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 22 – 26, 2025
Programs Update: Enrollment has filled for 2025.
Please email us or use our contact form to inquire about how to join the 2025 waitlist.
Our next experiential is scheduled for May 21-26, 2026.
Enrollment for 2026 opens August of 2025.
When last offered in May this course was approved for 29.5 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 (just 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 graduate students. International attendees are very welcome!
EHI Co Directors of Clinical Training: Nance Reynolds, PhD, LCSW and Kirk Schneider, PhD (acting) Nader Shabahangi, PhD, MFT (sabbatical)
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?
2025 Training Dates
May 22 – 27, 2025
The residential starts at 3:00 pm on the first day and ends after lunch at 2:30pm on the final day.
The Location: Westerbeke Ranch in Sonoma, CA
Staying at Westerbeke Ranch in 2022
What will be different about staying at Westerbeke Ranch this year?
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!
- Back to regular training set up; we will share the Ranch with another group.
- Rooming: Cabin Rooms are shared and attendees will share with 1 other(updated 3/20/2022); bathroom attached to each room.
- Meals: The meals are served family style buffet. The team are dedicated to providing omnivores, vegetarians and vegans wonderful local nutritious foods. They will always be careful with regards to allergy safety.
- Carpooling: We always encourage carpooling up to the Ranch and will facilitate connections between attendees this year too!
How Can I Enroll in This Experiential Training?
The residential training has multiple enrollment tracks including the introductory Foundations Certificate Program and the modular Experiential Training Retreat Program (just 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 graduate students. International attendees are very welcome!
This Training Available via Two Enrollment Tracks
Enrollment has opened for 2025.
We are accepting applications in the order they come in. Email Michelle or check in with her via the contact form if you have questions.
1. Enroll in the Certificate in the Foundations of E-H Therapy Practice Program
The Foundations Certificate Program is the most popular program for those who are looking to gain a foundation in existential, humanistically-focused therapy practices. Applications for this Certificate program are accepted all year-round.
2. Enroll to Attend Just the Training Retreat! (Without any coursework)
This training is also offered as a stand-alone option: the Experiential Training Course Module. Applications accepted all year-round. Commitment is for the experiential training only, no additional coursework required.
Want More Info? Please Review the Info, Fees and Details of the Two Tracks Above and Send Us Your Questions
Each program page has specifics related to that enrollment track. Please reach out to us to answer additional questions not answered here.
Participants who enroll in either program track participate in the same training residential at the same time; the Foundations Certificate program cohort have additional modules to their program beyond the experiential training retreat that begin in the fall of that training year.
Some applicants apply and enroll up to a year ahead of time to plan their participation and gain a place.
*Continuing Education at the Training
The 2024 training was approved for 29.5 CEs. Please contact us through the form below for more info regarding the course or to request disability accommodations.
*These continuing education credits are accepted by most licensing boards across the US.
APA Division 32, Society for Humanistic Psychology is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. APA Division 32, Society for Humanistic Psychology maintains responsibility for this program and its content.
APA Division 32, Society of Humanistic Psychology, is a proud cosponsor of CE credits for EHI events and trainings whenever CE credits are offered.
Tips for Traveling to Sonoma
Planning Your Visit to the Bay Area for the Retreat: We start at 4:00 pm the first day. We ask that everyone is on time to prevent interruption to the start of the training (we will arrange shuttles to be a bit early as the onsite testing takes a little time).
We suggest that if you are flying during these times, purchase a refundable and transferable ticket. We also suggest that if you can arrive to the area a day early, you bypass the risk of being late or missing your shuttle ride due to a late arrival or a canceled flight.
The final training session on June 4th ends at 12:15 pm and the cohort has a scheduled lunch together from 12:30-2:30pm; the group is to leave the Ranch by 3pm (occasionally someone will need to leave during lunch to catch their flight/ride, please let us know if that is anticipated.)
Getting to Sonoma: Though EHI does not provide transportation up to Westerbeke Ranch, we facilitate shuttle ride sharing and initiate these connections about one month prior to the retreat with info on a shared shuttle service we have been using these last few years.
Shuttle Transportation: We reserve two shuttles to and from the Ranch and each person pays their share on the day of the ride. One shuttle will pick up from Downtown San Francisco (Union Square) and the other shuttle will leave from SFO airport (returning to these locations post training on June 4th). Anyone staying near the airport the night before can take their hotel shuttle back to the airport to meet their travel group! Attendees pay their portion of the shuttle cost (appx $35-50 each way, plus tip). The program admin will connect people together in shuttle groups based on their location the morning of the 30th.
Covid-19 Policies for May, 2024 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:
- In order to attend the May 2025 Experiential Training Retreat, you will need to bring three COVID-19 “at-home” antigen test kits with you to the training. You will need to take one test on the first day, shortly after arrival at Westerbeke Ranch, and another on the third day. The result of these tests will be recorded with our staff each morning.
- The third test kit is to be used in the event you start to experience symptoms of illness after the first two tests have been taken.
- If you start 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 you test 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 you test positive for COVID-19 in the days following your return home, that you 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 Co Directors
Nance Reynolds, PhD, LCSW
Kirk Schneider, PhD (Acting)
Nader Shabahangi, PhD, LMFT (Sabbatical)
Clinical Training Coordinator
Stephanie Weissman, PsyD
Program Admin
Michelle V.
