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Every guest's plan is written for them, so no two first weeks are exactly the same. But the shape is similar, and knowing it can take some of the fear out of saying yes.
Before you arrive
By the time you arrive, a few things are already done. You will have had a short first call, then an assessment of your history and goals, and a written plan and quote. If you need detox, it is completed first, somewhere safe and supervised, and your arrival date is planned around it so there is no gap between the two.
Packing is simple: comfortable clothes for about a week, since laundry is on site, walking shoes, swimwear, prescribed medicines in their original packaging with a list, and your ID, Medicare card and any health fund card. Please leave alcohol, non-prescribed drugs and valuables at home. Our arrival guide has the full list.
Arrival day
A private car can meet you at Gold Coast Airport for the drive to Reedy Creek, about 25 minutes away. Times are arranged around your flight, but a sample arrival goes like this:
- Pick-up. A private car meets you and brings you to the house.
- Welcome. A cup of tea, a walk through the house, and time to settle into your room.
- Lunch. You meet the house over a meal from our chef. There is no pressure to talk.
- Your first session. An unhurried conversation with your counsellor about how you want the next weeks to go.
Your room and the house
At most six guests share the house at any time, each in a private room with a bathroom of their own. There is a pool and spa, a fire-pit lawn, a cinema room, and Sapphire's own horses. Staff are on site 24/7. Being in a small house means you are known by name from the first day, which many people find reassuring once the nerves settle.
The shape of the days
From the first full day, there is a gentle rhythm. A sample day might start with a quiet wake-up and a morning walk, then yoga by the pool. Mid-morning is for therapy, one-on-one and in a group, using approaches such as CBT and DBT with trauma-informed care. Lunch is shared around one table. Afternoons can include time with the horses, then the spa or a massage. The day closes with a short evening reflection and an early night.
Nothing is rushed. The predictability is the point: when you know what happens at 7am and 6pm, there is less room for old patterns to fill the gap.
What often comes up in week one
It is common to feel a mix of relief, tiredness, restlessness and doubt in the first few days. Some people want to talk a lot. Others want to be left alone. Both are fine. Sleep is often unsettled at first, and our post on sleep in the first month explains why and what helps. Cravings and second thoughts are also common. Your counsellor and the house team are there to talk them through, at any hour.
Your stay is voluntary and you can leave whenever you choose. If you are thinking about it, we ask that you talk to your counsellor first, so we can help you plan the safest next step.
Phones, visits and family
You can bring your phone, laptop and chargers. How and when devices are used through the day is part of the house guidelines, and we go through them with you before you arrive.
Visits happen with your agreement. You decide who visits, and the team helps choose a time that fits the program. Sunday is often the day that works. Families see nothing about your stay unless you choose to share it, and what is said in therapy stays private. Our page for families explains how that works.
After week one
By the end of the first week, most people know the house, the team and the rhythm of the day. That is when the deeper work usually starts. Your aftercare plan also starts on day one, so the end of the stay is planned well before it arrives.
Thinking about a stay? Ask us anything.
If you're worried about how the first days will feel, call for a quiet conversation. No question is too small.
