Founder’s Letter

In 2004 I found myself at a crossroad. Addiction had taken me to the depths of despair and near to death. I had been through countless residential and outpatient treatment programmes only, to relapse time and time again. I was vulnerable, ashamed and very afraid.

Johnny Graaff – Founder of Montrose Place in Cape Town, South Africa

An ultimatum from my family confirmed what I already knew in my own heart – this was it; lose everything – including, possibly, my life – or seek a sustainable, lasting recovery. So, with the support of my family and a circle of close friends, coupled with the wisdom (and patience) of the professionals who facilitated my treatment process and the comradeship of the fellow addicts who shared the journey, I finally did just that. Addiction is one of the world’s most misunderstood illnesses and also one of the most deadly, killing millions of people each year and damaging the lives of countless others.

However during the course of my lengthy bid to beat addiction I have seen first-hand that there is a solution and there is hope. It was drawing on my own experiences that I was inspired to create the ultimate treatment facility which would incorporate all of the important factors that had been so instrumental to my own recovery.

I founded Montrose in my home town of Cape Town with the aim of promoting long-term treatment and a continuum of care that facilitated self-sustainable recovery. I was keen to foster a strong sense of community and of true fellowship within a discrete, contained environment to engender feelings of compassion, trust and intimacy between all who resided there. Rehabilitation would be underpinned by a world-class treatment programme incorporating pioneering techniques developed by top, experienced clinicians.

Montrose Place opened in 2008, specialising in the treatment of addictions, and within two years it was joined by a second clinic – Montrose Manor – which provides specialist care for eating disorders. We have also introduced European outpatient services and have opened a transitional living facility called Cape House in South Kensington, London.

Montrose Place is still a young facility and we are committed to delivering the highest level of treatment and care. As we evolve our offering we continue to draw on the experiences of both the professional and recovering communities who are so integral to the clinic’s work.

Watching people heal around me daily and returning to visit us later with accounts of their rich and varied lives is a great personal honour.

My greatest wish is that our clients leave Montrose having found recovery and friendships that will last a lifetime; that they will be able to turn toward a brighter and healthier future remembering their time here with fondness and with pride, thinking ‘this is the place where I got my life back’.

Johnny Graaff
Founder of Montrose Place