Retreats - SafeHaven Trauma Centre
Types of Retreat
We offer a number of different types of retreat. Whilst the specifics of each retreat may vary, there are some core elements each specific retreat will contain. These are outlined below, so you can decide whether a retreat is for you.
For full details of the agenda and types of activities and therapies on each retreat are provided on the retreat-pack.
1day Bio-Aquatic Retreat (Bath, UK)
This 1day retreat is designed as a taster into the world of trauma-focused therapy.
The day begins with a welcome and orientation session at a beautiful hotel in Bath, here we discuss safety for the day to ensure everyone feels both physically and emotionally safe throughout. Then we move to a gentle group session that is part educational and part reflective, to help you understand common experiences after trauma, the importance of ‘stabilisation’ in recovery and what this could mean for you both during the day and after the retreat.
We then transfer to the Royal Thermal Baths, where we have use of our own private area. Here we first explain what to expect from a session in water, before each person takes time to connect with how their body feels in the warm spa waters. Each person will have a treatment with a craniosacral therapist, as well as having time to rest and bathe in the spa water before we finish in the water and return to the hotel.
The afternoon is spent then processing and integrating the bio-aquatic experience, followed by a experiential mindfulness session. We explain how mindfulness often needs to be approached differently when dealing with psychological trauma and we help you discover how you can take this practice home to continue building on the shifts experienced.
Our closing session provides a soothing exit to the day, and is designed to help you identify manageable next steps in your recovery journey.
2day Alchemical Retreat (Bath, UK)
This 2day retreat is designed as a taster into the world of alchemy, the spiritual transformation of the soul from ‘lead’ into ‘gold’.
Alchemy is a spiritual philosophy dating back over 5000 years. This 2day retreat will focus on the elements of earth, air, fire and water to explore the dynamics of your psyche currently in your life and where you are seeking transformation.
An immersive, experiential retreat, over the 2days you will spend time in water, amongst the forest, in the open air and in front of open fire pits. The focus of this retreat is personal development.
A series of experiences will provide you with opportunities to explore where are are facing challenges or blocks in yourself and your life. These experiences will use somatic therapies, art, writing, movement and sound.
Day 1 is designed as a long day to draw you deeper into your experience, starting at dawn and working through sunset to finish with an evening meditation. Day 2 moves you towards transformation of the difficulty and exploring how to work with the challenges you face.
3day Equine Therapy Retreat (The Lake District, UK)
This 3day retreat in the Lake District provides an opportunity to explore difficulties using equine assisted psychotherapy.
Each day begins with option of joining an early morning meditation in nature, this is then followed by a group orientation session.
A series of bite-size education sessions are interspersed over the 3days, to learn about how stress, duress and trauma impacts the brain and the body and what to do about it. These sessions are designed to help understand the ripple effect of trauma and understand what you can do to help recovery.
Each day you will take part in two equine assisted therapy sessions, if you come with a caregiver or partner and wish to work through a joint difficulty you will have the opportunity to do this throughout the 3 days.
The end of each day brings the opportunity to try out different therapeutic experiences, including dance movement psychotherapy, mindful awareness practice or simply spend time in nature reflecting on the day’s sessions.
This retreat includes two 1hour sessions before attending, and three 1-hour sessions after completion. These support sessions are designed to help prepare for the retreat and get the most out of the 3days, and also integrate the retreat experience once you return home. Sessions can be at the Stockport clinic or online, for those who are a not local.
4day Trauma Recovery Retreat (Bath, UK and Iceland)
This 4day intensive treatment retreat is focused on assisting people who are struggling with the effects of psychological trauma. Each day support is dynamically tailored to the evolving needs of each person, as they work through the presenting layers of their trauma history.
Every day begins with optional group sessions of mindfulness, meditation, or dance movement.
The therapy focused support opens each morning with a group session. Each day provides an opportunity for attending bio-aquatic therapy, craniosacral therapy and individual psychotherapy – which includes a range of interventions, including EMDR, TFCBT, dance movement psychotherapy, emo-somatic therapy and therapeutic art. For those who attend with family, you will have the opportunity for family or couple’s therapy within the programme.
This retreat includes six 1hour sessions before attending, and six 1-hour sessions after completion. These support sessions are designed to help prepare for the retreat and get the most out of the experience, and also integrate the retreat experience once you return home. Sessions can be at the Stockport clinic or online, for those who are a not local.
5day Trauma Recovery Retreat with Dolphin Assisted Therapy (Bahamas)
This 5day intensive treatment retreat is focused on assisting people who are struggling with the effects of psychological trauma.
This retreat is highly structured and designed to hep you safely process deeply held psychological and emotional pain.
Each day includes:
- Optional grounding and stabilising early morning guided meditation on the beach
- A group orientation session
- A dolphin assisted therapy session, in ocean water
- Option of bio-aquatic craniosacral therapy session in the pool or ocean, or land based craniosacral therapy session.
- Daily individual trauma-focused psychological therapy sessions
- Daily group debriefing
- Daily trauma-informed self-care skills building sessions
- Optional evening psychoeducation sessions on understanding and recovering from trauma
- Evening of day 4 includes a Shamanic fire ceremony on the beach and shared meal together.
The retreat includes six 1hour sessions before attending, and eight 90minute sessions after completion. These support sessions are designed to help prepare for the retreat and get the most out of the experience and also integrate the retreat experience once you return home. Sessions can be at the Stockport clinic or online, for those who are a not local.
Please note: This retreat involves long, and intense days immersed in learning about, processing and recovering from psychological trauma. Families attending will be able to include group sessions for the family, and there is the option for caregivers to join in on several activities. You should be prepared to commit all your time each day to the retreat. If you wish to spend time in the Bahamas to explore further, it is recommended this is done prior to the retreat rather than afterwards.
Anyone wishing to attend this retreat must complete an initial evaluation and attend all preparatory sessions prior to the retreat starting. The level of processing from this retreat means it is important to commit to also attending all the post-retreat support sessions.