Deciding to get help for mental illness or personal issues is tough. It takes an incredible amount of bravery, willpower, and self-love.
One of the more popular forms of getting help for personal struggles is going to a therapy retreat. These intensive programs are great choices for helping you get back on your feet without distraction.
If you’re getting ready to go on a mental health therapy retreat, being prepared can help you feel more at ease as you take this amazing step. Here’s what you can expect when going on counseling retreats.
The Purpose of Therapy Retreat Centers
Whether you’re headed on a therapy retreat for trauma, mental health issues, or addiction, these retreats are an intensive opportunity to help you step away from the distractions of daily life. They let you focus on your recovery without your daily tasks getting in the way.
Usually, therapy retreats are at locations that are away from your normal routine. They often take place in beautiful locations that give a sense of calm and healing.
During these retreats, you’re often asked to turn off cellphones and other electronics. This can help you focus better on the emotional work that you’re doing inside yourself.
While therapy retreats are not the right option for everyone, they provide an intensive healing experience for many people. They allow patients to get well without interruptions from the hustle and bustle of daily life.
What a Typical Day on a Therapy Retreat Looks Like
Every mental health retreat is a little bit different. This partly depends on what issue you’re tackling at the retreat, as well as whether you’re taking a private retreat or a group counseling retreat.
Most retreats have daily activities that help you tackle difficult questions and dive into the issues that are troubling you. These activities are designed to help you work through your feelings and get a deeper insight into who you are.
Most daily sessions last between eight and nine hours. That’s almost the same as taking two months of therapy sessions and putting them into just a few days.
What A Therapy Retreat Itinerary is Like
Each therapy retreat has a slightly different itinerary. However, you can typically expect it to follow a general outline. Here’s what a classic therapy retreat itinerary will look like.
Intake Day
On the first day of your therapy retreat, you’ll go through a quick orientation. You’ll sit down with your individual therapist and begin looking at your history, what you’re struggling with, and what you hope to get out of the program.
Resources and Coping Mechanisms
After your initial intake day, most retreats move into helping you establish resources and introducing you to your treatment. This typically takes one to two days.
Rather than diving right into your traumas and individual struggles, you’ll be guided through coping mechanisms and techniques you can use during and after the retreat.
Trauma Processing
After your initial intake and preparatory work, it’s time for you to get into the depths of your work. You’ll partner with your therapist to tackle tough questions, work through your emotions, and look at what’s bothering you.
This stage usually takes three to five days, but you can go as slow or as fast as you feel you need. This is the toughest part of your therapy session and is where you’ll do the most healing.
Wrap-Up and Graduation
On the last day of your retreat, you’ll work on wrapping up the work you’ve been doing during your time in the retreat. Your therapist will typically give you tools and additional coping resources to help you after you graduate from the program.
What Techniques Are Used at a Therapy Retreat
There are many different techniques that therapists use to get results with their patients and to help them grow and move forward from trauma. At a therapy retreat, many different modalities are used.
Cognitive-behavioral therapy, or CBT, is often used to help patients work through their emotions and past traumas. This type of therapy uses guided conversations and open talk spaces to help patients deal with their emotions.
Another type of therapy called eye movement desensitization and reprocessing, or EMDR can also be used. This therapy deals with mental trauma and attempts to treat it the same way physical traumas are dealt with.
Some therapy retreats will also employ progressive counting or PC. This can be a highly emotional experience and is not always appropriate for patients on a therapy retreat.
Average Costs of a Therapy Retreat
Therapy retreat costs will vary greatly. However, most therapy retreats aren’t covered by insurance plans.
Typically, you can expect to pay around $1,000-2,000 per day for a therapy retreat. However, you’ll want to plan on staying for multiple days to get the full benefit of the program.
Your fee will cover your activities, accommodation, meals, and your dedicated time with a therapist. This means that while it may seem expensive up front, you’re actually receiving a huge number of benefits for the price you’re paying.
Get the Healing You Need from a Therapy Retreat
Going on a therapy retreat can be a great way to tackle difficult emotions and deal with past pain and trauma. They’re a way to get undistracted support and healing in a world that’s designed to grab our attention at every turn of the head.
It’s important to remember, however, that while therapy retreats can help many people recover from trauma and serious, debilitating mental health issues, they can’t do everything. People who are struggling with suicidal thoughts may be better suited to go to a hospital to receive adequate care.
If you’re looking for a therapy retreat that can help heal you, Dr. Bambi can help. Schedule a call with her to see if an intensive therapy retreat might be the right option for you.