Alcohol Rehab in Cape Town
Safe medical detox followed by treatment that addresses why the drinking started — trauma, anxiety, burnout — not only the drinking itself.
Alcohol is the most under-treated dependence in South Africa precisely because it is the most socially normal. Many of our clients function well for years: the job holds, the family holds, and then it doesn't. By the time a family calls us, the drinking has usually been a quiet daily arrangement for a long time.
Alcohol withdrawal can be medically dangerous. Detox at Hillhouse is supervised by a doctor on site, with symptom monitoring and medication where indicated, so the first days are safe rather than frightening.
- Doctor-supervised alcohol detox on site
- Psychiatric assessment for depression, anxiety and trauma
- Daily individual psychotherapy
- Relapse-prevention planning for high-risk social settings
- Family therapy and partner support
- 12 months of aftercare and alumni meetings
Why detox alone is not treatment
Detox removes alcohol from the body; it does nothing about the reason a person drank. Clients who detox and go straight home usually relapse within weeks, because the same stress, grief or trauma is waiting for them untouched.
Our residential programme uses the stability created by detox to do the actual work: trauma processing, emotional regulation, rebuilding sleep and routine, repairing family relationships, and constructing a concrete plan for the situations where drinking used to be automatic.
Treating what sits underneath
Around two thirds of our alcohol clients meet criteria for a co-occurring condition — most often depression, generalised anxiety, PTSD or burnout. Treating the addiction without treating these is the single most common reason for relapse after a first admission.
Our psychiatrists assess every client, and where medication is appropriate it is started and monitored during the stay, with a clear handover to a clinician near your home at discharge.
Support for the family
Alcohol dependence reshapes a household. Partners become managers, children become caretakers, and everyone learns not to mention it. Our family programme brings the people closest to the client into the process, so recovery does not depend on one person changing inside a system that has not.
Editorial standards & clinical review
Author
Jeroen Decker
Founder, Hillhouse Clinics
Founder of Hillhouse Clinics with 15+ years building licensed residential addiction treatment in Cape Town. Personal lived experience of recovery.
Reviewed by
David McNamara
Clinical Director
Clinical Director with 20+ years in addiction medicine. Oversees ASAM-aligned treatment protocols, medical detox and the multi-disciplinary clinical team supporting both treatment paths at The Hillhouse and a move to The Re-entry House.
Medically reviewed by
Bryan Hellmann
Clinical Psychologist
Registered Clinical Psychologist specialising in trauma, dual diagnosis and evidence-based therapies (CBT, DBT, EMDR) for substance use disorders.
Last clinically reviewed: May 7, 2026 · Next review scheduled: November 2026 · Hillhouse Clinics is licensed by the South African Department of Social Development. Content is informational and does not replace medical advice.
Frequently asked questions
Is alcohol withdrawal dangerous?+
It can be. Severe withdrawal can cause seizures and delirium tremens, which is why detox from heavy or long-term drinking should be medically supervised rather than attempted at home.
What if I have tried rehab before?+
Many of our clients have. We look closely at what was missed previously — usually untreated trauma or psychiatric illness, or an absent aftercare plan — and design the admission around that gap.
Do you use medication for cravings?+
Where clinically indicated, yes. Anti-craving medication is one tool within a broader psychotherapeutic programme, prescribed and monitored by our doctors.
What happens after discharge?+
Every client leaves with a written aftercare plan, a referral to a clinician or group near home, and access to our alumni support for 12 months.
A confidential conversation — on your terms
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Last reviewed: September 2026. Admissions: +27 63 335 1185. Hillhouse Clinics is licensed by the South African Department of Social Development. Outcomes vary; no treatment guarantees recovery. For emergencies in South Africa call 10177 (ambulance) or SADAG on 0800 12 13 14.