Elemental Alchemy
A retreat for therapists ready to bring their magic out of hiding
May 17-23, 2027 Arrabida, Portugal
If you're a therapist or helping professional ready to reconnect with yourself, find meaningful community, and gain clarity about the life and work you want to create next, join us in Portugal for an immersive retreat designed to leave you feeling inspired, energized, and excited about what's possible.
Where Clarity Finds You
As twilight settles over the Portuguese countryside, you gather beneath the light of the full moon, surrounded by a circle of people who, only days ago, were strangers but now feel like lifelong friends. A gentle breeze carries the scent of wild herbs through the warm evening air as candlelight flickers between you. One by one, voices fill the silence—not with clinical case discussions or professional accomplishments, but with honest reflections about what you're finally ready to release.
For a moment, you aren't the therapist holding space for everyone else. You're simply a human being, held by the circle around you.
As the moon rises higher overhead, something begins to shift. The pressure to keep producing, caring, and striving starts to soften. In its place, you reconnect with the parts of yourself that have quietly waited beneath burnout and responsibility. Standing under the Portuguese sky, surrounded by people who understand the language of both science and soul, you realize you aren't leaving with all the answers. You're leaving with something even more valuable: the clarity, courage, and community to embrace whatever comes next.
Maybe This Feels Familiar…
You've spent years holding space for everyone else. You love your work—but lately, it feels like you're giving more than you're receiving. You're tired in a way that rest alone doesn't seem to fix.
You know there's more to healing than what happens inside four walls. You're drawn to nature, ritual, somatics, creativity, or other emerging approaches, but sometimes you wonder where you fit—or whether you'll truly be understood.
You crave conversations that go beyond small talk. The kind where someone shares an idea you've secretly been carrying, and instead of feeling "too much" or "too unconventional," you realize you're not the only one thinking this way.
You miss feeling inspired by your own life and work. You're ready to reconnect with your curiosity, trust your intuition, and rediscover what first called you to this profession.
Deep down, you know something wants to change. You want to wake up excited about what's next—you just need the space and the community to discover what that looks like.
An Invitation to Pause, Reflect, and Reimagine What’s Possible
Over an unforgettable week in Portugal, you'll step away from the demands of everyday life and into a thoughtfully designed experience that nourishes both the professional and the person behind the therapist.
Through engaging NBCC-approved continuing education workshops, inspiring guest speakers, and experiential learning, you'll explore emerging approaches to healing while earning CEs that support your professional growth.
Between sessions, you'll have space to slow down. Time to wander the coastline, share meaningful conversations over incredible meals, journal beneath ancient trees, and simply breathe. Because some of our greatest insights don't happen when we're trying harder—they happen when we finally have room to listen.
Throughout the week, you'll also be guided through experiences designed to help you make sense of what's been stirring inside you. Whether you're dreaming of integrating new approaches into your practice, creating something entirely new, or simply reconnecting with the work you love, you'll leave with greater clarity, renewed energy, and a vision for what comes next.
This isn't just a retreat. It's an investment in your growth—as a clinician, as a leader, and as a human.
Your Home in Portugal
Hidden among the rolling hills of Portugal's breathtaking Arrábida Natural Park, Quinta do Amor is a place that invites you to slow down the moment you arrive. Surrounded by 20 hectares of wild beauty, ancient cork trees, and flourishing fruit orchards, the property offers a rare sense of peace that's increasingly hard to find.
Inside, the Quinta is warm, earthy, and effortlessly inviting. Sunlight pours through charming gathering spaces designed for lingering conversations, quiet reflection, and the kind of connection that only happens when there's nowhere else you need to be.
Only 15 minutes from Portugal's dramatic coastline and award-winning beaches, Quinta do Amor beautifully balances rest, inspiration, and adventure—creating the perfect setting to reconnect with yourself and imagine what comes next.
The Oásis: Space to Rest and Restore
Just steps from the main house, the Oásis offers everything you need to recharge between workshops and adventures.
Float in the pool beneath the Portuguese sun, warm up in the sauna, take an invigorating cold plunge, or enjoy a friendly game of beach volleyball or tennis. Whether you crave movement or stillness, the Oásis offers space to care for your nervous system in whatever way feels most nourishing.
Because transformation isn't only found in learning—it's also found in giving yourself permission to rest.
The Barn…Where Ideas Come to Life
Our workshops and group gatherings will take place in the beautifully restored Barn—a spacious, light-filled space designed for learning, creativity, and connection.
Here, you'll earn continuing education credits, hear from inspiring guest speakers, participate in experiential workshops, and engage in the kinds of conversations that stretch your thinking and expand what's possible.
This isn't a traditional classroom. It's a place to explore new ideas, ask meaningful questions, and discover fresh possibilities for your work and your life.
The Art of Slow Meals
Some of the most memorable moments of the retreat won't happen in a workshop—they'll happen around the table.
Each day, we'll gather for meals thoughtfully prepared with fresh, locally sourced ingredients inspired by the gardens of Quinta do Amor. Fresh sourdough, vibrant salads, Portuguese specialties, and nourishing seasonal dishes are crafted to celebrate both the flavors of the region and the joy of gathering together.
Our meals are intentionally slow. We'll linger around the long outdoor table beneath the Portuguese sky, sharing stories, raising glasses of local wine, and savoring the simple pleasure of being fully present with one another.
Throughout your stay, you'll enjoy coffee, tea, fresh fruit, wholesome snacks, and filtered water, with an honesty bar offering Portuguese wines and other beverages in the evenings. Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and other dietary needs are happily accommodated.
Each day, you'll gather for vibrant, seasonal meals thoughtfully prepared with fresh, locally sourced ingredients inspired by the gardens and surrounding region.
Imagine crusty sourdough still warm from the oven, colorful salads layered with ripe vegetables and fragrant herbs, creamy burrata paired with sun-ripened tomatoes and sweet peaches, earthy mushroom risotto, vibrant rainbow curries, and beautifully prepared Portuguese specialties that celebrate the flavors of the region. Mornings begin with fresh fruit, local cheeses, homemade granola, rich coffee, and tea, while simple desserts, local honey, and wholesome snacks appear throughout the day as little moments of tasty nourishment between workshops and adventures.
Every meal is an invitation to slow down—to savor the flavors of Portugal, appreciate the care behind each dish, and experience the simple pleasure of being deeply nourished.
A Journey Through the Elements
Elemental Alchemy is an invitation to reconnect with yourself through the wisdom of the natural world and the rich culture of Portugal. Throughout the week, we'll explore the elements not just as parts of the landscape, but as reflections of our own inner experience.
We'll root into the wisdom of the Earth as we immerse ourselves in the cork forests and wild beauty of Arrábida Natural Park. Along Portugal's dramatic coastline, we'll embrace the renewing power of Water, culminating in a full moon ceremony of release and intention.
The element of Air invites fresh perspective through inspiring guest speakers, experiential CE workshops, and coaching conversations that help you imagine what's next. And through the warmth of Portuguese hospitality, local wine tasting, shared meals, and meaningful connection, we'll rekindle the Fire of creativity, curiosity, and possibility.
Woven throughout it all are moments of Spirit—ceremony, reflection, and spacious rest—inviting you to return home grounded, inspired, and deeply connected to yourself, your work, and the community you've found along the way.
What People Are Saying About Wild Haven Retreats
"Melissa led our group with her heart and soul and seems to have a natural gift at facilitating. I’ve been on many retreats but this one really brought me back home to myself, highly recommended."
-Kristen P. (Attended Costa Rica 2025)"The Nature, Ritual, & Renewal retreat was a tender, nourishing, transformative experience. Seamless harmony between natural and organized elements. I absolutely plan to return."
-Becca B. (Attended Costa Rica 2025)After This Retreat, You’ll Return Home With…
A renewed connection to yourself, your intuition, and the parts of you that have been buried beneath burnout and responsibility.
Greater clarity about the next chapter of your life and work.
NBCC-approved continuing education credits and practical ideas you can immediately integrate into your practice.
A community of like-minded therapists and helping professionals who will continue to support and inspire you long after the retreat ends.
Renewed confidence to create work and a life that feel more aligned with who you're becoming.
What’s Included
7 days / 6 nights accommodations at the beautiful Quinta do Amor in Portugal's Arrábida Natural Park
Daily breakfast, lunch, and dinner featuring fresh, seasonal cuisine prepared with locally sourced ingredients
Coffee, tea, filtered water, and nourishing snacks available throughout the retreat
NBCC-approved continuing education workshops
Sound healing ceremony
Private coastal boat excursion along Portugal's breathtaking Atlantic shoreline
Beach day at one of Europe's best beaches
Visit to a charming Portuguese village, including a local wine tasting
All transportation to included retreat excursions throughout the week
Round-trip group airport transportation from Lisbon Airport (LIS) on the designated arrival and departure days
Plenty of spacious free time to enjoy the pool, sauna, cold plunge, walking trails, and the peaceful beauty of Quinta do Amor
A thoughtfully curated retreat welcome gift
What’s Not Included
To help you plan your trip, the following items are not included in your retreat investment:
Airfare to and from Lisbon, Portugal (LIS)
Travel insurance (required)
Passport fees or other travel documentation
Alcoholic beverages from the Quinta do Amor honesty bar
One meal during our village outing, giving you the opportunity to explore local restaurants at your leisure
Personal purchases, souvenirs, and optional activities during free time
Tips and gratuities for local guides and drivers
“Melissa has a gentle, attentive presence as she seamlessly adapts to the needs of the moment. Whether adjusting plans in response to the weather or intuitively sensing the group's energy, she leads with both professionalism and heart. Her ability to go with the flow while holding space for each member creates a nurturing and transformative retreat experience.”
-Kristin A. (Attended Costa RIca 2025)Why Portugal?
For centuries, Portugal's western coast was regarded as the edge of the map—a place where the land ended, the Atlantic began, and endless horizons stretched toward the setting sun. It feels like the perfect place to pause, take a deep breath, and ask yourself: What might be waiting for me, too?
Nestled between the ancient cork forests of Arrábida Natural Park and the vast Atlantic Ocean, this landscape invites you to step away from the familiar rhythms of everyday life and into something quieter, slower, and more intuitive. Here, nature isn't simply a backdrop—it becomes a guide.
There's something quietly magical about this corner of Portugal. The dramatic coastline, timeless villages, and slower rhythm of life remind us that transformation doesn't always happen by pushing harder. Sometimes it begins by wandering a little farther, listening a little deeper, and remembering the parts of ourselves we've left behind.
Perhaps that's why Portugal feels like the right place for this retreat: where expansive landscapes and an unhurried pace create space for fresh perspective.
Choose Your Accomodations
Click on your preferred room type below to be taken to our secure checkout, where you can reserve your spot at Elemental Alchemy Portugal 2027.
Horizon Suite
Private king suite with an ensuite bathroom, offering the highest level of comfort and privacy. Ask for pricing for a shared suite.
Grove Room
Private room with a private or shared bathroom, perfect for those seeking a peaceful retreat with a balance of privacy and community.
Hearth Room
Shared room with one other guest and a shared bathroom, designed for connection, comfort, and an affordable retreat experience.
Meet Your Host
Hi, I'm Melissa Rosinski (she/her) founder of Wild Haven.
For many years, I did what so many therapists do—I poured myself into caring for others. I loved my work, but over time I realized I was craving something more. I wanted more connection, more creativity, more time in nature, and more space to explore what healing could look like beyond the four walls of a therapy office.
The turning point came when I began reconnecting with the natural world. As I explored somatic work, ecotherapy, ritual, and other nature-based practices, I found myself feeling more grounded, more curious, and more like myself again.
Around the same time, I noticed something when I attended conferences and trainings: I always ended up in conversations with therapists asking bigger questions about healing, purpose, and the future of our profession. Those conversations were full of possibility, and they always ended too soon.
So I created the retreat I wished existed.
Elemental Alchemy is a place to slow down, reconnect with yourself, and spend meaningful time with therapists who are asking many of the same questions you are. My hope is that you'll return home feeling inspired, supported, and excited about what's next—not only in your work, but in your life.
I can’t wait to meet you in Portugal!
Melissa Rosinski, LPC, SEP is an international retreat host, speaker, Somatic Experiencing Practitioner, founder of Wild Haven, and owner and clinical director of a group counseling practice in Tucson, Arizona. She holds a certificate in ecotherapy from Southwestern College and has spent years studying nature-based and non-Western healing practices, including Reiki, ritual, ceremony, and shamanic traditions.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Elemental Alchemy is designed primarily for licensed therapists, counselors, social workers, psychologists, and other helping professionals. If you work in a healing profession and feel called to this experience, you're welcome to reach out to discuss whether it's a good fit.
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Yes! This retreat includes NBCC-approved continuing education workshops. The total number of CEs and workshop schedule will be provided in the coming weeks.
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Absolutely. Most participants attend on their own. One of the most meaningful parts of the retreat is the genuine community that forms throughout the week.
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Quinta do Amor is happy to accommodate vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and most other dietary needs. You'll have an opportunity to share your preferences before the retreat.
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You have the option to pay full price up front, or you can choose to pay over time with ThrivePay Installments. ThrivePay Installments are interest-free and offer 3, 6, or 12 month payment plans. (Credit card required for installments.)
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Portugal is one of Europe's most welcoming and easy-to-navigate destinations. Before the retreat, you'll receive detailed travel guidance, including recommended flights, arrival instructions, and packing tips. Once you arrive at Lisbon Airport, we'll take care of the shared transportation to the retreat venue—after that, you can relax knowing the rest of your experience has been thoughtfully planned for you.
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Yes. Portugal is widely considered one of Europe’s more LGBTQ+ friendly destinations, with legal protections for LGBTQ+ people and a generally welcoming culture, especially in and around Lisbon. As with any international travel, experiences can vary by setting, but this retreat is intentionally designed to be inclusive, affirming, and welcoming for LGBTQ+ participants.
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You'll need a valid passport that remains valid for at least six months beyond your travel dates. Visa requirements vary by country, but travelers from many countries, including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and most of the EU, can currently visit Portugal for short stays without a visa. It's your responsibility to verify the entry requirements for your country before traveling.
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Choose your room type and click on the image or button to go directly to the registration/payment page.
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Cancellation policy: All payments include a $750 nonrefundable trip retainer.
Cancel on or before January 17, 2027 (120+ days before retreat) You will receive a full refund of all payments made, minus the $750 nonrefundable reservation retainer.
Cancel January 18 – February 16, 2027 (90–119 days before retreat) You will receive a 50% refund of payments made, minus the $750 nonrefundable reservation retainer.
After February 16, 2027 All retreat payments become nonrefundable.
Your Next Chapter Begins Here
If you've been searching for a space where curiosity is welcomed, meaningful conversations unfold naturally, and you don't have to leave parts of yourself at the door, this retreat was created for you.
Join us in Portugal to step away from the demands of everyday life, reconnect with yourself, and spend a week in the company of therapists who are asking many of the same questions you are. You'll return home with fresh perspective, meaningful community, practical tools, continuing education, and renewed excitement for what's next.
If your heart has been whispering, there's more...
I'd love to welcome you to Portugal.
