Have you ever felt tempted to attend one of my 3-day retreats?
Have you been curious or confused about what it would involve?
If so, this little blog is for you.
My 3-day self-exploration retreats are held in Cartron House, County Galway, Ireland, which is a beautiful B&B in the Irish countryside. The owner, Ann, takes great pride in her lovely rooms and delicious breakfasts and the grounds are immaculately maintained. This gives lots of space and opportunity for time alone and in nature when needed. For those who live nearby, it is also possible to travel from home each day.
So after a good sleep and a nourishing breakfast, everyone gathers in the workshop room which is in a separate building to the rear of the main house. Hot drinks, snacks, candles and smiles, all help to welcome everyone into the space.
We start the session with a little grounding and a discussion regarding safety and confidentiality so that everyone can begin to relax and utilise the space fully. Quite quickly someone usually shares that they are attending their second or third (or sixth!) retreat. This is hugely reassuring for those who might be attending for the first time to hear that people are back for more! So very quickly a feeling of safety and confidence is built.
There is a very general theme to each of the three days. Day one we consider the present, taking stock of where we are and what wants our attention. Day two we consider the past. Is there anything we want to revisit, unpack or rewrite? Day three focuses on the future, honouring our resources and how to take these with us beyond the retreat. There are no limits to what might come up for someone in terms of their past, present or future and all of it is welcome. All activities are creative and experiential. There are no rights or wrongs in how the activities are carried out or in terms of how each person can use the creative space.
Sometimes people attend a retreat with something very specific in mind to explore. This might be a strained relationship, a bereavement, a childhood trauma, a recent difficulty at work, or an area of inner growth such as developing self-confidence, finding our voice, wanting to be seen or validated in some way. Others attend a retreat with nothing specific in mind and are just curious to dig deeper, to keep growing and to be held and nourished emotionally.
There is nothing that is too big or too small to explore and each person can share as much or as little about their inner-exploration and discovery as they wish. Opportunities for personal journalling are woven throughout the day.
All breaks, lunches and dinners are served in the workshop building so again the group is kept very safe and contained. If people would like to eat alone, there are lots of spaces to take meals outside or into other rooms. We have an incredible chef for the three days who understands the delicate nature of the work happening in the workshop room. She prides herself in supporting that work by creating absolutely delicious meals that are nourishing and comforting and is happy to cater for all dietary needs.
It is very important to me to ensure that everyone’s physical needs are cared for, including comfy chairs, warm lighting, heating, food, drinks, privacy, clean toilets, and outside spaces for private walks in nature. When these needs are taken care of, it is much easier to drop into our inner-process.
All of the workshop activities are designed to encourage self-exploration not simply from a heady, thinking place but to drop more into our emotions. As the whole body is involved in the experience the processing becomes more embodied and the learning and growth has a durability beyond the three days of the retreat. There are experiences that will be remembered for the rest of your life.
Activities can include a mix of the following: painting, movement, clay, collage, drama/role-play, oil pastels, music, games and props. Some activities are solo and some are in pairs or small groups. Sometimes the focus will be with one person while others in the group support that one.
Every retreat brings something completely new and unexpected and I love the ongoing learning this brings for me as a facilitator. Without wanting to give spoilers, here are a few examples of things that have happened at previous retreats.
- Words that have been wanting to be spoken for decades have had an opportunity to be heard and witnessed by the group
- Court cases have been held for perpetrators of abuse
- Painful childhood experiences have been revisited but this time with the love of an emotionally mature mother (someone from the group)
- a difficult decision for the future is made and enacted so that the participant feels the liberation and confidence to implement that decision
There are no limits to what can be explored and no limits to how incredibly transformative this retreat can be. A 3-day experience with a small group of equally brave individuals. You will feel the support of real humans with real lives and real stories. You will be held safely by me, a therapist with over 25 years experience, and by my co-facilitator Jamin DeMarco. Learn more about us on our ‘about’ pages.
If you are personally curious about attending a retreat, please email paulashort@me.com to arrange a chat to find out more. Alternatively, if you would like us to facilitate a retreat for a particular group, we would be glad to discuss the possibility.
Feedback is constantly humbling and heartwarming. Here are a few genuine excerpts from emails from previous participants and there are so many more under ‘retreat feedback’.
“There is such powerful healing and support in that space that I didn’t want it to end”
“I can’t wait to do another retreat as I can see how much it has helped and is continuing helping me”
“I will be eternally grateful to you, Paula”
“The group size was just right. It gave me the space and time to share, learn, and grow”
“My feedback is entirely positive, and I would not be able to offer any real direction on how something so special can be improved”
“You have such a remarkable gift of holding a safe, accepting space Paula”
“I feel like there has been a shift within that has helped me become unstuck”
I feel deeply thankful to everyone who has courageously shared a retreat with me. Your experiences and feedback inspire me to keep creating these therapeutic spaces. If you haven’t yet experienced a retreat, please let me know that you’re curious. I will do my best to prepare you for this amazing and life-changing event.
