Burnout Prevention Climbing Retreat

August 3-5 & 10-12, 2023 at Brian Head, UT

Those who have worked in Wilderness Therapy know that being a caregiver for challenging clients can be mentally, physically and emotionally exhausting. How do you emotionally sustain yourself so you can continue to do the work that holds purpose for you?

At our Wilderness Guide retreat, we’ll explore concepts and tools that will increase your longevity and resilience in the face of the next challenging shift. We hope you’ll come and join other field guides to practice intentional movement through climbing, increase your ability to regulate your nervous system and find support for the challenging work of holding space for those in suffering.

What to Expect

During our three days together we will primarily focus on Group processing, Therapeutic Rock Climbing and Authentic Relating. As we co-create a group container, we will hold space as we hear the challenges and rewards of guiding others in the process of self discovery.

We will then offer climbing practices that connect to the concepts discussed in the processing group; this allows us to engage with the concepts explored in a intellectual, emotional and physical context. And we’ll get some sweet climbing in 🙂

Throughout the day we’ll offer Authentic Relating practices as well that facilitate meaningful conversation and interaction (as opposed to war-storying about your last shift).

The price to attend the 3 day retreat is $750.

A loose example of a day’s schedule would be as follows:

9:00 am: Meditation and Mindful Movement

9:30- 10:45 am: Journal Prompt and Group Processing

11:30- 5:30 (ish) Climb

6:00 pm: Return to camp, cook food, relax

7:15-8:30pm Group Processing

8:30-… Connect, play music, slackline, relax

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is this for? All are welcome. We aim to provide a safe, inclusive environment that is conducive to high emotional safety and the exploration of challenging past experiences. You may share as much or as little as you feel comfortable with. We do ask that you come with an open mind, a desire to lean into your emotional work and some stoke to go climbing. For most retreats, basic skills are necessary (tying in, belaying, lowering etc.). In the future we hope to offer full introductory courses for new climbers.

How is the climbing retreat therapeutic? As we bring attention to our thoughts and patterns that arise while climbing, we can start to inquire further of how those patterns show up in other ways in our lives. We generally prioritize two group processing circles each day (Morning and evening for one hour each). We will provide journaling prompts, meditations and group sharing to process how we interact with certain concepts (self acceptance, external validation, anger etc.). There will be many opportunities for group processing and we encourage open sharing and vulnerability within these spaces. You are welcome to share as much or as little as you feel comfortable with. We will process the day in camp and then there will be social games and time to relax in the evening.

How much climbing will we do? Ideally we get at least 6 hours of climbing each day. We want you to have plenty of “time under tension” to practice the concepts we process in camp.

Accommodation and food: This will vary depending on location and retreat. For most retreats expect to camp and bring your own food and kitchen (camp stoves, utensils etc.) We make an effort to reduce the cost of the retreat by not having catered food.

Necessary Skills: Basic skills are required for most of our current retreats. This is not an instructional course. We do offer a wide spectrum of flexibility depending on skill level. Whether top roping or leading 5.12, you’ll be able to find value in a therapeutic climbing retreat.

Can’t wait to see you out there 🙂