Questions
Things people ask
If what you are wondering is not here, please just ask. There is no question too small, and no question that will put you on a mailing list you did not want.
Before you decide
What actually happens on the retreat?
The Home Within brings together trauma-informed therapeutic practice, mindfulness and restorative experiences in a beautiful natural setting. Across six nights there is daily yoga, meditation, group work, one day of psychedelic breathwork and a private boat excursion.
There is also deliberate space that is not filled with anything at all. Unstructured time for integration is part of the design, not a gap in it.
What does trauma-informed mean here?
It means the experience is built around safety rather than intensity. We pay attention to the nervous system, we move at a pace that lets people settle, and nobody is asked to share more than they want to share.
It also means we are not trying to fix anyone. Healing begins when we feel safe enough to rest, and supported enough to be seen.
Is this therapy?
No. Lisa and Monti are acting as coaches and facilitators on retreat, not as your therapists.
The retreats are designed to complement professional mental health care, not to replace it. If you are currently working with a therapist, we would encourage you to talk with them about joining us.
Who is this retreat for?
People who are craving a deeper connection with themselves, who feel burnt out or emotionally overwhelmed, and who are ready to slow down and make space for healing.
You do not need to have all the answers. You simply need to arrive with curiosity and a willingness to meet yourself exactly where you are.
Who is it not for?
This may not be the right fit if you are hoping someone will fix you, if you are looking for an intensive therapeutic intervention rather than a restorative retreat, or if you are currently experiencing active psychosis or another acute mental health crisis that needs specialised clinical support.
It is also not the right fit for anyone unwilling to engage respectfully within a shared community setting. Protecting the safety of the group matters more to us than filling a room.
Will I have to talk in front of everyone?
There is group work, and there is quiet reflection, and there is time alone. Being witnessed by others is part of what makes this experience what it is, but participation is an invitation rather than a requirement. You are welcome to arrive as you are.
Do I need to have done yoga or meditation before?
No. Everything is offered at a pace that welcomes beginners, and you are free to rest instead at any point.
The practical side
What is included in the cost?
Accommodation, all meals, tea and coffee, yoga, meditation and all group exercises, one day of psychedelic breathwork, a private boat excursion to Isla Tortuga and Playa Muertos, and your transfer from Cobano airport.
Coffee, teas and a featured natural fruit juice are made fresh daily. With lunch and dinner there is one glass of house wine, domestic beer or soda per person.
What is not included?
International flights to Costa Rica, travel insurance, optional excursions arranged through the hotel concierge, spa treatments, and anything beyond the included drinks with meals.
What does it cost?
A single room is $4,700 total per person, and there are only three available. A double room is $3,400 total per person.
Both are the full cost of the six-night, all-inclusive experience.
How do I get there?
The retreat is at Aves Hotel and Resort, in the hills above Montezuma town centre on the Nicoya Peninsula. Your transfer from Cobano airport is included in the cost of the retreat.
Once you have registered we will walk you through the travel details personally, including the flight into Cobano and what to expect on arrival.
What are the rooms like?
Aves is a twelve-unit eco-boutique hotel. The single room has a king-size bed and a queen sofa sleeper, a kitchenette, Wi-Fi, TV, air conditioning, a spacious private deck and a large outdoor sky shower nestled in nature.
The double room has a king-size bed or two twin beds, an additional loft with two twin beds, a kitchenette, Wi-Fi, TV, air conditioning and a spacious semi-private deck.
What is a Blue Zone?
Blue Zones are regions recognised for unusual longevity, and for the community and natural beauty that seem to go with it. The Nicoya Peninsula, where we will be, is one of them.
It is a fitting place to spend a week thinking about what a sustainable pace of living actually feels like.
How do I register?
Registration for The Home Within is open through our registration form. Once you have filled it in, we will be in touch personally to talk through fit, logistics and next steps.
What about the August 2027 retreat?
Rest & Renewal: Healing from the Loss of a Child will be held at Aves from 4 to 10 August 2027. The full details are still being developed.
There is no online checkout for it yet. If you send us a note, it comes straight to us and we will follow up personally as plans progress.
Still wondering something?
Write to us. It comes straight to Lisa and Monti, and one of us will answer personally.