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Compassion Focused Retreat - for therapists, by therapists.
 

A three-night residential retreat for therapists interested in Compassion Focused Therapy — offering space to step away from everyday demands and explore compassion for self through experiential practice, reflection, learning and connection with others.

13th - 16th April 2027 Pickwell Manor, North Devon

Meditating on the Beach

Compassion for therapists

A restorative three-night retreat for therapists interested in Compassion Focused Therapy, set at beautiful Pickwell Manor on the North Devon coast. Step away from everyday demands to explore compassion for self through CFT teaching, experiential practice and reflection, alongside yoga, breathwork, a sound bath, nourishing food and time in nature.

What the retreat will involve

  • CFT teaching

  • Experiential exercises

  • Morning and evening yoga

  • Breathwork

  • Sound bath and massage

  • Time in nature

  • Rest and reflection

  • Nourishing food

Image by DrematiNap

The experience

Heart, love and group hands for support, care and community with outdoor summer sunshine,

Compassion for Self is a three-night residential retreat for therapists interested in Compassion Focused Therapy, offering space to step away from everyday demands and experience compassion more personally.

The retreat will combine CFT teaching and experiential practice with breathwork, morning and evening yoga, a restorative sound bath with massage, time in nature and space for reflection. Where the weather allows, some practices may take place outdoors in the grounds of Pickwell Manor or on the nearby beach.

The days will be gently structured, balancing learning with rest, connection and time to enjoy the beautiful North Devon setting. For those who enjoy running, there may also be the option to join Andrea for one or two relaxed social runs, taking in some of the local countryside and coastal surroundings. These will be entirely optional, informal and paced to suit those who would like to join.

The emphasis throughout will be on developing a felt sense of compassion for self, exploring what can support or block it, and taking away practices that can be drawn on in both personal life and therapeutic work.

Location

Pickwell Manor is a beautiful country house set within six acres of gardens and grounds on the North Devon coast. Surrounded by rolling countryside and close to the sea, it offers a peaceful and spacious setting for stepping away from everyday life.

The manor has a wonderful Italian Garden, generous communal spaces and plenty of quieter corners for rest and reflection. From the grounds there is easy access to lovely local walks, including routes towards Putsborough and Croyde, with beautiful coastal scenery along the way.

Its combination of comfortable accommodation, gardens, countryside and nearby beaches makes Pickwell Manor a particularly special setting for a retreat focused on slowing down, reconnecting and making space for compassion.

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Accommodation

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Accommodation for the retreat will be within Pickwell Manor’s spacious apartments, each with a number of generously sized bedrooms and comfortable shared living areas.

Some bedrooms are available for shared occupancy, while others are available for single occupancy. Shared occupancy means sharing a bedroom with one other participant, while single occupancy means having a private bedroom within a shared apartment.

The apartment-style accommodation helps create a relaxed and sociable feel, with space to connect with others while still allowing plenty of opportunity for privacy and rest.

Single rooms are limited and subject to availability. If you are attending with a friend or colleague and would like to share together, please let us know when booking.

Retreat Pricing

​Standard Rate

From 1 February 2027

Shared occupancy
£1,250 per person

Single occupancy
£1,400 per person

​​Booking and payment

A £300 non-refundable deposit secures your place.

The remaining balance is payable in full by 16 February 2027, eight weeks before the retreat.

For bookings made on or after 16 February 2027, the full retreat fee is payable at the time of booking.

Single occupancy is limited and subject to availability.

A £300 non-refundable deposit secures your place. The remaining balance is due by 16 February 2027, eight weeks before the retreat. If you cancel before that date, any payments above the deposit will be refunded. From 16 February, the retreat fee is non-refundable unless your place can be filled by another participant. Full booking and cancellation terms will be provided at the time of booking.

Early Bird

Book by 31 January 2027

Shared occupancy
£1,100 per person

Single occupancy
£1,250 per person

What's included

  • 3 nights’ accommodation

  • CFT teaching and experiential sessions

  • yoga

  • breathwork

  • sound bath and massage

  • Walks/runs in nature

  • meals

  • use of grounds

  • CPD certificate

Arrival, travel and departure

  • Arrive from 12:30 pm on 13 April

  • Accommodation vacated by 10 am on 16 April

  • Retreat finishes by 12 noon on the 16 April

  • Optional lunch afterwards at The Rock

  • More travel details to follow

FAQs

Who is the retreat for?

The retreat is designed for therapists interested in Compassion Focused Therapy. You do not need to be an advanced CFT practitioner. The emphasis will be on experiential learning, reflection and exploring compassion for self in a supportive group setting.

What is included in the retreat?

Your retreat fee includes three nights' accommodation at Pickwell Manor, the CFT teaching and experiential programme, yoga and breathwork sessions, a restorative sound bath with a massage element, meals provided as part of the retreat programme, and use of the venue and grounds. A detailed programme will be shared nearer the time.

Will I receive CPD?

Yes. The retreat will include CPD and a certificate of attendance will be available after the retreat.

Can you accommodate dietary requirements?

Yes. We will ask you about dietary requirements and allergies before the retreat and will pass these on to our caterer. Please give us as much detail as possible, particularly if you have a medically significant allergy or require strict avoidance of particular ingredients. We will do our best to accommodate individual needs and will discuss anything with you in advance if necessary.

What about accessibility or mobility needs?

We want to make the retreat as accessible as we reasonably can. Pickwell Manor is a historic property and the accommodation is spread across different apartments, so access and stairs vary between rooms. If you have mobility, sensory or other accessibility requirements, please contact us before booking or before choosing your room so that we can discuss your needs with you and check the most appropriate accommodation and access arrangements with the venue. Please do not assume that every bedroom or activity space has step-free access.

Do I need to be experienced at yoga or breathwork?

No. The yoga and breathwork will be suitable for a range of experience levels and are intended to complement the retreat rather than feel like a fitness class. You are always welcome to adapt or opt out of a practice if something does not feel right for you. Please let us know in advance about any injuries or physical limitations that may affect participation.

Will any sessions take place outside?

We hope so. If the weather is kind, some yoga, breathwork or reflective practice may take place in the gardens or grounds and we may also make use of the nearby beach. Outdoor plans will always depend on the weather, safety and the needs of the group.

How do I get to Pickwell Manor?

Pickwell Manor is in Georgeham, North Devon (EX33 1LA). By car, the venue recommends travelling from M5 Junction 27 via the A361 towards Barnstaple, Braunton and then Georgeham. Full driving directions will be included in your joining information. If you are travelling by public transport, please let us know and we can help participants connect with one another where practical for shared taxis or lifts. We will provide more detailed travel suggestions nearer the retreat.

Is there parking?

Yes. Pickwell Manor has on-site parking. We will include any specific arrival and parking instructions in the joining information.

What time can I arrive and when will we leave?

You are welcome to arrive at Pickwell Manor from 12.30 pm on Tuesday 13 April, giving you time to settle in before the retreat begins. On Friday 16 April, you will need to be out of your accommodation by 10.00 am, and the retreat itself will finish by 12.00 pm. For anyone who would like to extend the time together a little longer, we are planning the option of going to The Rock for a lovely local pub lunch afterwards. More details will be shared nearer the time.

What should I bring?

Please bring comfortable clothes for indoor experiential work and yoga, layers for cooler mornings and evenings, a waterproof jacket, comfortable walking shoes or boots, and shoes suitable for the beach or grounds. You may also like to bring a journal or notebook, a reusable water bottle and a small day bag. Bath towels are provided by Pickwell Manor, but please bring your own beach towel if you think you may swim or spend time on the beach.

Do I need to bring a yoga mat?

We are planning for the yoga and wellbeing practitioners to provide or arrange the equipment needed for the sessions. We will confirm this in the joining information; you are welcome to bring your own mat if you prefer.

What is the accommodation like?

Accommodation is within Pickwell Manor's individual apartments. Shared occupancy means sharing an apartment and, depending on the room allocation, may involve sharing a bedroom. Single occupancy places are limited and subject to availability. We will provide room-allocation information before the retreat and will take reasonable preferences into account where we can.

Are bedding and towels provided?

Yes. Bed linen and bath towels are provided. Pickwell Manor asks guests to bring their own beach towels.

Is there Wi-Fi?

Yes. Pickwell Manor has fibre-optic Wi-Fi. We hope the retreat will offer an opportunity to step away from everyday demands, but you will be able to connect if needed.

Will there be free time?

Yes. We deliberately want the retreat to feel spacious rather than over-filled. There will be time between sessions to rest, walk, spend time in the gardens, visit the beach, journal, talk with others or simply have some quiet time.

Can I walk to the beach?

Yes. Putsborough is the nearest beach and can be reached via a scenic walk across the fields from Pickwell Manor. The surrounding area also offers lovely walking towards Georgeham, Croyde and the wider North Devon coast. Any group walks will be optional.

What if I do not want to take part in a particular experiential exercise?

The retreat is invitational rather than compulsory. Experiential work can be powerful, and you will be encouraged to look after yourself and make choices about your own level of participation. You can pause, modify or step out of an exercise if you need to.

Is this retreat therapy?

No. Although the retreat will draw on Compassion Focused Therapy and include experiential exercises, it is a professional and personal-development retreat rather than individual or group psychotherapy. Participants remain responsible for deciding what feels appropriate for them to engage with.

What happens if I need to cancel?

A £300 non-refundable deposit secures your place. The remaining balance is due by 16 February 2027, eight weeks before the retreat. If you cancel before that date, any payments above the deposit will be refunded. From 16 February, the retreat fee is non-refundable unless your place can be filled by another participant. Full booking and cancellation terms will be provided at the time of booking.

Should I take out travel insurance?

We strongly recommend arranging appropriate travel insurance when you book, with sufficient cancellation cover for the full cost of the retreat and any separate travel arrangements. It is your responsibility to check that the policy is suitable for your circumstances.

Who should I contact if I have another question?

Please contact Andrea with any questions about the retreat, accommodation, accessibility, dietary needs or booking. The dedicated retreat contact details will be included on the website and booking information.

More detailed joining information will be sent to participants nearer the retreat.

Contact Me

For any questions you have, you can reach me here:

Dr Andrea Herbert

Psychologist, HCPC - Clin. Psych.

(she, her)

Redland Psychology Services LTD

15 Whiteladies Road

Bristol BS8 1PB

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I cannot offer a crisis service.

If you are feeling suicidal or wanting to harm yourself, you should contact your GP or out of hours service, attend A&E, or contact a crisis line such as the Samaritans on 116123

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