What should you consider before a therapy retreat?
Before a therapy retreat, it is worth thinking about more than the therapy: how you will travel and recover from the trip, how far you will be from your usual support, how private the arrangements are, what happens if you struggle while away, and how you will come home. Most of these are easy to plan for in advance and hard to fix once you are there. A careful provider will go through them with you at assessment.
Plan the retreat, not just the therapy
A therapy retreat combines psychotherapy with travel and time away. The therapy is planned with your therapist at assessment. The rest is often left to you, and that is where avoidable problems tend to arise. This article works through the main areas.
Travel and arrival
Travel takes more out of people than they expect, especially across time zones. Arriving exhausted and starting deep work the next morning is rarely a good idea.
- Arrive early. A day or more before the first session gives time to rest and adjust. After a long-haul flight, more time may help.
- Think about jet lag. Ask your therapist how session times can be arranged around it.
- Plan the trip home. Avoid leaving straight after the last session if you can. A day to rest before travelling helps the work settle.
- Keep it simple. Direct routes and fewer connections mean less stress at both ends.
Being away from your support network
On a retreat, the people you usually lean on are far away. For most people, this is manageable with some planning. For some, it is a reason to choose an online intensive instead.
Before you go, think about:
- Who you can contact. A partner, friend or family member who knows where you are and can take a call in the evening.
- Your existing therapist. Whether they know about the retreat, and whether they will see you soon after you return.
- Time zones. Whether the people you might want to call will be awake when you need them.
- Being alone in the evenings. Some people find this restful. Others find it lonely after a demanding day. Know which you are likely to be.
It is normal to feel tired, tender or emotional during and after concentrated therapy. Research on trauma-focused therapy has found that a temporary rise in symptoms happens for some people, that it is not linked to dropping out, and that people who experience it still tend to improve. Knowing this in advance makes it easier to ride out, but it is still easier with someone to talk to.
Privacy
Retreats can be more private than therapy at home, but only if the arrangements are.
- Booking and payment. Who sees the booking, the invoice and the accommodation details?
- Travel. Who knows where you are going, and why?
- Communication. How will the therapist contact you, and on which device?
- The setting. Will you be seen by others, such as other guests or staff?
The therapist's professional code covers what they do with what you tell them. For example, the Australian Counselling Association's Code of Ethics sets out duties of confidentiality and record-keeping, and their limits. Practical privacy around travel is something you plan together.
Safety
A careful retreat provider will plan for safety before you travel, not after a problem arises. Before you book, ask:
- What happens if I become very distressed during a session, or overnight?
- What contact is available outside session times?
- Where is the nearest medical help, and how would I get there?
- What would lead you to pause or end the retreat early, and what happens then?
You should also know the local emergency number and have any medication you take, with enough to cover delays.
A retreat is usually not the right choice where there is acute risk to life, current danger at home, active dependence on alcohol or drugs, or untreated psychosis or mania. Those situations need a different level of care, closer to home.
Timing
The timing of a retreat matters as much as the destination.
- Avoid major deadlines immediately before or after.
- Leave space on return. At least one or two quieter days before going back to full work or family responsibilities.
- Consider what is coming up. A move, a court date or a family event soon afterwards may make it harder to absorb the work.
A planning checklist
| Area | Before you book | Before you travel |
|---|---|---|
| Clinical | Assessment completed; focus agreed | Preparation done; plan for difficult moments agreed |
| Support | Existing therapist informed, if you have one | Contact person briefed; follow-up booked |
| Travel | Arrival and departure dates leave rest days | Routes confirmed; documents in order |
| Privacy | Booking and payment arrangements agreed | Devices and communication sorted |
| Safety | Out-of-hours contact understood | Local emergency number and nearest medical help noted |
| Work and home | Cover arranged | Out-of-office set; quieter days planned for your return |
The article on coming home after a therapy retreat covers the return.
Common questions
How far in advance should I plan a therapy retreat?
It depends on the provider and the destination, but several weeks to a few months is common. That allows time for assessment, preparation, travel arrangements and planning the time around it.
Should I tell my family or employer what I am doing?
That is your choice. Some people tell close family so that they have support afterwards. Others simply say they are taking time away. It helps to decide in advance what you will say, so you are not working it out when you are tired.
What if I have a panic attack or a very hard night while I am away?
This should be planned for before you go. Ask the provider what contact is available outside sessions, and make sure you know the local emergency number and the nearest medical facility.
Can I work or check email during a retreat?
You can, but it usually gets in the way. Most people find the work goes further if they arrange cover and stay offline as much as possible. If you cannot, agree in advance when you will check in, so it does not take over the breaks.
Lucy Orton's private retreats take place in Southeast Asia, in a setting chosen with each client, with planning help available.
References
- Australian Counselling Association. Code of Ethics and Practice, version 16, sections 9 to 12 (confidentiality and records). theaca.net.au
- Larsen, S. E., Wiltsey Stirman, S., Smith, B. N., & Resick, P. A. (2016). Symptom exacerbations in trauma-focused treatments: Associations with treatment outcome and non-completion. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 77, 68-77. doi:10.1016/j.brat.2015.12.009
This page is general information about intensive therapy. It is not a substitute for individual assessment or advice, and reading it does not create a therapeutic relationship. If you are in crisis or at risk of harm, contact local emergency services or a crisis line now. How these articles are written and checked: our editorial standards.