Over the years numerous approaches have been developed for addiction treatment. One of the most widely recognised is the ‘Minnesota Model of Addiction Treatment’ developed in the 1950s, and extensively used in rehab centres throughout the world.
Here we look at the model in more detail, where it came from, and its key features.
Where did the Minnesota Model come from?
The Minnesota Model of addiction treatment originated in the late 1940s and early 1950s. It came from the collaboration of three programmes – Pioneer House, Willmar State Hospital, and the Hazelden Foundation, all in Minnesota, USA. These were among the first places to develop a structured approach to treating alcoholism as a disease, influenced by the emerging ideas of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA).
The 12-step philosophy of AA, founded in 1935, played a foundational role. AA emphasised the importance of community support, spirituality, and the idea that addiction is a chronic, progressive disease that requires lifelong management.
The Minnesota Model was revolutionary in using a multidisciplinary team—medical professionals, psychologists, counsellors, and recovering addicts—to address the physical, psychological, and social aspects of addiction. This approach was seen as a way topersonalise treatment to the individual.
The model integrated group therapy, peer support, and an emphasis on abstinence. It also included education about addiction, the promotion of self-care, and addressing family dynamics.
The model popularised residential treatment programmes, where patients lived at the treatment centre for a period, typically 28 days. This immersive environment allowed for intensive therapy and the opportunity to build a supportive recovery community.
The key features of the Minnesota Model of Addiction Treatment include:
The Minnesota Model has had a major influence on addiction treatment programmes and remains a cornerstone of many rehab facilities today.
The ‘Hazelden Foundation’, which opened in 1949 in Minnesota, was instrumental in refining and popularising the Minnesota Model of addiction treatment.
The ‘Hazelden Foundation’ is a non-profit organisation and one of the leading addiction treatment centres in the United States. Founded in 1949 in Centre City, Minnesota, it initially served as a retreat for men recovering from alcoholism. Over time, it expanded its services to treat a wide range of substance use disorders and related mental health issues.
Hazelden is known for its residential treatment programmes, where individuals live at the facility and participate in a structured recovery process that includes individual and group therapy, educational programs, and physical wellness activities. Hazelden places a strong emphasis on aftercare, offering various programmes to help individuals maintain long-term recovery after completing treatment, including access to sober living facilities, support groups, and online recovery tools.
Hazelden also focuses on addiction education and research. It operates the Hazelden Betty Ford Graduate School of Addiction Studies, which trains professionals in the field of addiction treatment, and is known for its publications on recovery and addiction.
Hazelden merged with the ‘Betty Ford Center’ in 2014, creating the ‘Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation’, one of the largest nonprofit addiction treatment providers in the world. The merged organisation operates a range of services across the USA including inpatient and outpatient care, mental health treatment, and specialised programmes for youth and families.
The ‘Betty Ford Center’ is one of the most prominent and influential addiction treatment centres in the United States. It was founded in 1982 by Betty Ford, the wife of former U.S. President Gerald Ford, after her own very public battle with alcohol and prescription drug addiction. Located in Rancho Mirage, California, it has played a significant role in shaping modern addiction recovery practices.
Betty Ford’s public admission of her struggles with addiction was groundbreaking at a time when substance abuse was heavily stigmatised, especially for women. By openly discussing her experiences, Betty Ford helped reduce the shame surrounding addiction, encouraging others to seek help.
One of the centre’s distinguishing features was its focus on treating women with addiction, a group that was often underserved or ignored in traditional recovery programmes. The clinicoffered gender-specific programmes that recognised the unique social, emotional, and physiological issues women face in recovery.
The centre became famous for treating many high-profile individuals, including celebrities, which further brought attention to the problem of addiction and to the availability of help. This contributed to a broader acceptance of addiction as a disease that could affect anyone, regardless of status or wealth.
The Betty Ford Center’s approach helped to shift the perception of addiction from a moral failing to a medical and psychological condition that requires professional treatment. By normalising the conversation around addiction and advocating for comprehensive care, it has had a lasting impact on the field of addiction recovery.
What type of treatment does Ibiza Calm, mental health and addiction treatment centre offer?
At Ibiza Calm we offer a highly bespoke treatment approach, for both addiction and mental health issues, tailored to the individuals needs and requirements. Our programmes integrate a variety of evidence-based therapies, including detoxification, individual and group counselling, cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), and motivational interviewing. When relevant we also introduce clients to the 12-step recovery process, helping patients engage with support groups like Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous.
The treatment at Ibiza Calm is holistic, incorporating physical and mental health components like yoga, meditation, mindfulness, and fitness programmes. Nutritional support and rest are also emphasised as key parts of the recovery process. Unique therapies, such as transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), proven effective for treatment-resistant depression and more,and equine facilitated therapy, are available to support emotional healing.
Our rehab centre’s approach is flexible and compassionate, focusing on maintaining dignity and providing non-judgmental care for substance addictions, behavioural issues like gambling or sex addiction, and mental health disorders such as anxiety, depression, OCD, and PTSD. The treatment process is carried out in a serene setting with personalised attention, limiting the number of patients to 12 at a time to ensure focused care.
Every client receives an aftercare plan at the end of treatment. In addition, we offer weekly aftercare sessions, facilitated by one of our highly qualified psychotherapists. Clients are introduced to the aftercare therapy before leaving treatment, ensuring they are confident of ongoing, continued support.
We also offer weekly online support sessions for the families of all our clients. We understand that psychological conditions impact on those around the sufferer. We can also arrange family and/or couples therapy, as a part of an individual’s broader treatment programme.
Addiction rehab treatment in Ibiza
At Ibiza Calm we have a team of highly professional and experienced doctors, nurses, therapists, counsellors, and wellness experts. We treat a range of psychological conditions, behavioural and substance addiction, and emotional, process, and mood disorders.
These include:
Addiction rehab centre in Spain.
For further information regarding any of our programmes, and details on admissions to our Spanish rehab centre, please contact sharon@ibizacalm.com