A Phased Approach to Addiction and Mental Health Treatment

Q: How long does the treatment program last?

Programs start from 4 weeks, which gives you enough time to stabilize, begin therapy, and build practical skills to manage your triggers and stressors. Clients who stay 8 to 12 weeks move into deeper therapeutic work and relapse prevention, which strengthens long-term outcomes. Your therapist works with you to determine the right duration during your initial assessment, and adjustments can be made as treatment progresses.

Q: What evidence-based therapies are used at Viva Rehab?

Our clinical team uses CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy), DBT (Dialectical Behavior Therapy), EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), and a range of wellness and somatic therapies. TMS (Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation) is also available on-site at an additional cost for clients who would benefit from it. Your treatment plan is personalized based on your assessment, not a fixed list of sessions.

Recovery takes more than good intentions. It takes the right environment, the right clinical support, and a treatment program built around your specific goals. At Viva Rehab Thailand, treatment follows a phased framework, not a 12-Step program. It moves you from stabilization through deeper therapeutic work and into relapse prevention, at a pace that is right for you.

Viva Rehab is part of The Dawn Group, operators of Asia’s only CARF-accredited rehab, The Dawn Wellness Centre and Rehab. This means you will have access to similar standard treatment methods, internationally trained clinicians, and evidence-based care at a third of the cost of comparable Western facilities.

How Our Phased Approach to Treatment Works

Effective recovery follows a clear structure. Viva Rehab’s treatment framework is built on a phased model that moves through stabilization, trigger and stressor management, deeper therapeutic work, and preparation for life after treatment. Each phase builds on the last, and your treatment plan is personalized to your individual recovery goals, not a one-size-fits-all approach.

Phase 1

Stabilization and Symptom Management

Weeks 1 - 2

Comprehensive assessment and personalized treatment plan established
24/7 nursing support in a safe, structured environment
Medically supervised on-site detox with personalized tapering protocols – for addiction clients
Familiarizing with Viva’s structured routine that supports emotional regulation

Phase 2

Managing Triggers, Stressors, and Building Coping Skills

Weeks 2 - 5

Once stabilized, our clinical team helps identify the presenting issues driving your condition. CBT, DBT, and other evidence-based modalities alongside holistic therapy equip you with practical coping skills to manage your triggers and stressors on a daily basis.

Phase 3

Tackling Root Causes Through Deeper Therapeutic Work

Weeks 5 - 8

Lasting recovery requires work on the underlying issues driving your condition. Our Trauma Program allows clients to work through unresolved trauma issues at a pace that feels safe and manageable – using EMDR and Narrative Therapy, and supported by somatic approaches such as TRE and more.

Phase 4

Preparing for Life After Treatment

Weeks 9 - 12

Identifying further triggers
and stressors through
exposure-based techniques
Strengthening coping strategies
Planning long-term psychiatric and psychological support
Finalizing your Continuing Care Plan, which is developed throughout your treatment and tailored to your life after discharge
Bi-weekly online aftercare group sessions, free for life

Note: Treatment length is personalized. Your therapist will work with you to determine the right duration based on your individual assessment and recovery goals.

What a Typical Week in Treatment Looks Like

Below is a guide to a standard program week. Your actual schedule will be tailored personally during your first week and may be adjusted as your treatment progresses.

Time	Monday / Wednesday / Friday	Tuesday / Thursday	Saturday / Sunday
07:00 – 08:00	Morning Fitness	Morning Fitness	Morning Fitness
08:00 – 09:00	Breakfast	Breakfast	Breakfast
09:30 – 10:30	Process Group	Process Group	Process Group
11:00 – 12:00	Group Therapy /Group Fitness	Addiction Relapse Prevention/ MH Relapse Prevention / Group Therapy	–
12:00 – 12:45	Lunch	Lunch	Lunch
12:45 – 13:45	Group Therapy / Psychoeducation	Group Therapy / Psychoeducation	Group Therapy / Psychoeducation
14:00 – 17:00	Individual Therapy / Holistic Session Fitness / TRE Wed: Mini Excursion	Individual Therapy / Holistic Session Fitness / TRE	Sat: Psychiatric Consultation Sun: Excursion
17:00 – 18:00	Meditation / Sound Bowl	Meditation / Sound Bowl	–
18:00 – 19:00	Dinner	Dinner	Dinner
19:15	Wind Down	Wind Down	Wind Down
21:30	Bedtime	Bedtime	Bedtime

Monday / Wednesday / Friday

Time	Activity
07:00 – 08:00	Morning Fitness
08:00 – 09:00	Breakfast
09:30 – 10:30	Process Group
11:00 – 12:00	Group Therapy /Group Fitness
12:00 – 12:45	Lunch
12:45 – 13:45	Group Therapy / Psychoeducation
14:00 – 17:00	Individual Therapy / Holistic Session Fitness / TRE Wed: Mini Excursion
17:00 – 18:00	Meditation / Sound Bowl
18:00 – 19:00	Dinner
19:15	Wind Down
21:30	Bedtime

Tuesday / Thursday

Time	Activity
07:00 – 08:00	Morning Fitness
08:00 – 09:00	Breakfast
09:30 – 10:30	Process Group
11:00 – 12:00	Addiction Relapse Prevention/ MH Relapse Prevention / Group Therapy
12:00 – 12:45	Lunch
12:45 – 13:45	Group Therapy / Psychoeducation
14:00 – 17:00	Individual Therapy / Holistic Session Fitness / TRE
17:00 – 18:00	Meditation / Sound Bowl
18:00 – 19:00	Dinner
19:15	Wind Down
21:30	Bedtime

Saturday / Sunday

Time	Activity
07:00 – 08:00	Morning Fitness
08:00 – 09:00	Breakfast
09:30 – 10:30	Process Group
11:00 – 12:00	–
12:00 – 12:45	Lunch
12:45 – 13:45	Group Therapy / Psychoeducation
14:00 – 17:00	Sat: Psychiatric Consultation Sun: Excursion
17:00 – 18:00	–
18:00 – 19:00	Dinner
19:15	Wind Down
21:30	Bedtime

*Please note that upon commencing treatment, your actual schedule may be subject to change. All group sessions, wellness activities, and fitness facilities are located on The Dawn’s main campus, which Viva Rehab clients have full access to throughout their stay. An H&I meeting is held on alternate Tuesdays.

Our Evidence-Based Treatment Methods

Your treatment plan draws from these core therapeutic approaches, selected and adapted by your therapist based on your individual needs and stage of recovery.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

Identifies and changes unhelpful thought patterns that drive harmful behaviors. Practical, skills-based, and one of the most widely researched approaches in addiction and mental health treatment.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)

Builds emotional regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal skills. Originally developed for people who experience intense emotions, now widely used in addiction and co-occurring conditions.

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)

Helps the brain reprocess distressing memories so they lose their emotional charge. Effective for PTSD, anxiety, and the unresolved experiences that often underlie addiction.

Exposure Therapy

Gradually and safely confronts the situations, thoughts, or memories you have been avoiding. Reduces the power of triggers over time and builds confidence in your ability to cope.

Narrative Therapy

Helps you separate your identity from your condition. By reframing the story you tell about yourself, you build a stronger sense of agency in your recovery.

Motivational Therapy

Strengthens your own motivation and commitment to change. Useful in early treatment when ambivalence is common, and throughout the program as your recovery goals evolve.

Recover in the Heart of Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai is more than a backdrop for treatment. Thailand’s northern cultural capital offers a calm, welcoming environment that contrasts sharply with the high-pressure settings most clients are coming from. It is a place where slowing down feels natural rather than forced.

Viva sits along the riverbank on the quiet outskirts of Chiang Mai, providing a peaceful, private space to focus entirely on recovery. The facility provides comfortable private rooms, open green spaces, and on-site wellness facilities. Curated excursions into Chiang Mai, from local markets to temple visits, are woven into the program to support re-engagement with life beyond treatment. It is a place designed to feel like a home where serious therapeutic work happens.

What Our Clients Say About Their Recovery

“I was skeptical about going abroad for treatment, but it turned out to be the best decision I’ve made. Being away from everything back home let me actually focus for once. The therapists here genuinely listen and I felt that from the first session.”

“My therapist worked with me on what I was actually dealing with, and the plan changed as I changed. That mattered a lot. Chiang Mai is peaceful, and that calmness carries into the sessions. I left feeling like I had real tools, not just advice.”

“I came for mental health support, not addiction, and I was nervous about being in a rehab setting. But the team made me feel comfortable from day one. It’s been four months since I left and the aftercare calls have honestly kept me grounded.”

Take the First Step Toward Recovery

You do not have to navigate this alone. Whether you are struggling with addiction, a mental health condition, or both, Viva Rehab’s treatment team is ready to build a program around your specific needs and goals. Contact our admissions team for a free, confidential assessment and find out how Viva could be the turning point you have been looking for.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Our Treatment Framework

How long does the treatment program last?

Our programs start from 4 weeks, which gives you enough time to stabilize, begin therapy, and build practical skills to manage your triggers and stressors. Clients who stay for 8 to 12 weeks are able to move into deeper therapeutic work and relapse prevention, which strengthens long-term outcomes. Your therapist works with you to determine the right duration during your initial assessment, and adjustments can be made as treatment progresses.

Do you treat mental health conditions without addiction?

Yes. Viva has separate treatment tracks for addiction and mental health. If you are dealing with depression, anxiety, PTSD, or another mental health condition without a substance use component, you will follow a program specifically designed for mental health recovery, not an addiction-focused track.

Is detox included in the program?

Yes. Medically supervised detox is included. Detox takes place on-site with 24/7 nursing and psychiatric support, using personalized tapering protocols based on your substance history and medical needs. Once detox is complete, you transition seamlessly into therapy without interruption.

Why should I travel to Thailand for treatment instead of staying closer to home?

Flying to Thailand immediately removes you from the people, places, and situations that contribute to your condition. This geographic separation is not incidental: it is a core part of the treatment approach. Without daily triggers, you can focus entirely on recovery. Viva Rehab also offers treatment on par with Western facilities at approximately one-third of the price, meaning you can stay longer and achieve stronger outcomes for the same investment.

What evidence-based therapies are used at Viva Rehab?

Our clinical team uses CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy), including approaches tailored to address underlying issues, DBT (Dialectical Behavior Therapy), EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), and a range of wellness and somatic therapies. TMS (Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation) is also available on-site at an additional cost for clients who would benefit from it. Your treatment plan is personalized based on your assessment, not a fixed list of sessions.