Retreats can be almost anywhere!
“Relationships” can be complicated. And, they do NOT only involve relating to people. You see, all of us interact with our environments. Those environments could use some tweaking at times.
Do you have a relationship that has been a bit “bumpy” lately? Are you curious and wondering about ways it might improve, recover, heal, reconcile and maybe even thrive? And what about those “other” relationships in life that are “a bit off.” You know, like how you relate to your work, what you eat, how you sleep, exercise and maybe even how you interact with time off and “play!”
Is your nutritional and exercise life “out of whack?” Well, how would you like to spend several days getting “back on track – in ALL KINDS of relationships!
Whether you’re in love with people, work, food, exercise (or involved in any emerging toxic interactions) time away could be “just what the doctor ordered.” (uhh, no, I’m not a doctor. It’s just a play on words!)
Health Retreats…one way to get things going again!
Long histories of troubled relationships which people hope “will someday improve” might require specialized services that intensively address all sides of the problem (and the solution). This is true whether your are relating to loved ones, relating to yourself, relating to the spiritual or meditative, dealing with stress, relating to food or relating to exercise (and any other thing too I suppose).
A retreat package, which emphasizes solutions, is one way you can address “old injuries, back sliding” and “getting back on track.” Working with someone who is an eclectic professional could be a way to get all of the pieces of the puzzle (or the PIE?) to come together!
Retreats are developed with the idea of spending hours over a few days time—in a neutral environment—so that the real work of restoration and recovery can occur from start to finish. To break up the sometimes hard work of counseling — “retreat time” includes indoor and/or outdoor activities that are relaxing, fun, and even luxurious. What determines “relaxing, fun and luxurious?” You do—by telling us what it is that you want/need/desire in a mental health retreat.
Do you like the resort environment (Florida has some of the best)? Camping and hiking (roughing it can be cool too)? Pampered or weathered? Winter? Summer? Fall? Do you need/want/desire a weekend or a full week?
A retreat package, which emphasizes solutions, is one way you can address “old injuries, back sliding” and “getting back on track.” Coaching services could be considered as well. Either way, working with someone who is an eclectic professional could be away to get all of the pieces of the puzzle (or the PIE?) to come together!
Retreats are developed with the idea of spending hours over a few days time—in a neutral environment—so that the real work of restoration and recovery can occur from start to finish. To break up the sometimes hard work of counseling — “retreat time” includes indoor and/or outdoor activities that are relaxing, fun, and even luxurious. What determines “relaxing, fun and luxurious?” You do—by telling us what it is that you want/need/desire in a mental health retreat.
Do you like the resort environment (Florida has some of the best)? Camping and hiking (roughing it can be cool too)? Pampered or weathered? Winter? Summer? Fall? Do you need/want/desire a weekend or a full week?
The retreats are costly, they are not covered by health insurance and they require preplanning. Sometimes multiple professionals are enlisted—and the customized nature of the retreat determines it’s costs. Coaching services are yet another option – and a bit more affordable too. Clinical services are the least expensive route for “getting some help” and these are diagnostic based.
People who elect to investigate reconciliation and restorative retreats will participate in several universal treatment aspects from the mental health perspective. First, to clinically assess whether or not a damaged relationship can benefit (meaning, to see if “reconciliation” is feasible) individual sessions (involving all parties who are affected) will possibly need to occur in the office before the retreats are scheduled.
Restoration of nutrition and exercise as unsafe?
Your relationship with food and exercise can be just as toxic as your relationships with loved ones. If your couples relationship were unsafe, it would not make sense to “head off to a retreat” without some things being worked out before hand. If you were dealing with a health condition that is directly affected by things like exercise and nutrition – that needs to be examined and known before going on a get away to “get healthier”. So, just as loved one toxicity is a bit tricky to navigate the same is true in food and exercise. Relationships are – well – “complicated” it is said.
How to get started …
First, health conditions, age, weight, experience levels and other variables have to be factored into a retreat that focuses on what to eat and how much to exercise, if these are central to it. The same would be true if you were considering a retreat with a loved one to reconnect, rejuvenate or reconcile; a determination as to what and if has to be considered (not everyone who wants to reconnect should begin with a retreat). This first step would not necessarily be limited to an office intake made up of various screenings and questions, but it might likely require collaboration with other professionals, such as a medical doctor, a certified trainer, a nutritionist or dietitian, past counselors, and others if warranted.
Once a determination is made that a relationship can progress, the second phase of the retreat planning begins. During the second phase your input about hobbies, interests, and likes are built into a two, three or five day retreat.
The third step is both the “hardest part” and “the best part.” We begin the retreat! With all of the what if’s cleared up, the likes and needs worked out, as well as the where and when stuff it’s time to begin. The practice works with you and your loved one(s) in various intensive sessions addressing the historical and current problems of the relationship (and if your love is doughnuts, work, exercise or ….well we’ll be looking at those “relationships” too!).
The final stage consists of follow-up. Follow-up meetings or sessions serve a couple of purposes. First it is to look at how the relationship perspectives have been altered, what outcomes have already begun and what future goals are now ready to be established. From there a decision is made to have additional follow-ups, if needed, or to move to a “check-up” and “booster” kind of program. Coaching may be an option as well.
How the Program is Structured
Recovery, restorative and reconciliation mental health retreats generally consist of:
- A full in-take of family and overall history for you (and any other person who hopes to work toward reconciliation);
- Three one hour sessions in the office, by phone, or online (and these can be combined), to review reported aspects of the problem;
- A determination of whether or not reconciliation is possible, realistic, and/or clinically recommended (and if delayed for some reason, to strategically look at collaboration);
- The selection of the number of days for the retreat and a location for the retreat (LaRose is licensed in DC and Florida so this is a logical geographic consideration);
- A selection of enjoyable and therapeutic activities that are intermixed with structured and targeted sessions throughout the retreat. The activities are developed with you – and might include options like resort accommodations or outdoor camping, fine dining in pampering or shared shopping and cooking time, in and outdoor cooking options, pool or ocean swimming, hiking or jogging, spa use, and alternative “therapies” etc. etc.
- A follow-up session in office, by phone, or via webcam in our secure encrypted server.
Things to Consider
Reconciliation retreats are excellent for those who have both the time and the resources. The clinical work is intense, and so is the relaxation time. Reconciliation retreats are costly. Not all retreat requests can be fulfilled due to circumstances that might become obvious in the course of intake and planning. Every phase of the retreat process costs money—and in some cases money and time will be spent only to learn that reconciliation is not feasible for now, or maybe not even at all (individual retreats are still an option).
Fees will not all apply to the mental health provider only, as other parties must be included for a successful retreat program (clinical services remain confidential, as required by law, however). In some cases, a travel agency may be employed to arrange the requested services. Some services that are included in reconciliation retreats are provided by other licensed professionals who are experts in non-mental health disciplines (travel agencies, massage therapy, travel support companies, personal trainers, nutritionist, etc. etc.).
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Non-licensed services can be included as well. Life coaching is generally not a licensed practice, for example. Psych-education is a bit of a grey area, such that LaRose (even as an eclectic professional) would argue it is a skill that should be offered by licensed mental health professionals. Other activities, like seasonally offered “stuff” would be built in and provided by third parties (for example specialty food services, jet skis, bicycles, scooters, horse drawn carriages, boating, theme parks, theatre, horseback riding, bungee jumping, outdoor events/camping, etc. etc.). Sleeping accommodations are arranged with hospitality companies (resorts, hotels, spas, campgrounds, etc. etc.). There are inherent risks in undertaking non-mental health activities such as those listed above—and a release of liability is required before the retreat is scheduled and confirmed.
Even though behavioral health retreats are designed based upon your interests, requests, and likes all services are provided without any guarantee for success (sometimes the outcomes are excellent—and sometimes they are not). Intake sessions will generally include a request that you see a physician and get a physician’s clearance prior to participating in retreats due to some of the physical aspects involved with a retreat program.
Costs
Costs vary depending upon the number of days and what activities are found to meet your interests. Prices do not include your travel from home city to retreat destination (or return).
Retreat intake & assessments require a $600 non refundable deposit to cover initial sessions, intake, and evaluation of reconciliation success/feasibility. Once the final determination of retreat success is made, ruled out, or deemed strategically target-able as an effective option, additional plans will be coordinated—as appropriate. Looking for something more affordable? You could look intl and try coaching services.
Ready to make a change in one or more (or even all) of your various relationships (loved ones, food, exercise, sleep, rest, work, etc. etc.)? For more information Contact Us or schedule an in office consultation today!
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Page Rev. 8/15/19