Mind & Body Transformation Retreat
Tired of using the same three, stale, interventions everyday? Do you struggle with helping your clients connect mind and body? Do you wish you had other interventions to practice in session, not only for your clients but for yourself? Have you spent thousands of dollars on training, conferences, and certifications and still lack the confidence to use what you "learned"?
You will leave feeling confident in your practice because this retreat is not the conventional "sit and learn", but a true "practice" retreat. You will have the opportunity to practice each skill.
We believe the wisdom of the group is more powerful than any one person. You will meet, join, and share with other therapists, creating lifelong connections.
Oh, and did I mention we would be doing ALL of this in one of the most beautiful blue zones on earth? You will be immersed in the beauty of nature. Your senses will be flooded.
All great stuff for creating a new calm/safe place for yourself.
Pura Vida!
Brain-Body Based Trainings
Learn how to access inner and outer resiliency resources, practice basic EMDR exercises, learn how to use brainspotting for self-care and managing transference, practice somatic exercises for calming the parasympathetic nervous system, daily yoga, breathing and meditation exercises. *No certifications offered
Boutique Hotel in Santa Teresa
We have the entire hotel reserved for this retreat. It sits above a tropical hillside overlooking the ocean. There are 19 beds, some private and some in shared rooms. There's an infinity pool, yoga deck, and plenty of space to spread out. The hotel can arrange for an ATV which is the main way of getting around Santa Teresa.
All Meals Included
All meals will be catered: breakfast, lunch, and dinner. We will have a private chef cooking onsite. You will have coffee, water, and tea available all day. The meals are locally sourced and use organic ingredients as much as possible. We will arrange a sunset dinner for the group one evening.
Adventure
There will be plenty of time for exploring and adventures. Santa Teresa is known for its beautiful beaches and surfing. There are horses running free on the beach. You can zipline above the canopy or you can ride ATVs to Montezuma, where there are beautiful waterfalls to play in, or you can relax by our private infinity pool and watch the wildlife.
CREATE YOUR INTERVENTION FLIGHT
Brain & Body Based Techniques
This retreat is loaded with awesome interventions and experiences for you to practice. You will have three facilitators covering three tracts: EMDR, Brainspotting, and Somatic Exercises. We will practice motion, resilience, awareness, being, and connection while integrating mind and body: top down and bottom up.
EMDR Resources
Learn more about resilience resources: inner and outer. Witness techniques and practice with a trainer, then on your own. Learn about calm space, body focus, benefits of tapping, posture and movement, strength/ feeling identification, rescripting, and more. (This is not a certification course)
Brainspotting
This focused treatment method allows therapists to process and release negative emotions and symptoms. Where you look affects how you feel. You will witness this intervention and learn to use it for self-care and dealing with transference. There will be an opportunity for a 1:1 brainspotting session with your facilitator.
Somatic Exercise
Movement is a powerful source of healing for your body and mind. We will practice attentional and intentional breathing, meditation, vagus nerve exercises, mindfulness, stretching, self-massage, rhythmic movement, and more. We offer daily morning yoga sessions and plenty of time for nature walks.
One Week in Paradise
Our beautiful hotel is located in Santa Teresa, Costa Rica on the Nicoya Peninsula. This is a remote surfing and yoga community. You can either fly to the San Jose or Liberia airport, then you take a 20 minute flight to Tambor, then taxi to Santa Teresa. There is also a ferry from San Jose to Tambor and a 5-hour shuttle from Liberia to Tambor. The Tambor airport is a little strip on the edge of the beach and a 30-minute taxi ride (we can arrange the taxi) to the hotel. You can also rent a car from the airports.
It's a true adventure getting to Santa Teresa yet so worth it, I promise!
We will help you plan your trip, once you register!
Our hotel has 19 individual beds varying in sizes and suites. Some are in private rooms and some are in shared rooms/suites. Since we have 3 facilitators, that means there are 16 beds remaining for registrants. There is a 30 person max.
You can bring a partner, but they must be a licensed psychotherapist to participate in the learning blocks. There will be an additional guest fee per day for food and lodging. Unlicensed guests cannot take individual beds unless they are sharing with you.
All chef-prepared meals are included. We can arrange for your taxi from Tambor airport for $55 at your expense, since airfare, transportation, and adventures are not included in the cost of this retreat.
LET'S GOOOO!Retreat Itinerary
March 25:
➜ Make your way to Santa Teresa. YAY!!
➜ Meet and greet by the infinity pool 4-6pm, dinner at 6pm
➜ Overview of the week and facilitator introductions 7-8pm
March 26-28:
➜ Coffee and tea served at 6:30am
➜ Sunrise yoga- outside deck 7:30-8:15am
➜ Breakfast served by the pool 8:30-9am
➜ Practice Block 9am-12 pm
➜ Lunch served onsite from 12-1
➜ Process Block 1-3pm
➜ Experience Block 3-6pm
➜ Dinner served onsite at 6pm
March 29:
➜ Yoga 7:30-8:15am
➜ Breakfast 8:30-9am
➜ Day to Play- you can either fish, surf, ride a quad to Montezuma falls, horseback ride,
walk around the little town, or zipline. 9-5pm
➜ Returning to the hotel at 5pm
➜ Dinner as a group at 6pm, at a restaurant on the beach at sunset (TBA).
➜ Process Block 7-9pm
March 30:
➜ Breakfast 8-9am
➜ Group gathering for goodbye hugs. Sometimes the Tambor plane departs at 10am.
We can help arrange for your taxi to get you there on time.
You can stay and play or head to another area of Costa Rica.
Pura Vida!
Our Desire
This retreat is for psychotherapists looking to experience a break, reset their nervous system, and practice new skills to support stress management and recovery.
➜ We want to address the feeling of being stuck using the same interventions in therapy.
➜ We want to address improving your confidence level by using innovative techniques in therapy.
➜ We want you to experience the benefits of these interventions for yourself.
➜ We want to provide an experience of safety and connection.
➜ We want you to know your value.
➜ We want to address how the stress of our jobs shows up in our daily life and body.
➜ We want to provide practices that nourish you mentally, physically, and emotionally.
LET'S GOOOO!Meet Our Team
We are so excited about the opportunity to guide you through this one-week experience. We know these interventions work for therapists and clients. Yes, we have drunk the brain-body kool-aid!!! We have personally experienced the amazing benefits of EMDR, brainspotting, and somatic-based interventions.
The three of us met at another retreat, which speaks to the power of connection that comes from an immersive event like this. So, knowing the benefits of the interventions we will share and the connections you will build during this week makes us very excited!! We feel very privileged to work along side you as guides, not experts. This is a transformational retreat, which means we will support, uplift, and empower you through self-inquiry for sustainable results. We can't wait to meet you!
Dr. Dawn Brunkenhoefer
Counselor Educator
Dawn is a licensed therapist and group practice owner outside of Austin, TX. She is EMDR trained and uses somatic interventions in her practice as well as in her Healer's Retreats offered through The Practice Class. She started The Practice Class, LLC last year as a way to support therapists with innovative training, continued education, and experience. She has dreamed of creating this retreat for you for many years!
Libby Murdoch
EMDR Trainer
Libby is a licensed professional counselor, trainer and published author with a passion for brain science and brain-based interventions. She specializes in topics including trauma responsive care, resilience, relationships, and self-care. Libby is the owner of Brain Based Counseling & Consulting, LLC, where she offers individual therapy and EMDR intensives. She is also the founder of Brain Based EMDR Training, LLC and the developer of Resilience Focused EMDR.
Carolyn Robistow
Brainspotting Breakthrough Strategist
Carolyn is a licensed therapist and podcast creator. Her podcast, Brain Unblocked, is all things brainspotting. She is a brainspotting breakthrough strategist and created the Drinkless Coach program, addressing grayscale drinking for high achievers. This innovative program helps breakthrough grayscale drinking habits using brainspotting. She owns Joy Effect Counseling outside of Houston, TX
Costa Rica! Thanks Dawn for this retreat, you put together a PHENOMENAL experience! A little work, a lot of play, and new forever friends!
-Kyle T.
Our morning yogi applied wisdom from Carl Jung in morning routine. I love this so very much. This therapist retreat style training is the most amazing experience! My heart feels full and refreshed already!
-Jackie F.
What's Included
➜ Private boutique hotel for our retreat with full access to amenities.
➜ All meals are cooked by a private chef and served onsite.
➜ Drinks served with dinner.
➜ Daily yoga classes on the outside deck at sunrise.
➜ Daily movement and meditation
➜ 19 beds in 8 different suites. Some private rooms and some shared rooms
➜ Assistance with scheduling all adventure activies and taxi transport.
➜ Facilitator led learning, experience, practice and process blocks related to EMDR, Brainspotting, and Somatic-Based practices.
➜ 5 days of a practice retreat with 3 licensed facilitators
➜ 18-20 NBCC CE credits (depdendent on schedule)
Pricing Plans
FIRST COME. FIRST SERVE.
All-Inclusive:
Lodging 5 Nights, All Meals, 5 Days of Training, and Continuing Education Credits
Total Beds Available: 15
King Private Beds: 4
Queen Private Beds: 3
Twin or Queen (Shared Room) Beds: 8
Total Guests Spots Available: 7
The Hotel Sleeps: 30 people max
Room Breakdown
2 Standard Shared Rooms: each with a queen bed, a twin bed, a mini-refrigerator, and a private bathroom.
2 Standard Rooms w/ Kitchenette: each with a king bed, a kitchenette, and a private bathroom.
2 Bedroom Suite: each with two private bedrooms, a kitchen, a balcony with an ocean view off of the master bedroom, with a shared bathroom.
1 Luxury Condo: on two levels with three bedrooms, two bathrooms, and a large kitchen and living room, as well as a spacious ocean view terrace off of the main living area. The master bedroom has a king bed, the 2nd bedroom has two twin beds, and the 3rd bedroom has two twin beds.
Costa Rica
Transformational Retreat
This retreat includes lodging, 3 meals a day, 5 days of training, and a minimum of 18 NBCC continuing education credits.
If you are seeking CEs, you will need to complete a course evaluation.
The pricing does not include airfare, transportation to the hotel, tips for hotel staff, ATV rentals, board rentals, or adventure tours/excursions.
Each participant is required to sign a waiver of liability prior to attending the retreat.
We encourage travel insurance and will provide referrals.
The trainings are not certifications for EMDR or Brainspotting.
Due to having to make advanced bookings for our lodging, catered meals, and coordinated trainings, we cannot provide full refunds. You are encouraged to secure private travel insurance that covers trip cancellation and medical events.
Cancellation Notice: 50% is non-refundable. Cancellation with less than 90-day notice is 100% non-refundable as this is an international planned retreat. The remaining balance must be paid by January 8, 2024. No transfers of retreat spot without approval.
If you have questions or concerns, feel free to contact us
Mail: PO Box 331, Buda, TX, 78610
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 512-523-8777
Retreat Coordinator & Host
Dawn Brunkenhoefer, PhD, LPC
The Practice Class, LLC, Owner
NBCC ACEP No. 7235
