Our Essex Clinic
Residential Drug & Alcohol Rehab in Essex
Step By Step Recovery’s Essex clinic, known as The Lighthouse, is a purpose-built private residential rehab centre.
Located in Southend-on-Sea, our expert clinical team delivers fully residential detox, rehabilitation and recovery programmes for drug and alcohol addiction in a calm, structured and compassionate environment, less than 90 minutes from central London.
Confidential Admissions
Single & twin Rooms
24/7 Support
Medically Supervised
Private Residential Drug & Alcohol Rehab in Essex
Our Essex residential programme is designed for people who need intensive, immersive addiction treatment in a fully supported environment. Removing yourself from everyday triggers and temptations gives you the space and focus to make meaningful, lasting progress in your recovery.
Programmes typically begin with a medically supervised detox, lasting three to five days, before moving into a structured schedule of evidence-based therapies. These include cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), dialectical behavioural therapy (DBT), one-to-one counselling, group therapy and family therapy, alongside holistic treatments and wellness activities.
A minimum stay of four weeks is recommended to give you the time and tools needed to build a strong foundation for long-term recovery.
- Address
Southchurch Avenue
Shoeburyness
Southend-On-Sea
SS3 9BA
Contact info
- Phone Number
Getting here,
step
by step
Not sure what to expect on your first visit?
Our short video takes you step by step from arrival to the front door, so you’ll know exactly where to go before you set off.
Facilities & Environment
Every detail of The Lighthouse has been designed to support your recovery
Medical Detox Unit
Our purpose-built detox facility provides a safe, medically supervised environment for withdrawal. Clinical staff are available around the clock to manage symptoms and ensure your comfort and safety throughout the detox process.
One-to-One Counselling
Private sessions with an experienced addiction counsellor, tailored to explore the underlying causes of your addiction and develop a personalised pathway to lasting recovery.
Group Therapy
Structured group sessions in a supportive setting where clients can share experiences, build peer connections and develop the coping strategies essential for long-term sobriety.
Holistic Therapy
Complementary therapies sit alongside clinical treatment to address the emotional and psychological dimensions of addiction, supporting a whole-person approach to recovery.
Family Therapy
Addiction affects everyone close to you. Our family therapy programme helps rebuild trust, open communication, and equip loved ones with the tools to support your recovery both during and after treatment.
Aftercare & Mentoring
Recovery continues long after you leave The Lighthouse. Clients who complete a four-week or longer programme receive lifetime access to weekly in-person group therapy sessions and are connected with a dedicated mentor who has navigated their own recovery journey.
Nutritious Meals
Our in-house chef prepares fresh, nutritious meals every day, catering to individual dietary needs, because physical well-being is an essential part of recovery.
24/7 Availability
Our team is available around the clock by phone, email or live chat, ensuring help and advice is always on hand whenever you need it.
Step inside our Essex Rehab
Step inside our Private Residential Drug & Alcohol Rehab and see the environment where recovery takes shape
The Lighthouse
Welcome to The Lighthouse, part of the Step by Step Recovery family.
Lighthouse Twin Room
A shared bedroom with two single beds for residents.
Lighthouse Bedroom Single Room
A private single bedroom for a peaceful night’s rest.
Lighthouse Communal Bathroom
A shared bathroom kept clean and accessible for all residents.
Lighthouse Bedroom En Suite
A private en-suite shower room attached to your bedroom.
Lighthouse Kitchen
A fully equipped kitchen for your use during your stay.
Lighthouse Laundry Room
On-site laundry facilities to keep your stay comfortable and convenient.
Lighthouse Group Therapy Room
A dedicated space for group therapy sessions during treatment.
Lighthouse Lounge
A comfortable communal lounge to unwind and connect with others.
Lighthouse Outside Garden Sitting Area
A shaded spot outdoors to relax and get some fresh air.
Lighthouse Garden
An outdoor garden space for quiet reflection or fresh air.
The Lighthouse Main Office
Where our team coordinates your care from day one.
All photos show real clinic spaces with warm lighting and welcoming environments. We prioritise transparency in showing you exactly where you’ll be staying.
What to Expect When You Arrive
From the moment you walk through our door, you’ll be greeted by a warm, experienced team who will take the time to understand your situation, answer your questions and make sure you feel completely at ease before any treatment begins.
Before You Arrive
Confidential, no-pressure first steps
Confidential First Contact
Everything you share with us is completely private. Your first conversation carries no obligation and no judgement, just honest, expert guidance on your options.
Pre-Admission Assessment
Before treatment begins, we'll take the time to fully understand your history, health, circumstances and goals so we can design a programme that is right for you from day one.
Day One
A warm, supported welcome
Your first day at The Lighthouse is about settling in, meeting the team and beginning to feel at home. There's no pressure, just a warm welcome and a clear, reassuring plan for the journey ahead.
Initial Medical Assessment
On arrival, a member of our clinical team will carry out a thorough assessment to gain a complete picture of your health, history and any immediate medical needs before treatment begins.
Meeting Your Key Worker
You'll be introduced to your dedicated key worker, who will be your main point of contact throughout your stay, providing guidance, advocacy and support every step of the way.
During Your Stay
Therapy, healing, and connection
Your time at The Lighthouse is built around a structured, personalised programme of detox, therapies and recovery activities, designed to address the root causes of your addiction and equip you with the resilience and skills to maintain lasting sobriety.
Your Treatment Programme
Every client receives a bespoke treatment plan, reviewed and adapted regularly by our clinical team to ensure your programme evolves alongside your recovery.
Therapies & Activities
From one-to-one counselling and group therapy to holistic treatments, mindful outdoor activities and creative therapies, every element of your programme supports your physical, emotional and psychological wellbeing.
Leaving Well
A clear plan for life after treatment
Completing your programme at The Lighthouse is a significant achievement, and we make sure every client leaves with a clear, personalised aftercare plan and the confidence and tools they need to sustain their recovery in the real world.
Your Aftercare Plan
Before you leave, your key worker will work with you to create a tailored aftercare plan covering ongoing therapy, relapse prevention strategies and the community support networks available to you going forward.
Mentoring & Ongoing Support
Every client who completes a four-week or longer programme is connected with a dedicated mentor, someone who has walked the same road and can offer genuine understanding, encouragement and practical guidance long after treatment ends. You will also have lifetime access to our weekly in-person group therapy sessions at The Lighthouse.
Treatment & Support Offered
Medically Supervised Detox
For many clients, treatment begins with a medically assisted detox in our purpose-built unit. Our clinical team is on hand 24/7 to administer medication, manage withdrawal symptoms and ensure your safety and comfort throughout this critical first stage.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
CBT is one of the evidence-based therapies recognised in UK clinical guidance for addiction treatment. It works by helping you identify and change the thought patterns and behaviours that keep substance use going, building practical tools you can carry into everyday recovery.
Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT)
DBT equips clients with practical skills to manage difficult emotions, reduce self-destructive behaviour and build healthier relationships, all central to a stable and sustained recovery.
One-to-One Counselling
Regular private sessions with an experienced addiction counsellor provide a safe, confidential space to explore the underlying causes of your addiction at your own pace and in your own words.
Group Therapy
Our facilitated group sessions bring clients together in a supportive, structured environment to share experiences, build peer connections and develop the coping strategies needed for long-term recovery.
Family Therapy
Recognising that addiction touches the whole family, our family therapy sessions help rebuild trust, improve communication and ensure loved ones feel informed and equipped to support your recovery journey.
Relapse Prevention
A core element of every treatment programme at The Lighthouse, relapse prevention therapy helps you identify personal triggers, develop robust coping strategies and build the resilience required to maintain sobriety after you leave.
FOR FAMILIES
Family and visitor information
We understand that addiction affects the whole family, and we’re committed to keeping loved ones informed, involved and supported at every stage of the treatment process.
Keeping Families Informed
With your consent, we’ll keep designated family members updated on your progress, ensuring loved ones feel reassured and connected without compromising your privacy or confidentiality.
Visiting Policy
We welcome family visits at appropriate stages of your residential treatment, with our team on hand to ensure visits are positive, supportive and beneficial to your recovery.
Family Therapy
Our structured family therapy sessions provide a safe, facilitated space for clients and their loved ones to rebuild trust, address shared challenges and strengthen relationships that addiction has put under strain.
Guidance Before Admission
Before treatment begins, we’re happy to speak with family members to answer questions, address concerns and explain how best to support their loved one through the admissions process and beyond.
Clinical Team & Safety
Every aspect of care at The Lighthouse is delivered by a skilled, compassionate clinical team committed to the highest standards of safe, effective and ethical addiction treatment.
Experienced
Clinicians
Our team of addiction specialists, therapists, counsellors and support staff bring decades of combined clinical experience. Many have a personal understanding of the recovery journey, bringing both expertise and genuine empathy to their work.
Evidence-Based Treatment
Every therapy and treatment we offer is grounded in the latest clinical evidence, ensuring clients receive the most effective and proven approaches to addiction recovery available.
Confidentiality & Safeguarding
We take your privacy extremely seriously. Everything you share with our team is handled with the utmost discretion, in full compliance with all relevant safeguarding and data protection requirements.
24/7
Clinical Support
Our clinical team is available around the clock, ensuring that expert medical and therapeutic support is always on hand whenever you need it, day or night.
Personalised Care Planning
No two people experience addiction in the same way, and no two treatment plans at The Lighthouse are the same. From your initial assessment through to aftercare, every element of your programme is tailored specifically to you: your history, your needs and your goals.
- CQC Registered
PATIENT STORIES
What people say about our Essex clinic.
Don’t just take our word for it. Here’s what some of the people we’ve helped at The Lighthouse in Essex have to say about their experience with Step By Step Recovery.
I took a close friend of mine to Step by Step recovery in December and this addiction treatment centre truly changed his life. He felt seen, heard, and cared for every single day. I can’t recommend this place enough. It saved my friends life!
K.L.
Kate L.
Drug Rehab - Essex Clinic
I contacted the lighthouse for my friend who couldn’t stop using and was lost in addiction. After just a month of being at lighthouse she was like a different person, I really cannot thank or recommend Danielle and the team enough. LIFE-CHANGING place!
P.L.
Pippa L.
Drug Rehab - Essex Clinic
I just left. Great experience 4 weeks went so quick. I left very positive and remaining so. The staff are great. The chefs make lovely food. Housekeeping immaculate. Thanks to the team, with dedicated hard work on the outside I feel they have turned my life around. I can’t thank them enough.
S.A.
Sandy A.
Alcohol Rehab
Three specialised Clinics
Explore Our Other Clinics
As well as The Lighthouse residential rehab in Essex, Step By Step Recovery operates outpatient addiction treatment centres in London and Birmingham, ensuring expert care is accessible wherever you are in the country.
RESIDENTIAL
Essex Clinic
- 1A Southchurch Avenue, Southend-On-Sea, SS3 9BA
- 01702 296 006
outpatient
London Clinic
- Finsgate House, 5 Cranwood Street, London, EC1V 9EE
- 0207 118 9400
outpatient
Birmingham Clinic
- Suite 201c Bradford Court Business Centre, 123 – 131 Bradford Street, Birmingham, B12 0NS
- 0121 401 1700
Take the first step today
Ready to begin? Call our friendly, experienced team free on 0800 170 1222. We’re available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, ready to listen, answer your questions and help you find the right treatment for your needs. All calls are completely confidential.
Your enquiry is completely confidential. We’re here to help, not to judge.