Patrick Wilson is the founder of Clinic Les Alpes, a fully licensed medical facility based in Montreux, Switzerland. He is focused on creating a safe space for his ultra-high-net-worth clients so they can enjoy a holistic experience without fear. Crain Currency spoke with Wilson about how he brought his dream to life with Clinic Les Alpes and how he’s helping people on their wellness journey.
How do you ensure privacy for your high-net-worth clients?
Ensuring our clients' privacy isn't just a part of what we do, it's at the core of our philosophy. Our secluded location in the Swiss Alps offers not only breathtaking views but a level of discretion and security that's hard to match. The clinic's layout, our stringent data protection measures and even the option for clients to use pseudonyms all serve one purpose: to create a space where high-net-worth individuals can seek treatment without worry. In a world where their privacy is constantly under threat, we offer a sanctuary of confidentiality and peace.
Those in high society or with high-profile positions are actually quite vulnerable as a population. While ample finances are traditionally associated with increased opportunities, the privacy, confidentiality and even hospitality requirements that come with such wealth highly reduces the available choice of duly licensed treatment facilities. As it happens, many of these individuals are at risk of being taken advantage of.
What was the impetus behind launching the clinic?
I have spent a great deal of my life dealing with the issues of dependency and mental well-being, and Clinic Les Alpes is a product of this journey. Addiction and mental illness do not discriminate between social class or economic status, and those with significant social status or wealth can struggle to find treatment that meets their hospitality expectations, clinical needs and requirements of confidentiality. My vision was to forge a place of excellence that not only meets the rigorous standards of Swiss medical licensure but exceeds them, marrying exceptional medical care with holistic wellness practices, wrapped in values of compassion, understanding and respect. Our goal has always been to provide a safe space where individuals can receive comprehensive, confidential and clinically excellent care tailored to their unique needs, all within a setting that promotes healing and well-being.
Talk to me about mental/emotional health and substance abuse. Why is it important to offer this in the program?
I believe that substance and behavioral dependency often comes from an individual attempting to heal or soften the effects of emotional or mental pain. Unfortunately, because this attempt chooses the wrong means, it turns into its destructive opposite. It is often the question of which came first: taking substances to relieve emotional pain or emotional pain caused as a direct consequence of taking substances. The end result is exactly the same. Within this question often lies the hidden answer to a more joyous and free life.
We also strongly believe in treating co-occurring disorders in parallel. Patients who undergo treatment for only one of these concerns are statistically more likely to experience relapses and struggle with social, mental and physical health difficulties long term. Therefore, providing care and support for both mental and emotional issues and problematic substance use prepares patients to live the best-quality life they can as independently as possible.
What does a 28-day plan look like in terms of meals, activities, exercise, programming, etc.?
Patients will begin their experience with a thorough medical, psychiatric and physical assessment conducted by our incredible team of doctors, psychiatrists and psychologists. Our multidisciplinary team then works in collaboration with our patients to produce an individualized, bespoke treatment plan that addresses the patients’ unique needs and treatment goals. This includes 24/7 medicalized care and daily individual therapy, with each patient assigned a lead therapist who will decide if a secondary specialist therapist is required — say, for example, for unresolved traumatic events in the patient’s life.
Nutritional well-being is the foundation of physical well-being, and to this end, each patient works closely with our in-house dietitian to develop a tailored menu of balanced meals using fresh, local and seasonal ingredients. This means that not only are patients receiving diets and meals personalized to their tastes but also to their unique somatic and psychological needs using the latest tools in gut health testing and nutritional assessment.
Throughout their 28-day-or-longer stay, patients will work closely with their teams in accordance with their individualized treatment plans, taking advantage of a program that is flexible to their needs. In addition to daily individual therapy, clients are able to access group therapeutic processes and psychoeducation sessions.
In addition to traditional talking therapies, we also offer complementary therapies delivered by experienced practitioners. This includes therapies such as equine-assisted therapy, art therapy, and dance and music therapy. Clients can also take advantage of our fully equipped medicalized spa with our expertly trained team. Our wide range of therapeutic treatments ensures that the mind, body and soul are aligned in their healing through functional movement therapy, coached exercise, Ayurvedic treatments, meditations and more.
Before discharge, patients are given a final health check to measure progress and will get a detailed after-care plan to continue leading them on a path to healing beyond their time at the clinic.
When you say you focus on the holistic aspect of wellness, what does that mean to you?
Holistic well-being or holistic treatment refers to treating individuals in every aspect of their health — and doing so to cure the source of the difficulties, not merely the symptoms. Research consistently demonstrates how empowering patients to strengthen every aspect of their well-being — physical, social, mental, spiritual — results in a higher quality of life and better long-term outcomes in ongoing recovery.
We also believe it’s important to treat people as whole individuals, not merely defining them by their diagnosis or their social circumstances. By identifying and fortifying not only areas of weakness but also areas of strength and validating individual identities, patients can feel empowered in their recovery, relationships and wider life choices. Recently, we have seen an increase in clientele who are struggling with everyday difficulties such as divorce, family relationships and family dynamics. We have seen a particular rise in younger clients coming to us who struggle with having extreme wealth but no meaningful purpose in their lives, or those who feel guilt or shame about having real financial means without having "earned" it.
The fragile power experienced by our high-net-worth clientele can be equally a blessing and a curse, and seeking help to find meaning and destigmatization for themselves can make a real change in their lives.