject to the terms of your policy
For more detailed information on self-funding your treatment or utilising your private medical insurance, please call us on 0330 056 6023 or visit our fees and funding page. This will provide you with all the necessary details to make an informed decision about financing your rehab.
How long does alcohol rehab last?
The length of alcohol addiction treatment at Priory varies depending on your individual needs. However, we recommend a minimum 28-day inpatient stay to overcome addiction and achieve long-term recovery.
Is there free rehab available?
Priory offers private addiction support for people who are paying for their treatment themselves or using PMI. Free services may be available elsewhere. Speak to your GP about what’s available to you, or refer to Mind Charity’s list of support organisations for drug and alcohol addiction.
What can I expect during the detox process?
Medically assisted detox takes place on an inpatient basis and can be part of your addiction treatment programme. During alcohol detox, you can expect round-the-clock medical and nursing care in a safe, secure and clinical environment, with controlled medication to help you cope with your withdrawal symptoms, minimise any psychological distress and help you sleep.
What types of therapies are used in alcohol rehab?
Priory treatment programmes for alcohol addiction are centred around the 12-step recovery programme and CBT. However, we also offer many other approaches, including DBT, mindfulness, eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing (EMDR) and more.
What happens after I complete alcohol rehab?
We offer free addiction aftercare for 12 months to everyone who has completed our 28-day addiction treatment programme. Aftercare consists of ongoing access to support and therapy groups, family support, help with your continuing care plan, and alumni events where you can meet with other recovering addicts.
We also offer step-down support, such as day care, following on from inpatient treatment, or outpatient one-to-one sessions to further support you as you embark on early recovery.
Is alcohol rehab confidential?
During private rehab at Priory, you'll benefit from a completely confidential service, quick admission, tailored treatment delivered by experts, as well as high-end facilities and luxury surroundings.
We're dedicated to providing you with the privacy you need to make a full and sustainable recovery. That includes confidential treatment, except in very specific circumstances where we believe you may be a risk to yourself or others.
Types of treatment settings
Priory’s addiction treatment centres offer a range of treatment programmes that differ in intensity according to your individual needs. During the assessment, our team will determine where your treatment is most likely to begin, although it’s possible to step up or step down through the options once your treatment has started.
Inpatient treatment
Inpatient treatment is the most intensive treatment option and it involves a 28-day stay at one of our addiction rehab centres where you’ll receive 24-hour specialist care. This allows for intensive therapeutic approaches and medically assisted detoxification away from the stresses of everyday life.
Day care
Day care is a step down from inpatient treatment, providing a regular schedule of therapy, taking place for a set number of full or half days each week. This may be offered as a first stage option or following inpatient treatment, but isn’t intended for people who are still intoxicated or require a detox.
Outpatient treatment
Outpatient treatment is a step down from day care, involving regular therapy sessions, usually weekly, without staying in hospital on a residential basis. As with day care, outpatient treatment is more suitable for those who are no longer dependent on their addictive substance but need longer-term relapse support.
Online therapy
Online therapy is similar to outpatient treatment in that you receive regular therapy sessions remotely via a secure video platform or telephone, offering flexibility and convenience.
Initial steps to accessing treatment
Accessing help for alcohol addiction, delivered by our Priory specialists, is a straightforward process.
Before your assessment, we’ll need you to confirm your GP's contact details and agree for us to share information with them, where appropriate. While a GP referral is preferred, it isn't always necessary. If you’re intending to fund your treatment with private medical insurance (PMI), you may need to check with your insurer if a GP referral is required.
If you progress to inpatient treatment following your assessment, when you first come into hospital you will:
- Meet your consultant within 48 hours of admission
- Meet our admissions manager and nursing team for room orientation and to go through our admissions process
- Be assessed for a medically managed detox
- Receive a physical assessment by a medical doctor
Admissions can happen immediately if beds are available.
Options for immediate support
Where possible, it’s really important to address alcohol addiction before it leads to severe complications.
As a first step, you could approach your GP for a confidential chat about the issues you’ve been facing. If you need immediate support, you could speak to an addiction helpline or support group like Alcoholics Anonymous (AA).
Contacting Priory for a free, anonymous addiction assessment is another way to clarify whether you need help with your drinking. Whichever path you choose, seeking early help is crucial before the addiction leads to severe complications.
The idea of getting sober was no longer a pipe dream that I never thought would happen - it had started to become a reality. I listened to the therapists, did the work that was suggested and read the material they gave me. I started to feel alive again.
Read more addiction recovery stories here.
About our addiction experts
Diverse professional team
At Priory, our specialist addiction treatment programmes are led by expert teams of highly trained professionals, providing the highest standards of care to the people we support.
Professional credentials and experience
The specialist teams at Priory work together to tailor your comprehensive treatment according to your individual needs and in line with our high standards. We offer a true multidisciplinary approach meaning that everyone works together to provide you with a consistent treatment experience that produces the best outcomes.
Within the team, you can expect to come into contact with renowned addiction treatment experts working in a number of areas. This may include:
- Consultant psychiatrists
- Psychologists
- Therapists
- Mental health nurses
- Dietitians
- Wellbeing practitioners
Approach to care
Our care philosophy is one of compassion, confidentiality and a commitment to tailored, evidence-based treatment. For over 140 years, we have been trusted by our patients with their confidential care, and constantly strive to improve our services.
Continuous professional development (CPD)
Priory professionals are committed to staying current with industry standards, addiction techniques and the latest research. In order to enhance the quality of care we provide, our team members consistently maintain and develop their knowledge and skills. Many team members are registered with professional bodies that require CPD as part of their membership.
Reviews and comments
When to get alcohol addiction help
There are a number of signs to look out for that may suggest you’re struggling with alcoholism and should seek support.
Three key symptoms of alcohol addiction are:
- Finding that you’ve built a tolerance to alcohol, meaning that you need to drink more to feel ‘drunk’
- Drinking heavily on your own, even to the point of passing out
- Experiencing withdrawal symptoms when you don’t drink
Ultimately, if your drinking is impacting on your daily life and you’re not able to function normally, it could be time to reach out for additional support.
Understanding our alcohol rehab process
Addiction assessment
At Priory, the first step in your alcohol rehabilitation journey is a free alcohol addiction assessment.
The assessment takes place with an addiction therapist over the phone, or in person. They will ask about your addiction and look at your current situation and lifestyle. The therapist will explain the admissions process, the costs involved and will outline the confidentiality and safeguarding policies at Priory. They’ll outline how therapy, detox programmes and aftercare works, and how family and friends may be involved in your recovery.
After the assessment, you’ll be able to enter our alcohol addiction treatment programme, if this is the most appropriate next step for you.
Detox
Alcohol detox is the process of removing alcohol from your system in carefully managed way. It’s a medically assisted process that takes place when you first come in for treatment, sometimes with the use of controlled prescription medication to help lessen your alcohol withdrawal symptoms and make them easier to cope with.
During alcohol detox, you’ll have access to round-the-clock care to make sure you’re comfortable at all times. The purpose of our detox programme is to make sure that you’re physically stable and ready to benefit fully from addiction therapy.
Therapy
Therapy helps you understand and address the issues that have led to your addiction and develop coping strategies for future triggers. Therapy can take place on a 1:1 basis between you and a therapist, with your family, or in a small group of your peers, led by a therapist or facilitator.
Our alcohol addiction treatment programmes include a range of therapeutic methods, such as the 12-step model, which provides guiding principles for ongoing recovery from addiction. Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is another method we use, helping you to identify and address the underlying triggers and causes for your alcohol addiction.
Other therapies available include dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT), transactional analysis (TA) and mindfulness, which are delivering alongside a range of wellbeing activities such as meditation, yoga and other exercise activities.
Aftercare
After 28 days of intensive residential treatment, transitioning back to normal life can be daunting. Our aftercare programme has been designed to help you as you return to normality after your initial course of treatment. You may be offered day care appointments or outpatient one-to-one sessions, to support you as you embark on early recovery.
Priory offers free addiction aftercare for 12 months to everyone who has completed our 28-day programme. Aftercare includes ongoing access to support and therapy groups, family support, help with your continuing care plan and alumni events, where you can stay connected within our community and continue building on your recovery.
Customised treatment plans
At Priory, we believe in a joined-up approach that treats the physical, mental and social elements of each person. Our treatment programmes offer a person-centred approach, greatly increasing the chance of sustained recovery and a good quality of life.
During the initial assessment process, our experts will gather the information they need to ensure that your individual treatment plan is tailored to meet your needs, in order to work towards the best possible recovery outcomes for you.
Private medical insurance
We are a registered and approved provider for all of the UK's leading private medical insurers. The services that we offer at Priory can be funded through private medical insurance. This includes:
- Mental health treatment
- Addiction treatment
- Eating disorder treatment
All clients will have access to our highly skilled and accredited clinicians, many of whom are published experts in their fields of treatment. Whatever your requirements, we are committed to working with you to get your life back on track.
