PERSONAL RETREATS AND THERAPY INTENSIVES
at The Buddhist House
A personal retreat can provide opportunity for intensive reflection upon a life issue or personal dilemma, or for deepening spiritual practice under the guidance of one of the teachers in the Amida Order.
It can be an opportunity to experience the Amida approach to psychotherapy at first hand, to take time out of ordinary life, and to review aspects of your situation.
Personal retreats can be of any length but usually last between three and five days with daily therapy sessions or spiritual guidance sessions.
Sometimes both may be available, and sometimes we can also offer complementary therapies.
Usually we are happy to leave the agenda open and discuss your intentions when you arrive. It may be that you have a particular focus in mind or wish to explore an area of your life with a therapist.
On the other hand we can also offer particular formats. These might include:
- Daily therapy sessions focused on a particular issue, with the rest of the day free for you to walk, use the art room, using journalling exercises or rest.
- NeiQuan: a traditional life-review method based on standard questions used under the guidance of a guide
- Life review and biographical work:reflecting systematically on your own life or on that of someone else who has been significant in your life. You may wish to bring photos or other memorabilia to accompany this work.
- Nembutsu Intensive: a traditional Pureland practice involves chanting nembutsu continuously over a period of a number of days.
PRACTICALITIES:
If you are interested in attending a personal retreat or undertaking an intensive period of therapy, this can be arranged at The Buddhist House at times when other events are not taking place.
You may choose to have therapy sessions or spiritual interviews with Dharmavidya David Brazier or Caroline Prasada Brazier or with other members of the Amida community.
Rates will vary depending on who you see and how many sessions you book. It is possible to arrange sessions with an Amida student at a reduced rate.
Accommodation is additional and you will normally book a single room for this kind of retreat. You may eat with the community or may choose to take meals alone in your room. Your therapist or guide may advise you which is best.
FOLLOW UP:
A therapy retreat is intended to be an experience which is complete in itself. It is not a substitute for ongoing therapy, and if this is what you are really wanting, you may find it better to look elsewhere.
As a full time religious community we are able to offer an ongoing presence, however our members travel a lot and we cannot necessarily offer follow-up sessions with the same person.
If your life situation is particularly distressing or you have a history of mental health problems it may be best to discuss with us whether this approach is right for you.
On the other hand, if you have a good support network to go back to, an intensive therapeutic experience may be very helpful.
Enquiries about personal retreats should be sent to courses@amidatrust.com
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PERSONAL RETREATS ARE ALSO POSSIBLE IN FRANCE
At our centre in France we offer personal retreats. These can be taken in the house or in a hut in the woods.
Retreats may take a similar form to those offered in England, but they have the added benefit from the natural conditions.
Since the hut is unheated we recommend retreats take place in summer unless you are looking for a more personally challenging experience.
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