7 Day Primal - Childhood Deconditioning Retreat in Zelhem, The Netherlands

At some point in your life, you learned to adapt.
You learned when to be quiet, when to be strong, when to hold back parts of yourself in order to belong, be loved, or stay safe. These adaptations were intelligent and necessary — but they didn’t come for free.

What you once suppressed didn’t disappear. It lives on in your nervous system, your relationships, your patterns of choice. It may show up as repeating dynamics, emotional reactivity, a sense of disconnection from yourself, or a quiet feeling that something essential is missing.

Primal work invites you to meet these layers directly — not through analysis, but through experience. It creates space to reconnect with the parts of you that learned to survive early in life, and to bring conscious presence to what has remained unresolved. As the adult you learns to stay present with old emotions — fear, anger, grief, longing, shame — something begins to soften and reorganize from within.

This is not about becoming someone new. It is about undoing what you had to become. As survival patterns loosen, your natural vitality, clarity, and capacity for intimacy re-emerge. Life becomes less driven by old imprints and more guided by inner truth.

It’s necessary to recognize the wounds that make us reactive and unconscious in our behaviour, so we can lead our lives as mature integrated adults.

Primal is a 7-day immersive process with Svarup De Koning—an expert primal therapist with over 40 years of experience working with people all over the world. This retreat is limited to a small group of people who are ready to commit deeply.

>>> A deep return to your roots: A reconnection with your authentic self

Join this retreat for a transformative 7-day journey that takes you back to the earliest layers of your life – conception, birth, infancy, and early childhood. Throughout this process, you will uncover how core wounds and early conditioning have influenced your behavior, beliefs, and relationships.

You will be gently guided through the stages of your development, revisiting foundational experiences that shaped your personality. You will be able to uncover and confront the unconscious roles and coping strategies that you developed in your childhood and then brought into your adult life – unveiling the masks that with time have hidden your authentic self.

You will be supported to express and release old emotions that block the flow of vitality in your body. You will explore your family setup with depth and compassion, addressing what remains unfinished.

By healing yourself at the roots, you will again have access to your potential, allowing you to celebrate the lightness and freedom that comes when the burdens of the past dissolve.

>>> This retreat is for you if...

- You struggle to lead your life from a grounded, mature place rather than through reactivity
- You want to break free from repeating negative patterns and take full responsibility for your life
- You’re ready to reclaim your playfulness and your agency
- You want to improve your relationships - with your parents, partner, friends
- You struggle to connect with your body and emotions
- You find it hard to express your needs and set boundaries, often ending up exhausted, resentful, cold or feeling unlovable
- You carry harsh, judgemental inner voices
- You have difficulty feeling and expressing your anger in a healthy way
- Unresolved childhood wounds are keeping you from living a full, joyful, and connected life.

>>> What you can expect

- A safe and confidential space to explore deep emotional inner landscapes
- Inner child work, breathwork, and transformative therapeutic techniques to access early memories and childhood conditioning
- Active meditations and lots of play! designed for somatic release and inner liberation
- Trauma-informed practices that prioritize your healing journey
- Exploration of family systems and inherited patterns for deeper understanding
- Group sharing and witnessing work to foster connection and support
- Loving guidance through regression processes and integration, ensuring you feel supported every step of the way

>>> What you'll walk away with

- A deeper understanding of your emotional and behavioral patterns that shape your life
- A renewed sense of personal power
- Clarity on your path and your boundaries and to show up more fully in your life
- Relief from carrying emotions and burdens that were never yours to begin with, allowing you to embrace your authentic self
- A stronger connection to your body and emotions
- Increased vitality, emotional resilience, and self-trust, empowering you to navigate life’s challenges from a mature place
- A renewed sense of aliveness, freedom, and personal truth

>>> Daily program

+ Morning meditation
+ Breakfast
+ Morning session
+ Small break
+ Morning session continued
+ Lunch
+ Afternoon session
+ Afternoon meditation
+ Dinner
+ Evening session
+ Program subject to change.

>>> Frequently asked questions

- What is Primal - Childhood Deconditioning?

Primal Childhood Deconditioning is a deep group process of reconnecting with early life experiences, emotions, and unconscious patterns formed in childhood. Through guided inner child work, emotional release, and body-based practices, it helps uncover and let go of limiting beliefs and behaviors rooted in the past, creating space for more freedom, authenticity, and self-love in the present.

- Who is this retreat for?

This retreat is for those ready to explore their inner world, heal childhood wounds, and break free from patterns that no longer serve them. Whether you’re new to self-discovery or already on a personal growth path, the process offers a safe, supportive space to go deeper into yourself and reconnect with your true essence.

- I don't have any experience with therapy, coaching, or meditation. Can I still join the program?

Absolutely. Any previous experience is welcome, but not needed. Only a dedication and commitment to yourself and your life.

- What time does the group start and end?

The retreat will start with the first group session after the registration is complete and you have settled in—at 11:00. It’s important that you are present at the opening of the group. The group will end on Sunday, the 1st of February, at 16:00, and you will all have to leave the retreat center by 17:00 the latest.

- What language will the retreat be held in?

The retreat is facilitated in English. A good understanding of English is recommended to fully participate in group sessions and guided practices.