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Psychology services by Dr Abigail Barragry
CREATIVE CONNECTIONS
WELLNESS RETREAT
BOTE FARM, ALBANIA: 5th - 11th October 2023
Connecting body, mind and soul
ABOUT
My retreats are designed to be full body-mind-soul connective experiences. Unlike your typical yoga retreats, my programs offer a variety of creative and therapeutic methods along with body and breath work. Deeper reflection is balanced by the lightness of play, something that is so important but which ofen gets lost in our busy lives. In this way this retreat will help you to reconnect to your body, your inner power and your authentic self.
THE LOCATION
We will be immersed in a paradise of beautiful landscape, animals, the sky and water of the eco pool. A stones throw away from the Ioanan sea, the retreat venue is located just north of Greece and just east of Italy. Albania is in the Mediterranean filled with olive groves and clear blue water. The farm is 16.5 acres of peace and breathtaking views. There is an outdoor yoga platform near the eco pool that uses no chemicals but cleans the water through laguna plants. This is a retreat venue and real farm, growing farm-to-table vegetables and homing rescue farm animals (goats, chickens, ducks, honeybees and a donkey!). Throughout the farm, there are small seating areas with umbrellas where you can sit and listen to the sheep bells as the herds pass by. The main dining area is under the 'magic' table that seems to float in mid-air. The rooms have robes and the pool has plush towels. There is a firepit for a special evening and a sky full of stars.
Here are a few images to give you a feel for our retreat...
THE PROGRAMME
This is not therapy, although it will be therapeutic. We will all come with our own strengths and difficulties and take from this time what it is we need.
Modalities include:
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Inner-child work
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Combined creative arts (movement, art and written word)
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Connections to nature
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Embodiment (breath and body work to ground into your body)
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Play
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Mindfulness
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Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
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Compassion focused therapy
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Narrative Therapy
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Psychoeducation
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Trauma informed practice
In addition to the on-site daily wellness program, we will enjoy so much more throughout the week. This includes excursions to historical sights, to the beach and enjoying ‘farm to plate’ on the allotment and with an Albanian cooking class. Also included for each person is a massage at a time to suit you! There will still be plenty of time for relaxing and journaling, or SUP for those feeling really adventurous!
Sample of schedule
Day 1
Landing and grouding
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Explore the area- farm, pool, vegetable gardens, yoga spaces
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Games and play-based activities for connecting and landing.
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Creating your own unique essential oil blend
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Setting intentions
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Dinner on the table in the sky
Day 2
Values and blocks
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Breakfast
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Salutations to the sun yoga
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Values: Exploring values, blocks, acceptance and willingness
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Lunch
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Chill, and journaling time
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Practical activity 2 (the playful part!)
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Free time
Day 3
Inner-child connection
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Breakfast
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Inner Child: Using art, play and written word to explore strengths and ‘stucks’ to integrate the adult self with the younger you.
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Optional excursion / SUP : exploring and adventuring
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Dinner
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Free time
Day 4
The power of narratives
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Pyjama breakfast
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Self-narratives- do they serve you? Choosing your own story
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Games on Bote farm / Goat herd hill trekking
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Dinner
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Yoga Nidra / starlight meditation
Day 5
Fostering self-compassion
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Breakfast
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Self-compassion and the right to be you
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Massages
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Albanian cooking class
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Free time
Day 6
Gratitude
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Gratitude body and breath work
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Breakfast
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Gratitude and heart-gifts including using quick dry clay
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Creativity, journaling and free time
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Dinner and fire circle
Day 7
Endings
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Breakfast
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Goodbye circle
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Travel home!
*This program is subject to change based upon extra’s available, weather and group requests. There is no obligation to join everything. Your time, space and holiday are all valid. You can take as much or little as feels right for you.
THE ACCOMMODATION
There are six luxury villas that can sleep up to four people each. There is a bedroom downstairs with one double bed and a sleeping loft above with two single or one double. There is a small kitchen and unique bathroom. Each unit has been designed with its own theme: Asian, Elements, Hollywood, Space, Hacienda and Austin Powers. Two of the units have swing chairs. There is an ecopool for all to use and it is a short drive from the sea.
'Botë' means 'world' in Albanian, and was created with imagining a place where people from all over the world can come together and share in language, food and spirit. The land is nestled in the foothills of an archeological park and the hadn't been farmed in hundreds of years. It has now been transfromed into a bustling ecosystem.
See pictures for more of an idea!
OR CLICK THIS LINK
Botë Farms | Breathtaking Albanian Countryside | Retreats (botefarms.com)
WHAT'S INCLUDED?
The price includes:
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Accommodation luxurious glass fronted villas with either your own room or shared with one other person
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Daily program of Creative Connections on the farm
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Individual massage
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Yoga on the beach session
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Essential oils to create your own unique blend
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Art materials
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Full board of Mediterranean inspired farm to plate vegetarian cuisine
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Albanian cooking class
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One day tour excursions
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Optional SUP at the beach (10E pp)
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Access to the eco-pool with towels
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Robes in villas
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Fire circle
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Journal and free farm time
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Airport transfers
READY TO JOIN US?
The prices here include all 6 nights full board in luxurious accommodation, daily Creative Connections wellness program, extra excursions and activities and everything you have seen in the list above. All you need is to get yourself here and we will do the rest!
*Early bird offer pay deposit by May 31st!
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Single occupancy private room = £1400pp Early bird. £1500pp after
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Single in loft = £1200pp Early bird. £1300 after
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Twin sharing loft = £1000pp Early bird. £1100pp after.
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Double bed share in private room = £900pp per person Early bird. £1000pp after.
Payments can be made in three separate instalments. A £150 deposit is required to secure your place.
For further information, please contact me:
abi@abigailbarragrypsychologies.com
(+44) 07807 011 184
FAQs
Who is the retreat for?
Anyone who has a burning desire for adventure, new experiences and to prioritise self-care. There are no physical requirements, and I am able to hold the space for anyone who needs it. Let me know if you have any physical difficulties or triggers.
What is body and breath work?
This is an integration of yoga, mindful movement, self-massage and breathwork for grounding an energising. There are no requirements to be physically fit, only a desire to connect to your body.
Do I need any experience?
You don’t need any experience in body and breath work or in the creative modalities we will use. The retreat is adaptable to all levels of physical fitness. You just need an open heart and mind.
Will I have free time?
Yes! Included in the program will be daily opportunities to explore, take some time out and do whatever you feel you need.
What is your Cancellation Policy?
Places are non-refundable, unless there is someone to take your place found by either myself or by you.
Are you insured?
I hold full insurance for offering therapeutic and body work modalities. However, you will need to secure travel insurance for this trip.
How do we get there?
There are two options to get to Bote Farms. The nearest Albania town is called Saranda and it has daily ferries to and from Corfu, Greece. The ferry takes about 25 minutes and we can pick people up at the ferry. Alternatively, the main airport in Albania is the Tirana International airport. We are located approximately 3.5 hours from the airport. We can arrange transportation or the use of our tour bus for airport transfers. We like for guests to have a homemade snack on the way to see us or for their ride home. If including airport transfers we can arrange for yoga stretch stops along the way.
About me
My aim is to help individuals to live with vitality, and to move from ‘surviving’ to ‘thriving’.
I specialise in helping individuals connect to their values and integrate body and mind.
I have many years of experience working around the world, devising creative programs and constantly learning as I go. Having faced significant trauma in the past myself, I understand the journeys healing can take us all on.
My approach connects people back to their playful side, their inner child, to nature and their authentic selves.
‘We don’t stop playing because we get old, we get old because we stop playing’ – George Bernard Shaw
Read more about me here: About me | Abigail Barragry Psychologies