Seeking private treatment often begins before the person or family has a complete plan. There may be urgency, uncertainty, disagreement, or a strong need to control who receives information. The admission process is designed to establish what is happening, whether THE BALANCE may be appropriate, and what should happen next.
An inquiry does not commit anyone to treatment and does not guarantee admission. The team first gathers enough information to consider safety, clinical need, consent, location, and practical feasibility. A recommendation is then explained before an agreement is made.
Urgency is considered alongside the clinical assessment, consent and legal requirements for admission.
The Admission Pathway
| Stage | What happens | What the stage decides |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Initial inquiry | A client, family member, professional, or authorized advisor contacts Admissions | Urgency, preferred communication, and the immediate next step |
| 2. Information gathering | Relevant clinical, medical, practical, and consent information is collected | Whether enough is known for clinical review |
| 3. Clinical review | Appropriate clinical leadership considers need, risk, setting, and capability | Suitability, further assessment, or another level of care |
| 4. Recommendation | The proposed pathway, location, boundaries, and alternatives are explained | Whether the person wishes and is able to proceed |
| 5. Agreement and preparation | Scope, fee, terms, travel, medication, and arrival arrangements are confirmed | Whether every required condition is complete |
| 6. Arrival and assessment | The person enters the agreed setting and the working plan is reviewed | The initial clinical priorities and treatment sequence |
The pathway is shown in order, but some stages may overlap when records are readily available or urgent medical review is needed. Each has a clinical, legal, or practical purpose.
Watch
Admissions process
1. A Confidential Initial Inquiry
The first contact may come from the person seeking care, a relative, an existing clinician, a family office, a case manager, or another trusted advisor. In the first conversation, tell the admissions team who you are contacting us for, where the person is now, what prompted the inquiry, and how we can respond safely.
Only limited information should be sent through ordinary contact forms or messaging channels. Detailed records, identification documents, and sensitive clinical histories should move through an approved secure process. The person should be told how the information will be used.
If the situation appears to be an emergency, the appropriate response may be local emergency services or hospital assessment rather than continuing the routine admission process.
2. Gathering the Information Needed
The next step is to understand the current situation well enough for a responsible review. The team may request a clinical summary, medication list, recent reports, discharge documents, or contact with an established professional. The amount of information depends on complexity and urgency.
The client does not need to produce a perfect narrative. People may be exhausted from repeating their history, uncertain about dates, or concerned about who will see it. Admissions can identify which information is essential now and which can wait for formal assessment.
A family member can share concerns, but this does not authorize disclosure of the prospective client’s information. Consent and lawful authority are handled explicitly.
3. Clinical and Suitability Review
The relevant clinical decision makers consider current symptoms, medical and psychiatric stability, substance use, withdrawal risk, nutrition, safety, consent, capacity, mobility, previous treatment, and the services available in the proposed location.
Possible outcomes include a recommendation for private residential treatment, further assessment, a medical or hospital phase first, another specialist service, or a decision that THE BALANCE is not the appropriate setting at that time.
The criteria and boundaries are explained in more detail on Suitability and Admission Criteria.
4. A Clear Recommendation
Ask why a location and pathway are recommended, the proposed scope and duration, any important boundaries, and what further assessment could change. Discuss other appropriate options before making a decision.
Your proposal explains the recommended care and what is included in your program. Questions about privacy, family involvement, work, medication, travel, and continuing care can be discussed before a decision.
A recommendation remains subject to availability and any stated conditions, such as medical clearance or receipt of records.
5. Agreement, Fee, and Responsibilities
Before arrival, the client or authorized contracting party receives the applicable agreement and financial terms. Review the operating entity, service scope, residence, fee, payment timing, possible external costs, extension and cancellation terms, privacy information and each party’s responsibilities in those documents. Clarify any uncertainty before agreeing.
Confirm which professionals are part of THE BALANCE arrangement and which independent providers use separate consent, records and billing processes. Confirm whether hospital, specialist, diagnostic, travel, or security costs are included or billed separately.
See current fees and inclusions on Program Fee and What Is Included, while the signed documents remain controlling for an individual engagement.
6. Preparing Travel and Arrival
Once the conditions for admission are complete, the team confirms travel, arrival time, medication, essential documents, contact arrangements, and what to bring. Security, accompanying persons, dietary needs, mobility, visas, and transport may also require advance planning.
Medication should remain in original packaging where possible, with an accurate list and prescribing information. The person should not make an abrupt change merely to simplify travel unless instructed by an appropriately qualified clinician.
A detailed checklist is available on Preparing for Your Stay.
What Happens on Arrival
Arrival includes time to settle in and understand the arrangements for your stay. The team confirms immediate needs, residence arrangements, communication boundaries, medication and safety information, and the schedule for the first clinical reviews.
The initial proposal is not treated as a fixed prescription. Assessment continues as the client settles, records are reviewed, and different professionals contribute. Priorities and intensity may change when better information becomes available.
The first assessment phase is described on Assessment and Treatment Planning.
If the Person Is Not Ready to Proceed
A person may need time, another conversation, medical care, or a different setting. Admissions should state any immediate safety concern clearly and avoid creating artificial urgency where none exists.
Family members may still need guidance about boundaries and local support even if the person declines. They should not be encouraged to use pressure, deception, or financial control as substitutes for an appropriate consent process.
If circumstances change, a later review can consider the new information. Prior contact does not guarantee that the same recommendation, residence, team, or timing will remain available.
Treatment Languages and Your Clinical Team
THE BALANCE provides full programs in English, German and Spanish. Assessments can also be conducted in Arabic, French and Italian. Tell admissions your preferred assessment and treatment languages at the first inquiry, including the language of family discussions and written records.
Admissions communication, clinical assessment and ongoing treatment involve different responsibilities. For an Arabic, French or Italian assessment, ask admissions to confirm the named clinician, their discipline, the location and the language they will use directly. The program language should be agreed separately.
Examples from Our Team
Muriel Abou Rizk is an Admissions Coordinator in Zurich whose profile describes communication in English, French and Arabic. This is admissions support.
Dr. Milanka Kraemer, MD contributes primary-care expertise in Mallorca and works in German, Spanish and English.
Anna-Lena Middeldorf provides nutrition support in Mallorca and offers consultations in German, English and Spanish.
Before travel, confirm the professionals assigned to your care, their roles and availability, the program language, and any separate language arrangements for independently provided external services. Agree how records and family discussions will be handled with consent, and who will receive the continuing-care handover. Individual appointments and team composition are confirmed for your proposed stay.
The individual proposal should identify the program language, the professionals responsible for care, and any separate language arrangements for external services. Review the assessment process and the planning information for your country of residence.
