IFS Retreat
“The Buddha rightly taught that with our minds we create the world. What he did not say, and what is equally true, is that before we create the world with our minds, the world we are born into creates our minds.”
Dr. Gabor Maté
Internal Family Systems Retreats are suitable for:
People wanting to gain insights and a deeper understanding of their recurring behaviours and emotional triggers
Bringing unhelpful beliefs and self-talk to light to reconnect with one’s inner child, restoring harmony between our parts
Those wanting to reconcile events that have led to traumas and woundings from childhood and adulthood
Therapists and social workers who want to learn a more holistic, depth psychology approach to therapeutic work
Those drawn to Jungian/Depth work
People committed to personal development & spiritual development
Internal Family Systems Workshops
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Work inside or take time outside in the elements to soak in birdsong and nature
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A tranquil, restful space with bushland views and access to starry skies
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Chase waterfalls after dark on a local spectacular floodlit night walk in Katoomba
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Our retreat centre is within walking distance of healing Mini Ha Ha waterfall
Family Systems Course
Testimonial
“I thoroughly enjoyed my retreat, whilst challenging I have to say, it also enabled me to put the past to bed in many ways and look toward to the future. I really appreciated the guidance, knowledge and thought provoking questions. My journey turned out to be one of synchronicity and this course was the perfect way to start a new year. I learned so much and for that I am eternally grateful.”
-Judy Taubner-Ragg
“Wow, what a special, unique, and transformative experience. The retreat is such a nurturing and peaceful place for introspection, exploration and contemplation. The program and services gave me exactly what I was seeking; validation of what I was going through, and clarity as to how to move forward.”
- Liv
Internal Family Systems Course
Program Outline
Day One
Morning Sessions 9:30am - 12:30pm
IFS helps you identify and understand the various "parts" of your inner system, leading to a deeper understanding of your thoughts, emotions, and behaviours. You’ll begin by getting an overview of this healing therapy and learn how it can transform your relationships and wellbeing.
The second session takes an experiential approach to looking at your family parts system, drawing on sandplay therapy.
Lunch 12:30pm
Afternoon Session 1:00pm - 4:00pm
Parts work therapy holds that we all have exiles to contend with. These are the vulnerable, wounded parts of the psyche that hold painful emotions and memories, often from past trauma or difficult experiences. These parts are typically isolated and protected by other parts (like managers and firefighters) to prevent the overwhelming pain from entering conscious awareness. In this session, you’ll identify your exiles and discover how they have played out in your life.
Waterfall Walk (Optional) 4:00 - 6:00pm
There is an optional waterfall walk for you to do at the end of the day. Exercise and time in nature allows you time to contemplate the day’s learnings.
Another option is to take part in a stand up paddleboarding session or mountain bike ride (weather permitting).
Dinner 6:30 - 7:30pm
Enjoy a home cooked, organic meal or travel out to try one of Katoomba’s local dining facilities.
Evening (Optional) 7:30pm onwards
There is a range of optional evening activities for you to enjoy, such as listening to or reading poetry, life stories, or enjoying a thought-provoking film or inspiring documentary. Other options include self-guided meditation and yoga.
Day Two
Breakfast 8:30am
Enjoy a homemade breakfast, tea or coffee on the verandah whilst the kookaburras and other local birds sing.
Morning Sessions 9:30am - 12:30pm
Internal systems therapy holds that we have two protective mechanisms that strive to shield us from uncomfortable feelings and traumas.
The first of these, managers, are protective parts of the internal system that proactively work to maintain order, control, and stability in daily life to prevent the activation of vulnerable or wounded parts (our exiles). They are characterised by their proactive, preventative, and often controlling nature.
Firefighters are the protective parts of the psyche that react to painful emotions or memories by engaging in impulsive, often destructive, behaviours. These behaviours act as distractions or numbing agents to prevent overwhelming feelings from surfacing.
Understanding the managers and firefighters we employ allows us to discharge them from their roles in order for us to heal our woundedness and become more functional and whole. This will be the focus of this session.
Lunch 12:30pm
Afternoon Sessions 1:30pm - 4:00pm
Unlike our parts, The Self is considered our true nature, our deepest, most authentic self.
This core essence has an inherent capacity for healing and wisdom. It is the source of qualities like compassion, clarity, and confidence, and it acts as the leader of the internal system, guiding and harmonising the various "parts" of the mind.
In this final session, you’ll learn about this underlying consciousness that holds your parts together and how it can bring them into health, reconciling our wounds and allowing our best self to flourish.
Cost: $590 for a 2 day family parts retreat *$50 discount on a weekday retreat.
Inclusions: Our wellness retreats include accommodation, meals, workbooks, counselling and activities.
Optional session of bibliotherapy. Learn more about our bibliotherapy service.
Location: Katoomba, Blue Mountains NSW.
Inner Child Retreat
You’ve probably come across the concept of the "inner child." It is rooted in Carl Jung's work, particularly his idea of the Child archetype.
Jung believed that this archetype, residing in the unconscious, influences our thoughts, feelings, and behaviours as adults.
The Child archetype is the first milestone in the process of individuation, the journey of becoming a whole and integrated individual. It represents the earliest experiences, memories, and emotional patterns formed during childhood.
The inner child can manifest positively as creativity, curiosity, spontaneity, and wonder, but also as vulnerability, anxiety, shame and insecurity.
Many contemporary forms of therapy and healing work build on Jung’s theories. Richard Schwartz is a systemic family therapist who developed Internal Family Systems.
This might be a new model for you. A great introduction to this modality can be found in the animated movie Inside Out.
In IFS, the mind is understood as a system of various "parts" or sub-personalities, each with its own thoughts, feelings, and roles.
Inside Out portrays these parts as distinct characters within Riley's mind, with Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear, and Disgust representing some of the key emotions and parts that influence her behaviour.
Just like in IFS, the movie depicts Riley's mind as a collection of interacting parts. Each part has a specific function and purpose, reflecting the concept that different parts of ourselves emerge in response to our experiences.
The movie shows how these parts, especially Joy and Sadness, struggle to regulate Riley's emotions. This mirrors IFS's focus on how different parts can become dysregulated and how the "Self" (a core, compassionate aspect of the individual) can help restore balance.
Many sections of the movie align with IFS's categorisation of parts. Joy, for example, can be seen as a "manager" trying to keep things positive and under control. Sadness, at times, acts like an "exile" or a part that is avoided or suppressed.
This retreat gives you a strong overview of Internal Family Systems while helping you understand your own journey with your parts. It provides you with techniques to bring your system into greater health and monitor its ongoing influence on your life and relationships.
Blue Mountains Retreats
“Great things are done when people and mountains meet;
this is not done by jostling in the street.”
- William Blake
Take in a local stargazing tour at night
Rejuvenate in the Blue Mountains natural wonders
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