Literary Based Retreats
“In the end, we’ll all become stories.”
– Margaret Atwood
Happily ever after, after abuse
This retreat is designed to help women overcome the trauma of sexual or physical abuse.
We take you through the journey of Llisar (from Robin McKinley’s “Deerskin”) as she experiences her own abuse and trauma. Travel with Llisar as she passes through her pain and also through her healing process. We will go with her into her full recovery and, through her journey, we will learn how to process our own pain, hurt, abuse and trauma. As Llisar heals, we will experience her healing and learn through External Experiential Processes (EEP) how to heal in our own right.
Marriage and Couple’s Intensive
This retreat is designed to help couples learn how to rediscover the love and passion in their relationships.
We take you through the journey of Elizabeth Bennett from Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice as she experiences her own discoveries, learning who she is and understanding other people’s perspectives. Travel with Elizabeth as she passes through the pains of strained, unhealthy relationships through a healing process that leads her to a happy marriage. Her journey teaches empathy and how to communicate appropriately. As Elizabeth fixes her relationships, we will watch her healing, and learn, through EEP, how to heal our own relationships.
Business or executive
This retreat is designed to help business managers/executives to communicate more effectively both internally and externally.
We work with you and your team to identify strengths and weaknesses within your teams. We then identify literature that will best be suited for aiding your team to strengthen areas of weaknesses. Communication can set the tone of your work environment, determine whether or not you make an important sale, and create a company image that carries on in your community for years. Teaching your leadership how to lead and communicate in such a way as to empower those they encounter, could make or break your company. We work with you to create the right communication and improve all aspects of it to help you create the best environment, leading to better working conditions, improved sales and great public relations.
Retreat information and sample schedule
5 day/4 night retreats. Each participant or couple will have a private room. Limit 8 participants or 4 couples.
Cost: $5,000 all inclusive retreat. Lodging, food, and all activities included. Retreats mix intensive one-on-one coaching and therapy with intimate small group healing experiences.
These week long events take you through the process of learning using Seth Atwater’s own personal method, External Experiential Processing, developed over the past decade while working with hundreds of women, couple’s, and businesses.
The retreats also incorporate healing through the atonement of Jesus Christ, and are designed to help women and couples who are members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. However, they are beneficial to people of all Christian religions and backgrounds. We believe that all true healing is brought about by turning to the Savior. Therefore, we will be directing you towards Him and His healing power.
The following is an example of a retreat schedule and gives a good idea of how we will be scheduling future events.
Retreat Schedule:
Monday: |
|
| 5:00 PM | Check-in |
| 6:00 PM | Dinner and Welcome |
| 7:-9:00 PM | One-on-One Sessions |
Tuesday: |
|
| 7:00 AM | Breakfast |
| 8:00 AM | Levels of Consciousness (group class) |
| 9-12:00 | Deerskin – Beginning & Background (intensive group experience) |
| 12:00 PM | Lunch |
| 1-4:00 PM | Deerskin – The Event (intensive group experience) |
| 4:00 PM | Change Wheel (group class) |
| 5:30 PM | Dinner |
| 6:30-9:30 PM | Informal Discussion |
Wednesday: |
|
| 7:00 AM | Breakfast |
| 8:00 AM | Levels of Motivation (group class) |
| 9-12:00 PM | Deerskin – Survival (intensive group experience) |
| 12:00 PM | Lunch |
| 1-4:00 PM | Group Activity |
| 4-7:00 PM | Deerskin – Living with the Trauma (intensive group experience) |
| 7:00 PM | Branson Belle Showboat and Dinner |
Thursday: |
|
| 8:00 AM | Breakfast |
| 9-11:00 AM | Deerskin, Healing (Intensive group experience) |
| 11:00 AM | Guided Meditation |
| 12:00 PM | Lunch |
| 1-5:00 PM | Deerskin, Healing (intensive group experience) |
| 5:00 PM | Dinner |
| 6-9:00 PM | One-on-One Sessions |
Friday: |
|
| 7:00 AM | Breakfast |
| 8:00 AM | Question & Answer session |
| 10:00 AM | Conclusion, Group Activity (group experience) |
| 12:00 PM | Drive to the Airport |
Showboat Branson Belle
For over 20 years, the Showboat Branson Belle has given guests a chance to leave their cares at the dock for two relaxing hours of adventure and entertainment. One of the most enticing features of a cruise aboard the Branson Belle is the opportunity to spend time on scenic Table Rock Lake.
An extended intermission between the meal and the beginning of the live show gives guests time to sit back, relax, and take in the scenic views. Whether you’re sitting in one of the comfy Adirondack chairs, strolling along one of the four grand decks, or looking through the window from your table, you’ll be able to enjoy the gorgeous scenery of the Ozarks from one of the most unique vantage points in Branson.
About the Book
Deerskin by Robin McKinley is a fantasy novel nominated for the Mythopoeic Fantasy Award for Adult Literature. It is based on the French fairy tale “Donkeyskin” and deals with deep psychological trauma to the heroine, Princess Lissar. Seth has used this book with hundreds of clients and has found reading, studying, and processing it with them to be a powerful experience. Using this book with his clients was foundational in developing his External Experiential Processing model. It is a moving and impressive story. Robin McKinley said of her book, in a personal email to Seth, “I am always very moved when I receive emails from survivors who have found Deerskin comforting and inspiring. I admit, I hoped when I gave it to my publisher that it would have this effect on readers who might need this help. Although I write what comes, not from any chosen mission–and I am really delighted to hear about a therapist who has found it useful with clients.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I bring children to the retreat?
Generally we try to make the retreat free from home environmental situation such as child care, house cleaning, work, etc. We do understand that some mothers have nursing children and cannot leave them for a full week. You can contact us on a case by case basis, if you as a parent have special needs. If we agree that a child should be brought to the retreat, we will offer childcare at an additional fee.
What should I bring?
Once you have signed up for a retreat we will get in contact with you and will give you further instructions as to what you will need to bring to the retreat.