Finding Peace in the Peace

Couples Retreat

Choosing Change is pleased to collaborate with Wild and Co. Wellness, Seeds of Change and our equine partners to bring decades of professional mental wellness experience to this unique, couples retreat in our serene country setting.

Dates to choose from:

July 27-30, 2023

August 18-21, 2023

Book Now

Or Call to Book: 780-527-5566

What to Expect

This retreat is meant for couples looking to reconnect, rejuvenate and reignite! Are you having trouble communicating? Are you walking away from interactions feeling un-heard, dismissed, or misunderstood? Do you wonder where the love, the passion, the intimacy has gone? Do you miss the best friend you once had in your partner? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then this is the perfect retreat for you and your partner. Your highly trained human facilitators, Charis, Shelley and Jellie , along with our horse partners are here to gently support you as you find each other again. We will put down our devices, bring awareness to ourselves, the nature around us, and the horses which allows us to rediscover what it feels like to just 'be' with the one you love instead of feeling the pressure to 'do'.

Bring your RV, holiday trailer or tent and join us in the scenic Peace River country. We are located on a 148 acre parcel of land offering tranquil refuge from the hectic pace of today's world. You will find ample space to set up your own little camping spot and settle in for 4 days of relaxation and enlightenment. Don't own an RV, or prefer not to haul your camping unit to us? No problem, we can assist with securing a rental RV and have it set up and ready for your arrival.

What is included in the fees:

RV or tent space. Free water fill of your RV. Power can be arranged for an additional fee.
Support and guidance of three highly trained and experienced mental health and equine professionals that will be with you on-site each day to ensure you and your partner get the most out of your time here.
Private sessions tailored to each couple's unique areas of focus which is determined and prepared before your arrival through an online assessment process. Sessions are facilitated by Masters level Clinical Counsellors, who are trained in couples connection and therapy.
8 hours of Equine-Facilitated group sessions
3 hour group Breathwork session focusing on intimacy and connection, facilitated by certified coach
Continental style breakfast each morning
Catered lunches each day
One catered supper prepared by local chefs
Bonfire each night
Walking paths through the trees with a bench to sit on and soak in nature
Saskatoon u-pick to enjoy unlimited while in season!

Book Now

FAQs

1) Q- Do we need to have prior experience with horses?

A - No! We will have qualified equine professionals on-site to guide you through basic horsemanship knowledge to help you feel comfortable. These facilitators will always be close at hand during interactions with the horses to help keep you safe at all times.

2) Q - We are not really camping people. Do we have to camp and stay on-site?

A - No. You are welcome to enjoy any of our local accommodations, and we can recommend a few great stays if you need help finding something.

3) Q - How long are the days and will get any free time?

A - A detailed schedule will be provided to you before your arrival, but typically we will meet for breakfast at 8:30am each day and finish our afternoon sessions by 5:30pm. Each couple will also enjoy one free morning to have to themselves as well as the evenings to explore the beautiful Peace Country, relax around our bonfire, or visit the walking trails on site. We are also 2 km from a provincial park with more walking trails and two stocked trout ponds. Need more ideas of things to do? Check out Mighty Peace Tourism for some great activities, good eats, and memorable sights to see.

4) Q - Are there other animals on the property?

A- Yes, we have three friendly dogs who may want to accompany you on your nature walks if you invite them, as well as cattle grazing in the pasture.

5) Q - What if we want to stay longer?

A - Wonderful! We are only a short drive from several beautiful campsites. From lakes, for boating and fishing to scenic river valley vistas we have so much to explore. We would be happy to assist with recommendations of areas to stay in order to extend your time in the beautiful Peace country.

6) Q - Can we bring our four-legged family member with us?

A - Unfortunately not. This property is the home and sanctuary to our three dogs and as such, we honour their safety and sense of security by keeping it just for them. And.... our insurance companies will not allow unknown animals on the property when therapy sessions are taking place.

7) Q - How many couples will be at the retreat?

A - Space is limited to only 8 couples per retreat in order to give each of you the time and and focus you deserve.

Other questions? No problem. Send us a text or an email so that we can help determine if this is the right fit for you and your partner.

Mail

Phone

Meet Your Human Facilitators

Charis Nepinak, MACP, CCC

Charis is the owner and operator of Choosing Change Counselling Services. As a commercial pilot for twenty-six years, Charis has wide range of lived experiences that she brings to her current career as a Clinical Counsellor. With a Masters in Counselling Psychology, Charis focuses on work with couples, families, and individuals. Her work with couples is guided by her studies of the Gottman couples method and she has completed level 2 of the Gottman method training. Growing up in rural Alberta, horses have always been an important part of her life. Combining her passion to help others with her awe and appreciation for horses, she completed Focus level training through Pro EFW Canada for Equine-Facilitated Therapy certification and is pleased to be able to offer Equine-Assisted Therapy with her amazing horse partners.

Shelley Lauze, MACP, BCYC, CCC, PhD (Candidate)

As the sole proprietor of Seeds of Change: Therapeutic & Developmental Consultation Services and an advanced practitioner in trauma therapy, Shelley combines her passion for learning along with her dedication toward fostering positive mental health and wellness. She offers an empathic approach of connecting with clients whose historical or current experiences render moderate to complex disturbances in their quality of life. Shelley has over 25 years in the helping profession, which evolved into her current field following the loss of her brother to suicide after battling depression and anxiety in 2004. Through personal and professional experience, Shelley has vowed to create positive change in societal perceptions of mental health and she is committed to offering a culturally responsive and socially just practice. An avid reader, learner and researcher, Shelley has emersed herself into her work and she is along the way to being recognized as a PhD graduate upon publishing her work.

Jellie Borger, EAL certified through EGALA

Jellie Borger was born in the Netherlands, but moved to Canada when she was 12. It was her father’s passion that drew her into horses, and a horse's ability that kept her hooked. In the last 20 years, horses have been a very important part of her life. From training, teaching riding lessons, competitions, and facilitating equine assisted interventions, Jellie has found that in life, connecting with animals and the land is very important for all of us. Having a passion for helping people, and helping them find their way in life, led her to complete training in Calgary & California under the EGALA umbrella to be able to offer Equine assisted education. Jellie provides a variety of services from one on one sessions, team building exercises, couple's interventions, and school groups. From a very young age, she has been amazed at the horse's ability to heal trauma and help us find ways to move through pain, big or small. Horses know what we need in order to move forward from anything that has been holding us back. The way the horse can immediately get to the root of an issue, and show us in a nonverbal way, the steps we can take, is why Jellie loves working with horses.