More about our first Retreat
Over the past 2 years I have slowly been incorporating secular Buddhist philosophy (a longstanding personal interest) into my professional work as a psychotherapist. The principles that apply to sitting on a cushion seem to be equally applicable to dealing with the struggles of everyday life. It has proven helpful, for example, to learn to sometimes "be with" difficult emotions or situations, rather than constantly striving to be more, to do better or to "change" our thinking. It is exciting for us to announce that we will be offering weekend retreats during the course of this year that will explore these kinds of therapeutic ideas based on secular Buddhist principles.
The first retreat on our calendar will explore the therapeutic value of Vipassana (insight based meditation). Attendees who are existing clients will be invoiced in a way that allows them to claim the majority of the fees back through their medical savings. I thought I would email you this information as the retreat may be of particular interest and benefit to you.
Retreats begin with a light supper followed by a welcome and introduction session, much in line with our regular Soup and Sangha evenings. Thereafter, the days start early with gentle movement, meditation and nutrition.
The program is intense but will include time for good food, beach walks, catching up with sleep, reading or swimming in the pool.
All meals and refreshments are included; our philosophy being to celebrate the nurturing of the body through the senses!
I will be offering in depth discussions on the psychology of Vipassana meditation as a basis for understanding our own minds. My goal is to bridge the gap between (non-religious) Buddhist Philosophy and Western Psychology, giving insight from my experience as a psychotherapist. The retreat will offer very thorough and practical guidance on how to enrich your mindfulness practice through the principles of Vipassana. Several guided meditation sessions will be interspersed with written reflection and open therapeutic discussions.
No previous experience is needed and there is no pressure to participate in the discussions. You have only to bring yourself and some curiosity. I really hope you will consider joining us on this journey into ourselves in order to get beyond ourselves.