Private Depression Treatment in Spain — One-to-One Care at Sea Recovery

Depression narrows life until everything feels heavy and flat. At Sea Recovery you work one-to-one with senior clinicians in a quiet, unbranded setting on Spain’s Costa del Sol. Care is personalised, paced to your energy and focused on change that holds at home, not only in session.

Watch: Inside One-to-One Care

How depression shows up

Depression is not just sadness. Many people feel flat, irritable or numb rather than tearful. Common experiences include:

• Low or irritable mood with loss of interest and pleasure
• Sleep disruption, early waking or oversleeping without feeling rested
• Decision fatigue, slowed thinking and reduced motivation
• Changes in appetite, weight or energy regulation
• Self criticism, guilt and withdrawal from relationships and work
• Anxiety or panic layered on top of low mood, especially in the morning

Depression often overlaps with anxiety, ADHD, trauma and PTSD, OCD and burnout. We plan for the full picture, not just symptoms.

Subtypes, differentials and when to seek urgent help

Depression presents differently for different people. Recognising patterns helps us choose the right interventions and pace.

• Melancholic features. Marked loss of pleasure (anhedonia), worse in the morning, early waking, psychomotor change.
• Atypical features. Mood reactivity, hypersomnia, increased appetite, rejection sensitivity.
• Seasonal pattern. Symptoms tied to light exposure and time of year.
• Peripartum onset. Emerging during pregnancy or after birth. We can coordinate specialist liaison.

Common differentials. Thyroid and iron issues, sleep disorders, ADHD presenting as low motivation, trauma responses and substance effects can mimic or compound depression. Our assessment screens for these and we liaise with medical providers if indicated.

Red flags. If you are experiencing active suicidal thoughts with intent or plans, severe self neglect or psychotic symptoms, contact local emergency services. We can still support planning and step up care once you are safe.

Assessment and personalised plan

Your first days focus on clarity and safety. We complete a structured assessment that reviews history, risk, sleep and circadian rhythm, nutrition, medication and relevant medical information. Together we set clear goals that are meaningful to you and select a pathway from our programmes. Intensity is adjusted to your capacity and reviewed weekly.

• Essential Care Programme for stabilisation and practical momentum
• Deluxe Programme for extended daily therapy within a luxury residence
• Executive Programme when you need limited device windows for essential work
• Premium Tailored Programme for fully bespoke design
• 5 Day Outpatient Programme if you prefer to live independently
• Secondary Care Programme for step down and accountability

What keeps depression going and how we interrupt it

Most depressive episodes are maintained by a loop of low energy, reduced activity and self attacking thoughts. Our one-to-one model targets the loop on three levels:

1. Physiology. Sleep protection, light timing, gentle movement and breathwork regulate the nervous system and stabilise mornings.
2. Thinking and behaviour. CBT and ACT shift rigid beliefs, build behavioural activation and reintroduce small wins that increase capacity.
3. Emotion and relationships. DBT and interpersonal work repair boundaries, communication and closeness that buffer mood.

Therapies we use

We blend targeted psychotherapy with regulation and creative modalities so mind and body move together. Sessions are one-to-one unless a small skills group is clinically indicated and agreed with you.

• CBT: map negative thought patterns, break avoidance, build behavioural activation
• DBT: emotion regulation, distress tolerance and interpersonal effectiveness
• ACT: values based action when motivation is low and thinking is rigid
• MET: strengthen motivation and address ambivalence about change
• IPT: grief, role transitions and relational repair
• IFS and family work: parts that criticise or over protect, partner sessions when helpful
• TRE and breathwork: settle the nervous system and reduce bodily load
• Yoga therapy and mindfulness: safe movement and present focus
• Art, sound and movement therapy: expression when words are not enough
• Hypnotherapy and Gestalt when indicated

The daily rhythm that lifts mood gradually

Structure restores momentum without pressure. A typical day includes:

• Morning activation and breath practice, followed by psychotherapy
• Behavioural activation tasks and skills practice with support and feedback
• Afternoon creative work, nature walk or physiotherapy as needed
• Optional bodywork via massage, acupuncture or tailored physiotherapy
• Evening wind down with journaling and simple sleep protection routines

Sleep and light are stabilisers. We align routines with your insomnia treatment plan where relevant.

How we measure progress and what to expect week by week

We combine your lived experience with simple measures so progress is visible and motivating.

• Week 1. Clarify goals, protect sleep and light timing, begin behavioural activation. Baseline PHQ 9, sleep continuity, activity targets.
• Week 2. Increase activation and values actions. Reduce rumination with CBT and ACT tools. PHQ 9 and session feedback reviewed.
• Week 3 to 4. Consolidate routines, add relational work with IPT or DBT if isolation or conflict maintain low mood. Troubleshoot setbacks.
• Beyond 4. Solidify relapse prevention and aftercare cadence. Prepare for travel, work and social re entry.

Measures we use: PHQ 9 for depressive symptoms, optional GAD 7 if anxiety is present, a short sleep and activity log and a values based progress checklist. Numbers never replace your experience; they help us co steer.

Behavioural activation that does not overwhelm

When energy is low, actions must be small and repeatable. We agree 2 to 3 daily tasks that nudge mood without overreaching:

• Sunlight within 60 minutes of waking and a 10 to 15 minute walk
• One values task such as sending one message, cooking one simple meal or completing one admin step
• Evening device boundary and wind down routine to protect sleep

As capacity grows, we layer graded exposures to avoided places or tasks with therapist preparation and debrief.

Nutrition and restorative bodywork

Chef prepared menus support stable energy. We can integrate holistic nutritional therapy on request. Restorative services such as massage, acupuncture and lymphatic drainage reduce physical load. For clients interested in cold exposure, we offer a cautious, regulated approach through ice bath therapy when clinically appropriate.

Medical liaison and risk management

We focus on psychological and behavioural care. Where medication is relevant, we coordinate reviews with appropriate medical oversight and liaise with prescribers with your consent. If alcohol, stimulants or sedatives are part of the picture, we can arrange supervised detoxification with licensed partners and then move smoothly into daily one-to-one therapy. Safety plans are created on day one and reviewed frequently.

Specialised tracks within depression care

• Depression with anxiety. Combine CBT for worry, DBT skills and TRE to reduce physiological load.
• Depression with ADHD. Structure, cueing and values based planning with ADHD support.
• Trauma related depression. Pacing, stabilisation skills, MET for ambivalence and trauma informed therapy.
• Burnout and identity themes. Boundary and role work with burnout recovery and self esteem and identity work.

Programmes and entry points

• Ultimate Bespoke Programme for ultra private, curated schedules
• Premium Tailored Programme for a full bespoke design
• Deluxe Programme for intensive therapy with somatic care
• Executive Programme for depth with limited work windows
• Essential Care Programme for stabilisation and clarity
• 5 Day Outpatient Programme for intensive non residential reset
• Secondary Care Programme for structured step down and accountability

The setting: villa, cuisine and wellness

This is a healing space, not a hospital. Suites are private and sun lit. Therapy rooms face gardens and sky. Chef prepared menus stabilise energy and mood. Amenities may include a yoga deck and regulated cold exposure. See accommodations, in house amenities and Life at Sea Recovery.

Relapse prevention: your playbook

Low mood relapses when early signs are missed. You leave with a written plan that includes:

• Early warning signs. Sleep drift, skipping meals, cancelling plans, self attack loops.
• First aid steps. Contact tree, 15 minute activation menu, breath sequence, journaling prompts.
• Boundaries. Work hours, device windows and social limits agreed in advance.
• Aftercare cadence. Weekly sessions for 4 to 6 weeks, then taper to fortnightly or monthly. Access to outpatient and secondary care.

Research and compare centres

If you are comparing settings in Spain and across Europe, these guides help you evaluate fit, privacy and approach.

• Top 10 Rehabs in Europe
• Luxury Rehab Spain
• Rehab Spain
• Private Rehab Europe
• Rehab UK vs Spain
• Rehab Clinics in Spain
• Spain Treatment Centers
• Luxury Rehab Marbella

Clinical governance and privacy

Your treatment is led by experienced therapists and reviewed in clinical supervision. With consent, we liaise with relevant medical providers. We follow strict confidentiality and data protection protocols. See Confidentiality for details.

Access, languages and practicalities

• Languages. English plus options via our bilingual therapy team.
• Transfers. Discreet door to door from Marbella, Málaga and Gibraltar.
• Availability. Most admissions can start within 48 hours.
• Comparing centres. See Top 10 Rehabs in Europe for an independent view of options.

Frequently Asked Questions

Reviewed by: Simon Hitchcock, Centre Manager and Lead Therapist (UK trained). Psychiatric liaison by Dr. Paula Moreno. Last reviewed: 2025-09-18. This page provides educational information and does not replace medical advice.

Begin private depression treatment in Spain

If you are ready for quieter, deeper and more intelligent care, Sea Recovery offers private one-to-one depression treatment near Marbella with dignity at every step.

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