Past Wild Haven Retreats
Every Wild Haven retreat tells a different story, but they all share the same intention: bringing helpers and healers together in extraordinary places to reconnect with themselves, each other, and the natural world.
Nature, Ritual and Renewal
July 12-17, 2026. Guanacaste, Costa Rica
Nature, Ritual & Renewal 2026 brought together therapists, and helping professionals for six days of learning, reflection, and connection in the mountains of Costa Rica. Through immersive experiences in nature, participants slowed down, reconnected with themselves, and discovered what becomes possible when professional development is paired with wonder, community, and the natural world.
Participants earned 11 NBCC continuing education credits through three experiential workshops: Somatic Work with Horses: Embodied Presence, Boundaries, and Nervous System Awareness; Nature, Attention and Awe: Practices for Well-being and Resilience; and Equine-Assisted Sand Tray: Symbolic Experiential Applications for Mental Health Professionals. Together, we explored the science of awe on a hike through a hidden cloud forest, experienced nervous system awareness through horses and energy field work, and discovered how symbolism can deepen insight through an equine-assisted sand tray process.
Beyond the educational sessions, the retreat offered countless moments of connection and renewal. The healing horses showed up for this group in remarkable ways, creating deeply moving experiences that participants continue to talk about long after returning home. We shared locally sourced meals with incredible volcanic views, soaked in luxurious hot springs, partnered with the local village to plant flowers in a children's park, and experienced a deeply restorative sound healing journey. As always, some of the most meaningful moments happened in the spaces between the planned activities—in conversations over coffee, quiet moments in nature, and the genuine sense of community that emerged among an incredible group of helpers and healers from around the country.
Beach Weekend 2026
Following the retreat, a small group extended the experience with two relaxing days on Costa Rica's beautiful Pacific coast. We explored hidden beaches by side-by-side ATV, sailed into the sunset on a private catamaran charter, and enjoyed slow mornings, ocean views, and time to simply rest and connect. It was the perfect way to integrate the week's experiences before returning home.
Words from our 2026 attendees
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This retreat was amazing. It provided the opportunity I needed to recharge, reset, and connect with like-minded professionals.
— Amy L. Attended Costa Rica 2026
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The Costa Rica retreat was life changing. It allowed me to learn more about the horses, but also about myself and see the world and others differently.
— Alison, Attended Costa Rica 2026
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I’ve returned home with a fuller heart, deeper connections, and a renewed commitment to creating more space for my own wellbeing.
— Kara C. Attended Costa Rica 2026
Nature, Ritual and Renewal
July 13-18, 2025. Guanacaste, Costa Rica
The experience was enriched by the rhythms of the ranch itself. We shared locally sourced traditional Costa Rican meals while watching toucans and oropendolas in the trees. Together we experienced a beautiful sound healing ceremony featuring cacao and locally grown herbal teas. We woke to horses waiting outside our rooms to greet us. We engaged in mindful movement and qi gong with the horses. It was a wonderful first retreat that inspired me to make Costa Rica an annual offering.
Nature, Ritual & Renewal 2025 marked the very first Wild Haven retreat, bringing together therapists and helping professionals in the highlands of Costa Rica for a week of experiential learning, reflection, and connection. Surrounded by the beauty of Tula Vida Ranch, participants stepped away from the demands of daily life to reconnect with themselves, one another, and the natural world while discovering new ways to bring nature into their clinical work.
Participants earned 10 NBCC continuing education credits through immersive workshops exploring ecotherapy, equine-assisted learning, and symbolic expression. During an introduction to ecotherapy, participants created nature altars using natural materials gathered on the land, discovering how ritual and relationship with place can support healing. Throughout the week, each participant partnered with a rescue horse to explore nervous system awareness, equine behavior, and Polyvagal Theory through direct, experiential learning. The retreat also included an equine-assisted sand tray experience, inviting participants to deepen self-awareness and meaning-making through symbolism and reflection.
“The Nature, Ritual, & Renewal retreat was a tender, nourishing, transformative experience. Much of the potent healing power of the experience emerged from unseen forces that move between animals, humans, and the elements of the Costa Rican mountainside. The practical elements - container, programming, learning, etc - were impeccable as well. Seamless harmony between natural and organized elements. I absolutely plan to return.”
— Becca B., attended Costa Rica 20252027 Retreats
Elemental Alchemy Portugal
May 17-23, 2027Elemental Alchemy is an immersive retreat for therapists who feel called to explore beyond the edges of traditional psychotherapy practice. Through somatics, IFS, nature-based practices, and the wisdom of the elements, you'll reconnect with your creativity, expand your clinical perspective, and experience the magic that happens when curious therapists gather together.
Nature, Ritual and Renewal Costa Rica
July 11-16, 2027We're returning to Costa Rica in 2027 for another unforgettable week of nature-based learning, nervous system restoration, and meaningful connection. Join the waitlist to be the first to hear when retreat details and registration are released.