Lohan Reportedly Heading to Luxe Rehab

Aug. 7, 2007 — -- It was only a matter of time before everyone's favorite DUI-ridden starlet decided to give rehab another try.

And when a private Jacuzzi, a world-renowned equestrian facility and scenery as beautiful as Utah's 12,000-foot Mount Timpanogos is all part of the deal, who wouldn't?

According to The Insider Online, Lindsay Lohan has allegedly entered yet another ritzy rehab center, opting this time for Cirque Lodge in Sundance, Utah.

Like the actress' previous two attempts at sobriety at Los Angeles' Wonderland Center and at Promises Malibu Alcohol and Drug Rehab Treatment Facility, her third try will also likely include premier medical treatment and, of course, a number of five-star amenities.

Behind the Doors of Cirque Lodge

"[Cirque Lodge] is a little bit different from our colleagues in that we've taken traditional, cognitive therapies and combined them with daily experiential sessions," says Gary Fisher, director of operations at Cirque Lodge. "There is a challenge course and an equine program."

Like other facilities, Cirque Lodge uses the 12-step program, and Fisher tells ABC News both private and group therapy sessions are provided for patients to share their stories and address their problems.

"Many times, alcohol and drugs are just a manifestation of an underlying disorder," says Fisher. "What you'll see is, as the chemical dependency recedes, the other issues will come to the forefront."

Fisher says that medicating the chemical dependency is the first objective, followed by treating the underlying issues that may spur the abuse or addiction in the first place.

Patients who are wealthy enough to cough up around $30,000 for an average 30-day stay at the lodge — which is actually considerably cheaper than its counterparts — may be pleasantly surprised to discover the wide variety of available activities. Patients can embark on hikes on the nearby mountains, horseback rides, and trust exercises on the world's largest indoor ropes course.

Founded in November 1999, Cirque Lodge houses a maximum of 16 adults aged 18 years and older, and its "studio," which is used primarily for longer visits and outpatient treatment, can accommodate an additional 40 patients.

Past celebrity patients have included Mary-Kate Olsen and "Baywatch" star David Hasselhoff, according to The Insider.

In addition to the outdoor activities, its Web site boasts of plush bedding in available private rooms, as well as breathtaking views and a state-of-the-art dining room with floor-to-ceiling windows.

Despite these perks that may make rehab centers like Cirque Lodge seem like prime vacation spots, Fisher insists that rehab is hard work and even "exhausting."

"During the first 72-hour period, you're really going through fairly rigorous physical and mental evaluations," says Fisher. "It's safe to say the program is structured from the moment you get up."

Celebs Must Follow the Rules

When ABC News asked if celebrity patients get special treatment at rehab facilities like Cirque Lodge, Fisher says no, but declined any further comment.

If Lohan is, indeed, at Cirque Lodge, she'll have to abide by several rules and standards enforced at the facility, as outlined on its Web site.

These rules are "strict," says Fisher, and are in place so that patients will benefit from fully immersing themselves into the program.

Among the list of prohibited items are cell phones, laptops and expensive jewelry. Patients are also not allowed to communicate with friends or family during their first few days of treatment.

Does Rehab Get a Bad Rap?

Sprawling landscapes and customized meals may seem excessive for a place that drug addicts go to get clean, but to Fisher, it seems only fair.

"Why is it different for someone who is an alcohol or a drug addict? Why do they have to be sentenced?" asks Fisher. "We want to put them in the bottom of some old church or dingy psych ward. Why do [they] deserve less care than a cancer patient?"

Fisher argues that conditions at rehab facilities are no ritzier and no cushier than many hospices or even maternity wards, and refutes accusations that treatment can't be effective in high-scale establishments.

"It's just the trappings," says Daniel Gatlin, the executive director of Renaissance Malibu, another self-proclaimed high-end rehabilitation facility. "We're taking treatment out of institutional settings because it sort of plays into the illness headspace, and [rehabilitation] is about getting well."

"Ritzy rehab gets a bad rap," says Fisher, who adds that no matter where the facilities are located and what amenities are included, the actual sobriety programs are just as intensive as at lower-scale, public sector venues.

Lohan's Future Unclear

Lohan's publicist, Leslie Sloane Zelnick, would not respond to questions regarding her client's latest choice of rehab facility, but Zelnick did tell US Weekly that "it would be counterproductive to the medical treatment she's receiving to release Lindsay's whereabouts at this time."

Following her arrest on suspicions of drunken driving and possession of cocaine, Lohan is expected in court Aug. 24 to face two misdemeanor charges of suspicion of driving under the influence, and driving with a suspended license, as well as felony charges of possessing a controlled substance and bringing contraband into a custody facility.

Before Lohan's July arrest, Zelnick told ABC News that her client had voluntarily donned an alcohol-detection bracelet on her ankle to prove she was "taking her sobriety seriously."