Depression Health Retreat

A Way into the Appreciation of Living....

Our experience is, and we believe there is a way out of depression and we are here to help you find your way.  You do not need to be alone in it.  We will be on your side when you laugh and when you cry.  We want you to feel safe, comfortable, cared for and supported during your stay and afterwards while we maintain our contact with you.

We would like you to know that you are very welcome to contact us with any questions you may have and to share some of what is going on for you because we are here to help and this is what we're all about.

It is important to know that, you are not the Depression, and the Depression is not you and that Depression can be temporary.  This statement will become a lot clearer when you come on Retreat with us.

Our commitment to you is to teach you and facilitate a programme that provides you with tools and experiences that can help you to get out of depression and grow into a greater state of appreciation for your life and how it unfolds.

We understand Depression to be a psychological state triggered by a particular perspective on life (how one perceives their life).  For Depression to lift one needs to correct that psychological state to recover and regain an appreciative interest in life. 

When people really take hold of the education offered here (with the support of the other treatments involved) and discover for themselves what may have led to depression and get to learn a way to correct the belief systems associated with depression, they have made significant changes in their life and together with ongoing support and applying what they have learnt they are able to appreciate living and everyday life and who they are.  

We have put this programme together based on our learning, research and experience in bringing treatments, therapies (and therapists) and teachings together in such a way we believe allows our guests the greatest opportunity to recover.

Depression Health Retreat

We invite you to talk to a past guest who has attended a similar retreat to the one your are considering, to get a better idea about what you might expect by coming on retreat with us.  We are very happy to arrange this for you.   Please let us what we can do to make you feel more comfortable with your decision to come on retreat with us.  

We cater for one retreat guest at a time.  It is a personalised individual retreat focused on your personal development. You live in with us and we are available at all times.

Your retreat is private and confidential meaning that your personal information is not disclosed to anyone else except those who you share it with.  It is focused on high quality, professional treatments and therapies to support your recovery from depression.

The minimum stay is 7 days living onsite with us with follow up support.  A maximum of 21 days living onsite with us with further extensions may be arranged by mutual agreement and is subject to availability. If you have at least average health and feel you have enough physical energy, we highly recommend that you do a Detox Health Retreat and let us know that your main focus for this retreat would be to recover from Depression.

Retreats include a range of activities and therapies to assist you including ...

• Life coaching.  A purposeful series of life coaching sessions where together we look into what existing belief systems you have that are likely to cause psychological stress and your current health conditions (depression).  We can very quickly discover this by hearing some of the stories you tell and how you tell them.  We teach you common ways of thinking that can lead to depression and psychological stress.  We address the causes of psychological stress from belief systems that are common is society that are based on achievement, fear of missing out, that things should be different and that self worth is measured by achievements and the value of your contribution to society and in your own life, and how it is measured by others.  We then teach you how you may neutralise it and grow and develop into the appreciation of life and living.
• Transforming Breathwork to help release past emotional trauma resulting from life experiences which may still be causing psychological stress.  Bringing them to the surface will assist in allowing new information to be integrated into the mind and body.  This may then become a tool that you can learn and use in your everyday life.
• "The Journey" sessions are emotional healing sessions that bring forth from your subconscious mind and into your conscious awareness the relevant issues and past memories which still cause unknown psychological stress in the body and mind.  This guided process is done in a safe and self observing way.  The results can be remarkable with change starting to happen straight away and further improvement with time.  (We recommend you read the book prior to arrival although it is not necessary.  The name of the book is, "The Journey" by Brandon Bays.  Most public libraries and major book stores have this book available). 
• Remedial massage.  These are remedial massages to support detoxifying your physical body and relaxation.
• Exercise.  We will encourage you to take part in exercise that suits your current health level while you are on retreat.  Our highest recommendation for exercise if practical for you is to attend yoga classes (extra cost for the classes will apply).   As with our retreats, using the breath is the main focus and so is the practice of calming a stressed mind and finding practical ways to do this.  Yoga sessions can assist you in opening your body and mind to a greater appreciation of being alive.

Feedback from some of our past guests

"I have been to a number of personal development courses in a professional environment. The 7 days I spent at the retreat would be by far the best personal development course I have ever been on. I arrived at the retreat on medication with high anxiety, burn out and with mild depression. In 7 days I made a full recovery without medication. It has now been a month since my retreat.  I have learnt so much about myself, changed some of my belief systems and now look at life in a completely different way. I would highly recommend this retreat to anyone. James, South Island, NZ "Thank you so much for my wonderful, transformative retreat!!  I had a truly amazing time and feel I have had some very deep and profound healing.  Thank you for welcoming me into your home with such love and acceptance.  It is so rare to meet such warm, friendly, joyful, wise, humorous, gentle, loving and non-judgemental people as you!!  I can't wait to come back again!" Sarah, Whangarei   "I just wanted to write and tell you how my first week has gone since the retreat.  I am so happy and at peace within myself it is incredible.  I can't remember the last time I felt like this, if ever!  This has been the most wonderful, awakening experience in my life!  I feel at peace with everything.  I even called my birth mother and finished the conversation with 'I love you too Mum,' and meant it.  I may not have the same connection as I have with my stepmother and doubt I ever will again, but I am at peace.  I can't thank you both enough for this wonderful peacefulness you have helped bring into my life.  The world is a very lucky place to have two beautiful people as yourselves." Rachel, Auckland

Live-In Depression Health Retreats are individually designed to bring together supporting treatments and therapies which we have found helpful in healing anxiety.

Your retreat is all about you and we encourage you to focus only on you.  Inform your family and friends that you are away on retreat and not available during that time.

Our involvement is of the nature of guide, coach, facilitator, educator, supporter and teacher and it is in this function we specialise in. We do our best to create a safe and supportive environment in which you can experience emotional, deep level healing and personal development.

Our offering to you is comprised of a holistic, multi-faceted approach supporting your healing experience and tailored to your original decision to heal.

Retreat Options 

Value towards your Personal Development and Appreciation of Living

	What is included
7 days / 6 nights	Short Intensive Retreat This short intensive retreat is most suitable for people who may be experiencing mild to moderate depression and still mainly coping with life.  We recommend that you have a quiet week afterwards (like an at home retreat) with plenty of time for yourself to continue absorbing and putting into practice what you will learn here.  It is important that you will be returning to a supportive environment after this short intensive retreat.  You will gain many resources while on our retreats and time and sometimes patience is needed to apply and experience them once you leave. Accommodation - your own room with en suite and queen sized bed.  All meals.  Local Outings (e.g., walks and hot pools).  Airport and bus terminal transfers.  Transport to and from outings. 4 Life Coaching Sessions (approx. 2 hours each) 2 Transforming Breathwork sessions (approx. 2 hours each) 1 "The Journey" therapy 2 Full body massages Meditation and exercise  Regular follow up calls for up to three months (upon agreement).  You will gain many resources while on our retreats and time and sometimes patience is needed to apply and experience them once your leave. We recognise it to be extremely important to have easy access to support once you go back into the environment you came from just to help guide you and answer some of the questions that are likely to come up in relationship to what you have learnt and experienced and how to apply it in your life.
14 days / 13 nights	Comprehensive Health Retreat Accommodation - own room with en suite and queen sized bed.  All meals.  Outings (e.g., walks and hot pools).  Local airport and bus terminal transfers.  Transport to and from outings. 1 full day outing to local or regional natural attractions. E.g. Tarawera Falls, Rotorua Lakes,    OR An optional outing that creates the "Wow" factor for you, e.g. skydiving, swimming with dolphins (in season) , four wheel driving, aeroplane acrobatic flight, white water rafting (these activities come as an extra cost and are subject to seasons, weather and availability). We can discuss this when you make your booking.  The photo shows one of our guests experiencing the Wow Factor. What is your Wow Factor?  OR Regional Tourist Attractions, e.g., Rainbow Springs in Rotorua, Whakarewarewa, a Maori concert, (Entrance fees are extra costs to you that will be paid directly upon visiting). 5 Life Coaching Sessions 5 (minimum) Transforming Breathwork sessions 1 "The Journey" therapy 3 Full body massages We may recommend extra treatments that we can arrange for you upon mutual consent when we fine tune your programme. Meditation and exercise Regular follow up calls for up to three months (upon agreement).  You will gain many resources while on our retreats and time and sometimes patience is needed to apply and experience them once your leave. We recognise it to be extremely important to have easy access to support once you go back into the environment you came from just to help guide you and answer some of the questions that are likely to come up in relationship to what you have learnt and experienced and how to apply it in your life.
21 days / 20 nights	Dedicated Health Retreat Accommodation - own room with en suite and queen sized bed.  All meals.  Outings (e.g., walks and hot pools).  Local airport and bus terminal transfers.  Transport to and from outings. 2 full day outings from the following options: To visit local or regional natural attractions. E.g. Tarawera Falls, Rotorua Lakes,   OR  To participate in something that creates the "Wow" factor for you, e.g. skydiving, swimming with dolphins, four wheel driving, aeroplane acrobatic flight, white water rafting (these activities come as an extra cost and are subject to seasons, weather and availability). We can discuss this when you make your booking, OR Regional Tourist Attractions, e.g., Rainbow Springs in Rotorua, Whakarewarewa, a Maori concert, (Entrance fees are extra costs to you that will be paid directly upon visiting). 7 Life Coaching Sessions 7 (minimum) Transforming Breathwork sessions 2 "The "Journey" therapy 4 Full body massages We may recommend extra treatments that we can arrange for you upon mutual consent when we fine tune your programme. Meditation and exercise  Regular follow up calls for up to three months (upon agreement).  You will gain many resources while on our retreats and time and sometimes patience is needed to apply and experience them once your leave. We recognise it to be extremely important to have easy access to support once you go back into the environment you came from just to help guide you and answer some of the questions that are likely to come up in relationship to what you have learnt and experienced and how to apply it in your life.

If you decide to add other treatments and therapies after your arrival we will do our best to organise it for you so long as it does not encroach on your existing programme.

What to bring

• Walking shoes (2 pairs as one may get wet)
• Light sports wear
• Rain jacket
• Comfortable clothing for both warm and cooler weather
• Loose clothing for exercising (eg. track pants, t-shirt, yoga pants)
• Toiletries
• Swimwear
• Slippers for inside
• A journal or paper and pen
• Golf equipment including shoes if you intend to play golf and are on more than a 7 day programme. Equipment can also be hired (except golf shoes - trainers with low profile soles only are allowed).

Retreat Guidelines

The property is smoke free, drug free (excluding prescribed drugs) and meat free. 

Cell phones are not to be used while on retreat.  We can receive urgent or important messages on your behalf on our phone line.  If required, we can call back on your behalf.  If you do bring a cell phone or laptop, we will look after it for you and give them back before you leave).  Lap tops are not to be used for personal use.  An exception for any urgent business matters can be made and time set aside for that purpose.

Our laundry and laundry products are made available for your use.

Leaving the premises needs to be arranged with us.

Respectful communication.  The aim is to communicate as honestly and openly about anything that helps us to help you.

There will be no access to watching television or listening to radio during your visit, however we do make selected DVD's available for your viewing and relaxing musical CD's available.  You are welcome to bring CD's that are relaxing and life affirming to be played quietly in your bedroom. 

Things not to bring:

• Cigarettes - this could be your opportunity (if you are a smoker)to give them up.  If you cannot possibly go without them, as long as you respect our smoke free property environment, you may smoke cigarettes off premises as infrequently as possible. 
• Non-prescription drugs
• Alcohol
• I-pods
• Magazines and books (unless relevant and supportive of your retreat).  Please ask us if you are unsure.
• Preferably, no cell phones or laptops.

We are compassionate people and easy to get along with.  We do recognise that changing your present lifestyle can be difficult and you might encounter some feelings of withdrawal from substances, people or routines.  We are here to support you so you can dedicate the time you spend with us entirely to your retreat programme and your goals.

Contact Us ...

Phone outside of New Zealand: +64 27 575 8239 (Mobile)

Phone within New Zealand: (027) 575 8239 (Mobile)

To ask any further questions... or to arrange a time with us to so we can discuss the best programme for you either by phone, or a pre-retreat visit if practical and possible.

You may ask, "Why bother possessing goals?" My answer would be, "That all depends upon your understanding of the purpose of goals!" When you have learnt the correct purpose of goals, it will then be possible for the clouds of depression to lift.  

Greg Neville, N.D.