Training Retreat
Existential-Humanistic Therapy:
Principles of Practice
A hands-on five-night experiential residential course that offers skill development training in existential therapy practice.
Next Residential: May 21 – 26, 2026
Enrollment for 2026 is open!
When last offered in May, 2025
this course was approved for 26.25 continuing education credits*.
Two Enrollment Tracks for First Time Attendees
This residential training has multiple enrollment tracks including the introductory Foundations Certificate Program and the modular Experiential Training Retreat Program (enrolling for only the retreat module).
We ask that prospective attendees apply to the program that fits their needs best. The programs are open to both licensed therapeutic professionals and master’s/graduate students with clinical experience. International attendees are very welcome!
EHI Clinical Training Committee: Nance Reynolds, PhD, LCSW (Chair), Kirk Schneider, PhD (acting), Nader Shabahangi, PhD, MFT (sabbatical), Stephanie Weissman, PsyD and TA’s, Chris Bradshaw, PhD, LPC & Joshua Diliberto, LCMHC, NCC, RYT.
At the Training Retreat
During the Training
Experience how Existential-Humanistic therapy is practiced up close and personally
Come together in a facilitated and safe environment
Engage in intensive, immersive experiential learning
Gain existential psychotherapy training
EHI's Existential-Humanistic (E-H) Therapy Training
- Learn to build the therapeutic relationship using E-H skills
- Learn to work in the “here and now” with an E-H focus
A Focus on Experiential Learning
This training, which is the core of EHI’s educational programs, features a combination of relationship-building, learning of theoretical foundations, and first-hand experiences wherein theory comes to life. Learn & explore Existential-Humanistic Therapy, Existential Psychotherapy, and Existential-Integrative Therapy practices.
Instructors demonstrate their way of working with clients inviting commentary and participation.
Participants work in dyads and triads with each other, and receive direct feedback from an instructor as they work.
Experiential hands-on learning allows participants a way of personally understanding how work on themselves mirrors their ability to work with clients.
Attendees gain a deeper, more embodied sense of what existential-humanistic therapy has to offer.
Intensive
E-H Therapy
Skill Development
- identify meaning-making processes unfolding in the present moment,
- illuminate these “actual but often unrecognized” processes by cultivating intrapsychic and interpersonal presence,
- develop a safe, intimate, and healing therapeutic relationship,
- recognize and work with existential life issues which may be present but disguised, and
- recognize and work with transference and counter transference issues within an existential framework.
When & Where is the Next Training?
2026 Training Dates
May 21 – 26, 2026
The residential starts at 3:00 pm on the first day and ends after lunch at 2:30pm on the final day. There is a separate per person lodging fee for the residential.
The Location: Westerbeke Ranch in Sonoma, CA
Westerbeke Ranch is a beautiful retreat center on acres of land in the heart of Sonoma. Built in the 1930’s, the Ranch is a contemplative environment, nourishing to both body and soul.
Westerbeke as a retreat center has historic significance for our community, as it was the meeting place and preferred retreat destination for many of the seminal writers in Existential Humanistic theory and practice such as Rollo May and James Bugental. In addition to EHI keeping the tradition alive, an ongoing group of E-H authors, instructors and practitioners still meets there each year. This many decades later!
2 Enrollment Tracks for
the In-Person Training Retreat*
Track 1. EHI Certificate in Foundations
of Existential-Humanistic
Therapy Practice
For students looking to gain a foundation in Existential-Humanistic Therapy practice; annual experiential retreat & theory courses, and case consultation included.
Track 2. EHI Experiential
Training Course
(Participating in Just the Residential Retreat )
For new or returning attendees who want to attend the experiential training featured in the Certificate programs, no additional coursework. Consultation group optional.
Covid-19 Policies for May, 2026 Experiential Training Retreat*
*CURRENT UPDATE: EHI is an organization founded upon existential humanistic values, and we believe strongly in the importance of both personal and social responsibility. In the context of concerns about COVID-19, our intention is to address the issue in a way that values independence and interdependence and balances both freedom and responsibility. In that light, our safety protocols are listed below:
- To attend the May 2026 Experiential Training Retreat, attendees will need to bring three COVID-19 “at-home” antigen test kits with them to the training. Participants take one test on the first day, upon arrival at Westerbeke Ranch, and another on the third day. The result of these tests will be recorded by our staff.
- The third test kit is to be used if someone starts to experience symptoms of illness. If an attendee starts to experience symptoms of illness at any time during the training, we ask that you take an “at-home” antigen test and report your results to our staff.
- If an attendee tests positive for COVID-19 at any time during the training, you will obviously no longer be able to participate in the training, and we will discuss with you at that point the next best steps.
- Masks are not required, yet you are certainly free to wear one as we support personal choices made regarding mask-wearing.
- These protocols might change depending upon COVID-related conditions and CDC and local COVID-related guidelines around the time of the Experiential.
- In the spirit of communal care, we request that if a participant tests positive for COVID-19 in the days following their return home, to let us know so we can inform others that someone from the training has tested positive.
- All rooming is shared rooming- there are no private rooms at Westerbeke..
Questions?
Clinical Training Committee
Program Admin
Michelle V.
