Caring for the cargivers
A unique retreat of presence, healing and growth for therapists in Greece.
With Dr. Ido Simion and Dr. Keren Zarfati
This retreat is a unique journey, of a living meeting of our consciousness and our heart with the spaces of the spirit, body, nature and presence.
In the seven days of the journey, our intention is to open a window into the transformative potential that exists in us for an encounter with these dimensions of existence.
The retreat is intended for women and men from the care professions, The retreat will be guided by Dr. Keren Zarfati and Dr. Ido Simion, founders and senior teachers at the Israel Academic Institute and in the program for psychedelic psychotherapy (a collaboration between the Academic Institute, “Maps” Israel and Reichman University).
In the midst of challenging times full of difficulty and pain, we invite you to come to Kandili Estate, a private estate in a pastoral village surrounded by nature on the island of Avia. A week that invites a deep and fulfilling encounter with the inner experience of its beauty and strength, of its pain and hardship and the powers of transformation inherent in it.
The workshop is suitable for women and men aged 30 and over, for professionals from the therapeutic field, such as: psychologists, psychiatrists, mind-body therapists of all approaches, social workers and art therapists.
About the Workshop
The on going war created great difficulties for us and our patients. During this period, as therapists, we included complex processes and internal and external challenges, we met and will meet personal and collective traumas. Our intention in the retreat is to deepen the investigation from which a multidimensional presence grows and develops that relates to and contains the complexity of life in a loving, wise and creative way.
This deepening brings with it unique ways of looking at different dimensions of our existence, ways that make it possible to discover and understand the deep meaning involved in events, traumas and difficulties.
The retreat offers a process journey that invites the participants to open up, expand and discover multidimensional experiential spaces through physical somatic inquiry, mental inquiry, being and working in nature, meditations, and practicing a deep presence intertwined in everything we do.
At the beginning of the mornings and towards the end of the day we will silently practice mindfulness meditations and open attention that allow a space of silence, where our inner noise decreases, and we can begin to be attentive to deeper dimensions in our inner space and that which we share with the world.
This space will be a processes of discovery, healing and transformation will take place. In addition, working methods from the Hakumi method will be incorporated into the retreat (* no prior familiarity with the Hakumi method is required.
The retreat will be based on a personal and group process that will allow the creation of gateways for processing, transformation and change as well as anchoring in a regulated and full presence. These will enable a beneficial inclusion both for ourselves and for our work with patients at the clinic.
Every day there will be several hours of leisure and rest and you will be given the option of an activity such as: an independent trip in the adjacent village full of shops, taverns, bakeries and cafes and a magnificent church. A trip to the sea, hiking in the mountains, the possibility of traveling to beautiful places in the area in a private taxi that will be ordered for you.
The retreat is intended for up to 28 participants.
Ido words about the retreat:
As a teacher of Hakumi (mindfulness-based dynamic experiential psychotherapy) and as a psychotherapy therapist for over 20 years, I witness the transformative power of a curious presence that is ready to be intimate with the multidimensional experiences of existence revealed in healing, self-discovery and growth processes. The willingness to dive together into the spaces of darkness and light of our consciousness (to our body, our hearts, nature and existence as a whole) allows us the freedom to live creatively and fully. I look forward to the opportunity to accompany you this week in this way of discovery and deepening into ourselves in this unique and nourishing place in the land of Greece.
Keren words about her guidance at the retreat:
I am excited to embark together on a deep and special journey in the nature of the land of Greece. We will take time to be together and apart, to meet our full and unique presence and look with good eyes at the difficulties and pain. Together we will explore the deep forces within us and the mysterious beauty of the presence without skipping over the shadow that the last year brought with it. The retreat will be full of gentle and respectful in-depth exploration: times of silence and observation, being in nature, movement practices, touch and body, mindfulness meditation, personal, interpersonal and group meetings and practices. From all these we will learn to meet ourselves fully, we will expand and deepen and thus we will meet the freedom to be with what is with silence, acceptance and compassion.
To register, fill out the registration form on this page below and we will get back to you for a personal conversation. For questions you can write in the contact button below or write WhatsApp to 0507900460
After an introductory call on WhatsApp, the communication will be done by email, including confirmation of a room reservation. after the reservation confirmation email for your place, flight tickets can be ordered by you.
An invoice suitable for professionals will be issued for the retreat and will be adjusted upon request, also the workshop is recognized as a reward for continuing education.
Zoom introductory meeting with the teachers of the retreat and the production on February. for those interested in participating, write to us on the registration form or the button below and we will send a link later to the meeting. (a recording will be made for an introductory meeting)
Teachers
The teachers
Dr. Ido Simion is a co-founder of the Akumi Israel Institute. A therapist and senior teacher of Akumi psychotherapy. He is one of the founders of the psychedelic psychotherapy program (the result of the collaboration of the Akumi Institute, MAPS Israel and Reichman University). He holds a doctorate in East-West psychology and a master’s degree in somatic psychology (body-mind) on behalf of the California Institute of Integral Studies (California Institute of Integral Studies) in San Francisco. In addition, Ido serves as a senior teacher, instructor and clinical researcher in studies examining the effect of MDMA-based therapy on PTSD sufferers. Ido is licensed as a marriage and family therapist in Israel and on behalf of the state of California (MFT) and owns a private clinic in Hod Hasharon.
Dr. Keren Zarfati is a co-founder of the Akumi Israel Institute, a therapist and senior teacher of Akumi Psychotherapy; she is the founder of the MA program for Integrative Psychotherapy at the University of Haifa and manages MAPS Israel, a non-profit organization that promotes research on psychotherapy combined with mind-altering substances in hospitals in Israel. Keren is a marriage and family therapist in Israel and California, with a master’s degree in somatic psychology (body-mind) and a doctorate in East-West psychology. Keren specializes in the integration of dynamic psychotherapy with somatic psychotherapy, attachment therapy, trauma work and transpersonal psychology and offers an integrative model of healing and growth. Her approach is rooted in Western psychological approaches, shamanic approaches and Eastern spiritual teachings.
Getting to the workshop
The recommended airline for this period is still El Al – we highly recommend taking El Al’s new “Protect” insurance which costs 20 euros, in case of cancellation up to 24 hours before the flight, you can use or transfer the name of the card for a year. Click for details. Or travel only with a trolley with cancellation or change fees. It is recommended to order the flight ticket as early as possible. The shuttle to the workshop will leave on May 19 at approximately 11:00 from the airport (according to the flight). It is possible to choose other flights before or after the workshop and even sleep in Athens. The shuttle to the workshop will also be picked up at the center of Athens for pickup before and after the workshop for your convenience. The drive to the estate is about an hour and a half from the airport. (possibility of ordering a private taxi for arrivals on other flights at a cost of 150 euros per taxi).
The most recommended flight: the El Al flight on May 19 at 7:10 a.m. lands in Athens at 9:30 a.m. Another option is to fly the day before Athens has another flight, enjoy Athens and arrive with the shuttle to the retreat from Athens or the airport. El Al’s return flight departs at 20:30 and lands at 22:30 in Tel Aviv, there is also the option of spending the night in Athens and taking a flight the next day.
The shuttle will return to the airport on 25.5 at 5:00 p.m. and continue to a stop in downtown Athens, for the convenience of those staying an extra night or wanting to tour Athens before their flight in the evening.
Before the workshop, a list of rides to Ben Gurion will be issued,
Do not order a flight ticket without a confirmation email on room reservation for you with a link for payment.
Participants who are already abroad, we will have a personal conversation and together we will think about coordinating flights suitable for the departure and arrival times of the transportation from the workshop.
There is no guarantee of any kind for the cancellation or change of flight times that are not Elal flights listed on this page and according to landing and departure times the shuttle is coordinated. There is an option for a private taxi to Avia to the workshop every hour at a price of 150 euros. (pre-closing with the production)
For your convenience, a travel agent accompanies the participants who are interested in buying the ticket through an agency. Order early.
Her name is Tali Raviv, write her a WhatsApp and she will get back to you: 0547318854
About the production
Our production is professional, precise, personal and done with an open heart. The production will take care of everything for you – without the need for you to plan, think or take responsibility for someone else, so that you can give yourself time to rest, enjoy and let go. The workshop is designed for up to 28 participants. If you are interested in checking whether the workshop is suitable for you and find out more details, please click to contact us
What does the workshop include?
- Six nights at “Candili Estate” in the type of accommodation you choose.
- Vegetarian meals for all days with the chefs of Candili Estate.
- A teaching framework that includes study, guidance and support of the retreat teachers.
- Transportation from the field or from Athens and back. The trip to the place from the airport is about two and a half hours, the shuttle will depart according to the schedule according to the Elal flight (details below)
- A meticulous and precise production that will accompany you in everything and the full presence of the production team at the retreat.
- The price of the workshop does not include plane tickets
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An invoice will be issued for a professional training workshop or other request.
Possibility to pay for training as needed.
CANDILI ESTATE
The Candili estate is located in the Seraus river valley, between the Candili and Pixaria mountains, in the north of Evia, at the edge of the pastoral village of Prokopi, a few minutes walk from the center of the village. The estate was established in 1832 and served as a cultural center for writers, painters and intellectuals, the 10,000 dunam estate is an area of spectacular natural beauty: mountains and hills forested with milk pine and oak, rivers bordered by dolav trees, olive groves and fertile valleys where corn and cotton grow. The trip to the sea takes fifteen minutes. The estate will be private just for us, with an ancient wooden activity hall in a special atmosphere and in the evening we will light the fireplace for our enjoyment in the studio, the stay at the estate will be accompanied by the estate staff who will cook us delicious vegetarian food and take care of all our needs. We will eat in a lovely dining room with the option of sitting outside in the garden. The estate has public guest rooms that will benefit everyone: a library room, living rooms, dining rooms and shared kitchens with sitting areas. Around the buildings there are well-kept gardens with quiet seating areas for solitude and connecting with nature. Within walking distance we are in the forest and exciting nature and mountain air clear as wine. The adjacent village of Prokopi is a Christian tourist attraction, with a large church, taverns, cafes, bakeries, small local shops where the people of the village sell their produce and a pleasant rural atmosphere.
Accommodation types at “Candili Estate”
Accommodation prices include accommodation for 6 nights, meals, teaching and guidance, production and transportation from the airport to the workshop and back.
Guest room for 3 participants:
Large, spacious and beautiful guest rooms with 3 separate beds, shower, toilet and heating.
Price per person for the entire stay:
advance sale NIS 6400 until February 15 and then NIS 6700
Guest room for 2 participants
Large rooms with 2 separate beds with shared shower and toilet. (beds are far from each other)
Price per person for the entire stay:
advance sale 6500 NIS until February 15 and then 6800 NIS
Guest room for 3 participants
2 large rooms with 2 separate beds in one room, with shared shower and toilet for the other room where there is a double bed for a woman alone.
Price per person in a room for 3 for the entire stay:
advance sale 6600 NIS until 2/15 and then 6900 NIS
Small and charming private room
Private rooms with shower and toilet. Also possible for a couple (at a discount).
Price per person for the entire stay:
advance sale 8600 NIS until February 15 and then 8900 NIS
A room for 2 female participants with separate beds. (Example picture for room only)
Simple and charming rooms with 2 single beds, toilet and shower in the room. (beds are far from each other)
Price per person for the entire stay:
pre-sale 7200 NIS until February 15 and then 7500 NIS
Pictures for inspiration
Register for the workshop further down the page
Payment and registration terms
To register for the workshop, click on the registration form and fill it out. If you have any comments or questions please write in the form. After receiving the form we will call you back to talk to get to know each other. After registering for the workshop, you will be sent an email with a final confirmation for your location and a link to pay, with the possibility of dividing it into 4 interest-free payments until March and then only 3 payments. Your place will be reserved until payment according to the registration status.
A certificate for an approved continuing education course can be issued for this workshop as needed
There is no responsibility whatsoever for the production for cancellation or changes of flight times that are not on the El Al flight listed on the page and according to its landing and takeoff times the shuttle departs.
Cancelation policy
Cancellation up to a month and a half before the workshop – Only will be charge the registration fee of NIS 500,
Cancellation between a month and a half to a month before the workshop – Will be charge the registration fee and an advance, in the amount of NIS 1000,
Cancellation between a month and two weeks before the workshop – payment of 50 percent of the amount for the workshop. Cancellation two weeks before the day of the workshop – full price of the workshop.
There is a possibility of finding a participant in your place at any time (responsibility of the canceller). If the production finds a participant in your place, your money will be returned less the registration fee of NIS 500 or a credit for another workshop later in the year.
In the event of a family disaster due to the war, a full refund minus a registration fee of NIS 300 or partial (depending on the case and the situation of the workshop) until the date of the retreat. (For production considerations)
In case of cancellation due to the security situation in Israel, a full refund minus 200 NIS registration fees and production expenses.
Workshop Registration Form
Retreat for therapists in Greece
may 15-25, 2025
Please fill in the details and we will contact you by phone for a personal conversation and answer your questions and according to the room requests.
Option to pay in 4 installments without interest, after payment the place will be reserved for you.
Each participant must fill out a separate registration form.
The prices for early registration are not on the form and will be given according to the closing date