Tony Tan, CEO, 180 Sanctuary
While many of us were hunkered down at home to help curb the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, another massive new health crisis was brewing — a mental health crisis. With millions of deaths, economic strife, and unprecedented curbs on social interaction, the pandemic certainly had a marked effect on people’s mental health. However, behavioral health problems such as anxiety, stress, and depression were widespread even before the pandemic. It is estimated that over 450 million people worldwide suffer from mental illness and ten percent of all diseases worldwide are caused by mental, neurological, and substance use disorders. Furthermore, an estimated one-third of all people with a mental health disorder have never sought treatment. These statistics alone are alarming enough to take cognizance of the fact that mental health is going to be the next crisis.
Realizing the critical importance of addressing this global issue, 180 Sanctuary, Asia’s leading integrative trauma-informed, behavioral rehab and wellness retreat center came to the forefront with a vision to provide ethical, quality, and effective treatment to those suffering from mental health disorders such as depression, addiction, and trauma. 180 Sanctuary began its journey in July 2020 during the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic driven by a philosophy to provide help in the most empathetic way it can and at the most crucial time when the individuals need it the most. “It was the concept by our stakeholders that we would like to reinvent the treatment approach in a non-conventional way by exploring different treatment modalities and having an integrative treatment model based on healing the mind, body, and soul. It is crucial for the treatment of mental health disorders and trauma/PTSD,” asserts Tony Tan, the CEO of 180 Sanctuary.
Fuelled by passion and desire for clinically proven dual diagnoses and backed by clinicians who understand the importance of a compassionate and empathetic approach, the rehab center provides the highest quality of care and treatment to its clients. Set in the tranquil natural beauty of Pain in Mae Hong Son Province, Thailand, its luxury secluded facility allows its clients to get away from it all and focus on their recovery while immersed in its breathtaking natural environment.
Following an Innovative 180-Changes Approach Treatment Model
The uniqueness of 180 Sanctuary also comes from its exclusive and innovative 180-Changes Approach treatment model which consists of several flagship treatment programs including 180 Mental Wellness™, 180 Coaching™, 180 Trauma Recovery™, 1-Degree-of-Change™, 180 ApprenticeShip™, and 180 Burnout Retreat™. Through a combination of state-of-the-art Western psychotherapy and coaching methodology combined with holistic wellness practices of the Ancient East, it offers a unique model to help those suffering from mental health, depression, addiction, and trauma issues and enable them to rediscover their best self and to relive their better life. “At 180 Sanctuary we understand that trauma and mental health healing cannot take place before establishing external & internal safety to allow symptom stabilization. Aside from a range of trauma and mental health disorder treatments, we also provide a safe, peaceful, supportive, validating, and non-judgmental environment for clients,” affirms Tony.
To help its clients reverse the debilitating dynamics of trauma, addiction, and mental health, it provides them with a range of choices. It often builds an individualized schedule of activities for its clients to engage in, so they can feel safe and empowered to engage with their treatment. Apart from a certified clinical team, it also provides its clients with a Peer Support Specialist and a medical team who supports and guides them with genuine empathy. This helps them identify personal strengths to empower and increase their recovery motivation and ease their personal journey towards recovery.
Offering Value Added Services with a Holistic Approach
Besides its unique treatment model, what further sets 180 Sanctuary apart from the rest is its strong holistic program that includes; Life Purpose Group Coaching, varying Yoga classes, TRE, Art Therapy, Meditation, Therapeutic Animals, and Trauma Awareness Sessions which help create a supportive environment within 180 Sanctuary. Also, its integrated treatment approach, boutique style, community-based atmosphere, spacious facility that sits on 38 rai of land with its own organic farm, and the largest clinical team with 18 international staff members ranging from a clinical psychiatrist, clinical psychologist, psychologists, psychotherapists, psychiatric nurses, and clinical peer support technicians makes it a reliable solution when it comes to mental health and addiction recovery treatment. With its superior, value-added services, the organization has received many accolades and recognitions over the years. Today, it stands tall as Asia’s only rehab to provide Reduced Environmental Stimulus Therapy in a Sensory Deprivation Tank.
Delivering Care with Compassion
With a firm belief in the healing power of empathy & compassion, 180 Sanctuary always treats its clients with the utmost respect, empathy, and compassion for their respective journeys. The proficient team at 180 Sanctuary is trained with clinical applications of compassion and empathy to skilfully apply it within the treatment. “We understand that trauma and other mental health treatments will always be more effective when incorporated with empathy, compassion, validation, and acknowledgment of our clients’ struggles & painful experiences,” opines Tony. “We view self-compassion as a useful life skill for their well-being in general. We provide clients group sessions as well as personal training to assist in implementing self-compassion, and self-acceptance which in turn will enable the process of reducing toxic guilt, shame, and self-judgment,” he adds.
The organization conducts regular reviews and evaluations of its team and treatment approach to make its treatment model and operation more inclusive. When needed, its support team also works with clients on developing the skills of empathy and compassion for others.
Continues Providing a Unique, Safe, and Professional Recovery Treatment
When it comes to treatment, 180 Sanctuary strongly believes in integration. It regularly trains its clinical team with new skills and strategies to better serve its clients. “We are proud of being the only rehab in Thailand to be equipped with Neuro/Bio Feedback Therapy and we are the strongest and most clinically knowledgeable team with a psychologist-led treatment program” states Tony. Moving ahead with its highly experienced, most knowledgeable, and compassionate team, the organization aspires to become Asia’s leading treatment Centre for Mental Health disorders and Trauma/PTSD. And, as a strategic step towards the goal, it plans to open its 2nd 20-bed inpatient center in Southern Thailand in 2023. “We acknowledged that being a rehabilitation facility with a trauma & mental health-focused approach is the calling that 180 Sanctuary aspires to follow, and we wish to continue providing a unique, safe and professional recovery treatment and atmosphere, which cannot be found anywhere else in Asia,” concludes Tony.