What is a private therapy retreat, and what's included?
A private therapy retreat is one-to-one psychotherapy, or therapy for one couple, delivered over several days away from home, with no group and with the days built around you. What is included varies between providers, so it is worth checking exactly what the fee covers: the therapy hours, assessment and preparation, follow-up afterwards, and whether accommodation and travel are separate. A private retreat should always include assessment beforehand and a plan for afterwards.
What "private" means
A private therapy retreat is built for one person, or one couple, with one therapist. There is no group, no shared programme and no fixed curriculum. The focus, pace and setting are agreed with you.
That makes it different from a group retreat, where the programme is shared and you work alongside others. The article on choosing between a one-to-one and a group retreat compares the two.
What is usually included, and what to check
Providers describe their retreats differently, and the same words can mean different things. This checklist helps you read a description and ask the right questions.
| Item | Usually included? | What to ask |
|---|---|---|
| Assessment before booking | Should always be | How do you decide whether a retreat suits me? What would lead you to say no? |
| Preparation | Often | Is there a preparatory session, questionnaire or workbook? |
| Therapy hours | Yes | How many hours a day, and how are they paced? |
| The therapy methods | Yes | Which methods, and what training do you have in each? |
| Contact outside sessions | Varies | What happens if I struggle in the evening or overnight? |
| Accommodation | Varies | Is accommodation included, or do I book and pay for it separately? |
| Travel | Usually not | Do you help with planning, or is travel entirely mine to arrange? |
| Meals and other services | Varies | What is provided, and what do I arrange myself? |
| Follow-up afterwards | Should be | How many follow-up sessions, and when? |
| Contact with my own therapist | Should be possible | Will you liaise with my existing therapist if I want you to? |
If a provider cannot answer these clearly, that is useful information in itself.
How the days are usually shaped
Private retreats vary, but most follow a similar rhythm.
- Arrival. Time to arrive, rest and settle before the work starts. Many people find travel more tiring than they expect.
- The first session. Revisiting the focus agreed at assessment, settling into the setting and starting the work.
- The working days. Focused therapy blocks, with breaks for food, rest, movement and time alone. The pace is adjusted to how you respond.
- Integration time. Time without therapy, built into each day, to let the work settle.
- The last day. Checking back on what has changed, and planning the weeks ahead.
- Afterwards. Follow-up sessions, usually online, and contact with your existing therapist where you have one.
An example: Lucy Orton's private retreats
As an example of how one provider describes a private retreat, Lucy Orton's retreats are one-to-one, with no groups or set programme. They run for between three and five days, sometimes longer, using Internal Family Systems and Brainspotting. The setting is chosen together with the client, in Southeast Asia, and integration time is built in deliberately. Accommodation and travel costs are separate from the therapy fee.
Who a private retreat may suit
A private retreat may suit someone who:
- wants focused, concentrated work and finds it hard to protect time at home
- values privacy, or prefers not to work in a group
- is stable enough to be away from their usual support for several days
- has a specific focus they want to work on
It is usually not the right choice where there is acute risk, current danger at home, active dependence on alcohol or drugs, or untreated psychosis or mania. In those situations, a different level of care comes first. The article on what to consider before a therapy retreat covers the practical and clinical questions in more detail.
What the research shows
There is no research that we have found on private one-to-one therapy retreats as a format. Research on intensive trauma therapy, mostly in clinics, has found large reductions in symptoms and low dropout for established methods delivered over consecutive days. That evidence supports concentrated therapy, not the retreat setting as such.
Common questions
Is a private retreat only for people with trauma?
No. People choose private retreats for many reasons, including long-standing patterns, a major life decision, burnout or relationship difficulties. Trauma is common, but it is not a requirement.
How many hours of therapy are there each day?
It varies by provider and by person. Most private retreats include several hours of therapy a day, in blocks, with breaks between them. The amount should be agreed at assessment and adjusted to how you respond.
Will I see the therapist outside sessions?
That depends on the arrangement. Many private retreats keep clear boundaries between session time and rest time. It is worth asking how contact outside sessions works, especially if you have a difficult evening.
Can I bring my partner or a friend?
Some people travel with someone who stays nearby but does not join the therapy. That can be supportive, but it can also make it harder to rest. Discuss it with the therapist before you book.
Lucy Orton's private retreats are one-to-one, run for three to five days and sometimes longer, use Internal Family Systems and Brainspotting, and take place in a setting in Southeast Asia chosen with each client.
References
- Australian Counselling Association. Code of Ethics and Practice, version 16. theaca.net.au
- Sciarrino, N. A., Warnecke, A. J., & Teng, E. J. (2020). A systematic review of intensive empirically supported treatments for posttraumatic stress disorder. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 33(4), 443-454. doi:10.1002/jts.22556
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.