About Dr Robert Lefever

When I was a working doctor, I treated over five thousand in-patients – and many more out-patients. These people ranged from those who wanted my help in dealing with depression, and various forms of upsetting compulsive behaviour, to those with lives ruined by alcohol, drugs or food addiction.

addiction specialists sayThe breadth of my experience allows me to treat patients on a one- to-one basis with a uniquely wide range of therapeutic techniques.

In 1986, I founded one of the first rehab clinics in the UK, which pioneered and developed a new approach combining the benefits of several proven therapeutic models. The approach was so radical it was initially met with scepticism by the medical press. However, word rapidly spread, through patients’ recommendations, that the approach was miles ahead of anything else available. We quickly established ourselves as the only place to go.

The model infuriated the competition. Nevertheless, they subsequently attempted to copy it. However, what they couldn’t copy was the blend of knowledge, commitment and energy that led to the more effective recovery experienced by our patients.

The approach was so effective the company grew to the point where we had capacity for over 70 in-patients. I then realised that in becoming so big, the company had lost some of the very ingredients that had allowed it to become so big.

In 2008, I decided to sever all association with the brand and focus on re-creating the ‘magic’ that was experienced by our patients in the early days. I realised that this was only possible through a small scale “Personal Treatment Programme”.

Nowadays I specialise in focusing my attention on working with individuals one-to-one for an intensive intervention, usually with me and one of my assistants working together.This way, we can provide specific answers to the challenges that are experienced by new patients, as well as providing targeted individual treatment.

I see patients in my South Kensington office and I can also offer in-patient care for a short course of detoxification, where necessary.

I continue to offer the same family support system I originally pioneered. This family-inclusive approach is essential for the patient’s continued recovery. The big difference now is that this can be conducted in the family’s own home, minimising disruption to the lives of family members. If they prefer it, this family support can still be offered in my office in London.

All this can often be done at less total cost than traditional ‘large group’ residential rehabilitation. The effectiveness of this treatment saves time and money, while at the same time allowing me to address the particular needs of each patient on an individual basis. The aim is to improve patients’ physical and emotional health,and also their relationships, long term.

In short, patients get better faster and more thoroughly from difficulties that may have challenged them for many years.

Private Rehab and Treatment with Dr Robert Lefever

Dr Robert Lefever is regarded as the pioneer of addiction treatment methods and rehab centres in the UK. He established the very first rehabilitation centre that treated patients with eating disorders alongside those with drug and alcohol problems. He was also the first to treat compulsive gambling, and workaholism.

In the last 26 years, he has worked with over 5000 people suffering with stress, depression and various forms of addictive behaviours (principally problems with alcohol, drugs and food), as well as running a busy private medical practice.

He now offers intensive two-week one-to-one interventions that achieve results in one-third of the time of traditional 6-week residential programs offered elsewhere.

This approach is ideal for people for whom time really is money. The one-to-one nature of this treatment also comes with the reassurance of real confidentiality when compared to group residential treatment, regardless of prestige.

In 2009 he retired as a GP, and from medical practice altogether, in order to focus on the addiction work that he loves.

If you would like to discuss any of the issues raised in this or any other article on this website, please call him on +44 (0)7540 281 820.