Journey Together: A Satir Approach to Intimate Relationships

5.006 reviews
Location icon
240 Davis Rd Gabriola Island, BC V0R 1X1 Canada
Date
May 22 - 26, 2025

About this Retreat

Your Guides

Details of this retreat

“ I want to love you without clutching,
Appreciate you without judging,
Join you without invading,
Invite you without demanding,
Leave you without guilt,
Criticize you without blaming,
and
Help you without insulting.

If I can have the same from you, then we can truly meet and enrich each other ”.

- Virginia Satir

Intimate relationship presents a wonderful opportunity for growth and healing...
Virginia Satir has created practical processes for personal transformation. “Journey Together” is a transformative workshop for couples. Based on Satir methods and principles the intention of this workshop is to help couples grow as individuals and together.

Couples will gain a deeper understanding of themselves and each other in a safe and guided framework. They will explore together and witness family of origin issues that they bring into their relationship. They will learn about their ‘couples dance’ especially in conflict. They will learn practical tools to break down defensive patterns that will lead to deeper intimacy and healing.

Dr. Jen Roger and Dr. Blair Stanley were trained in Satir Family Therapy by Maria Gomori from 2013 until her death in 2021. They have been in a conscious intimate relationship for the past 10 years. They have created a life committed to learning and growing together. Intimate relationship by nature creates power struggle which is the perfect landscape for growth…”we get together on the basis of our similarities; we grow on the basis of our differences”…Virginia Satir.

This course is for you if:

You would like to deepen your emotional connection with your partner
You want to develop skills for a more congruent and fulfilling intimate relationship
You are curious about what you bring into intimate relationship and how it impacts the relationship
You recognize that you sometimes feel ”stuck” in unhealthy patterns and want tools the two of you can use to help you to get “unstuck”

Virginia Satir, affectionately known as the Mother of Family Therapy, developed a series of experiential processes that help people begin to relate to themselves and others from a place of high self value. Her methods are positively directional and based on human validation.

After 9 years of studying the Satir Method under Dr Maria Gomori PhD, Dr Roger and Dr Stanley, have “lived experience” applying her methods themselves in intimate relationship. They have designed ways to help couples deepen emotional intimacy.

Format:
Using Satir experiential exercises ( Family mapping, Sculpting, Exploration of the Personal Icebergs and the Self Mandala…and many others) participants will work together with their partner to develop increased clarity about where their relationship patterns come from. They will learn healthy ways to transform these patterns and deepen the emotional connection with their loved one.

 









Investment:
The Earlybird tuition price of $2000 per couple is available up to one month prior to the program start.  Regular tuition is $2160 per couple.  All tuition must be paid in full one month prior to the program start date.

You can find our cancellation policy here

Schedule:
Your program begins with dinner at 6pm and your first session at 7:30pm
Daily schedule:


Breakfast 8:00 - 9:00am
Morning session 9:15am to noon
Lunch noon to 1:00pm
Afternoon session 3:00 - 6:00pm
Dinner 6:00 - 7:00pm
Evening session 7:30 - 9:30pm

Your program finishes at 11:30am on the last day followed by lunch.

Transportation:
If you are travelling to Gabriola as a foot passenger on the Gabriola Ferry a shuttle to The Haven can be requested.  Information on this option will be included in your pre-arrival email.

 

 

Admission requirements: The student must have the desire and ability to learn.  Must demonstrate a capacity for responsible self care, responsible self organization and sound mental health.  The student must understand and speak English.

This program does not require approval by the registrar of the Private Training Institutions Branch (PTIB) of the Ministry of Advanced Education, Skills and Training.  As such, the registrar did not review this program. What does this mean? Click here to learn more.

Getting Here

Location icon The Haven, 240 Davis Rd Gabriola Island, BC V0R 1X1 Canada

Accommodation

Basic Room - Private - Participant

Accommodation
These cozy rooms have 1 double or 2 single beds.  Some rooms have a small desk.  We have property wide complimentary WiFi, the signal varies from room to room.

Forestview - Private - Participant

Accommodation
These rooms look out to lush forest views and have 1 queen or 1 double in addition to 1 single bed.  Many rooms have a small fridge and desk.  We have property wide complimentary WiFi, the signal varies from room to room.

Oceanview Room - Private - Participant

Accommodation
These rooms are spacious and bright with 1 queen and 1 double sofa bed and a stunning ocean view.  In room amenities include fridge, microwave, coffee maker and kettle.  We have property wide complimentary WiFi, the signal varies from room to room.

Oceanview Suite - Private - Participant

Accommodation
These rooms are spacious and bright with 1 queen and 1 double sofa bed and a stunning ocean view.  In room amenities include fridge, microwave, coffee maker and kettle.  We have property wide complimentary WiFi, the signal varies from room to room.

Staying off-premise - Participant

Accommodation
This lodging type is used by guests staying off-premises, not staying at The Haven.

Customer Reviews

5.00 out of 5.0 average rating

5.0
2nd time
Experiential, universal, revelational about relational and self knowledge. Skilled experienced facilitators. Both times I’ve gone it has left me with deep connections in a short time and I continue to stay I. Touch with those co-participants. Food is hearty, delicious, and plentiful. Grounds are peaceful. I look forward to my next course and my next reunion with newfound friends.

5.0
TEENS ALIVE I, II & III
Our 15 year old son just completed Teens Alive (1-3) for the second time, and loved it. The environment is so nurturing and transformative - I really can't say enough about how grateful I am to have this program as a support during these years when parenting can be TOUGH. Our son is navigating high school with confidence, and making mature and thoughtful decisions - we definitely see him process his experiences in a new way and love what we are seeing. His communication with us is more open and productive, and we look forward to him navigating the rest of his teen years with his hands on the reigns. He is looking forward to next year's program and has plans to become an intern in the future as well.

5.0
Giving Voice
The Haven is beautifully set on the waterfront on Gabriola Island. I wasn't sure what to expect at this workshop. I was hoping I would find more confidence in using my voice as I have been confident in speaking in public but deathly afraid of singing in public! What I found was a very safe space to explore making all kinds of sound from humming and babble to overtone chanting and yes...singing. Leah was an excellent and gentle guide and the acoustics of our meeting space were amazing. I would recommend The Haven for anyone wanting to get away from their regular routine and explore their inner world. I will go back for more!

5.0
Imagine 2019
A wonderful opportunity to meet like minded people and to participate in goal setting activities for The |haven and for myself.

5.0
Journey to Self
Great Journey to the very centre of myself. I love all the Haven programs and this one was amazing, too.

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