Richard Harvey
connecting psychotherapy and spiritual growth for human awakening
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Retreats for Personal and Spiritual Growth
in the Alpujarran Mountains Unspoiled Natural Park, One of the Most Beautiful Settings in Europe
with psychotherapist and spiritual teacher RICHARD HARVEY
at Cortijo Llano de Manzano, Andalucia, Southern Spain
Whether you are looking at a specific issue or exploring your life's purpose, a personal retreat allows you the time and space for individual exploration, clarity and relaxation, personal growth, deepening insights and replenishment.
A retreat gives you the opportunity to withdraw and turn inward, away from the world of ordinary everyday demands, pressures and responsibilities. On retreat you make time for issues that are calling to you from your inner world, to relax, recuperate and refresh yourself spiritually, physically, energetically, mentally and emotionally.
You may want to give time and focus to any of a wide range of issues: health, relationships, career, personal development, a sense of meaninglessness, lack of purpose, challenges of aging, coping with emotions, anxiety, depression, crisis or spiritual enquiry.
Your retreat can be self-directed, or themed with guidance, skilful reflection and encouragement from Richard in daily therapy meetings.
The standard Personal Retreat is one week, the extended Personal Retreat is two weeks. Longer Personal Retreats can be arranged in discussion with me. Retreats are available to both individuals and couples.
Reasons for Retreating
If you are motivated to put some quality time into your personal growth and development…
- or you sense that you are at a crossroads, a threshold or approaching a breakthrough of some kind
- or you are facing a crisis of some sort in your life
- or you want to concentrate on relationship issues and overcome your present impasse or difficulties
- or you seek spiritual guidance and support for whatever you are presently facing in your discipline and practice
- or you are a practitioner (a therapist, counselor, or healing professional) who needs time for yourself.
…a personal retreat may be for you!
The Location
The cortijo and outbuildings are set in a beautiful and tranquil three acres of walnut, peach and cherry trees, rocky outcrops and stone-walled terraces in the Alpujarras in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains. The air is the cleanest in Europe, the views are breathtaking and on a clear day you can see the Atlas Mountains of North Africa over the Mediterranean Sea. Llano Manzano is bordered by beautiful acequias (water channels) which create enchanting little waterfalls. There are many places where you can relax and reflect and beautiful mountain walks in all direction. We are a 15 minute walk from the beautiful and historical mountain village of Canar which contains two bars, a little shop and a pharmacy. The unspoilt Andalucian countryside here is both rugged and tranquil and we are surrounded by spectacular scenery and an abundance of wildlife.
The Mountain Yurt
Your therapy sessions take place in the Mountain Yurt. The circular structure gives a feeling of wholeness and harmony which lends itself to restfulness and relaxation. Warm light is diffused from the crown during the day and at night you can see the stars in the night sky. The yurt is made of natural wood and there is a wood burner for the winter months.
The Retreat Schedule
Your retreat schedule includes inner work and session time with Richard, punctuated by meal times, periods of relaxation, walking and time for contemplation. Extra therapy sessions are available to you during your retreat if you feel the need for more individual time.
The Accommodation
Your retreat accommodation is self-contained in a converted 200 year-old original casita. The eco conversion used organic material and as far as possible we preserved the original stone work. It consists of a small double bedroom, a kitchen sitting room with its own estufa (wood burner), and a shower room with a compost loo. There is a private shaded patio for sitting and enjoying the view and a meditation garden area adjacent to the building. You can take walks in any direction from the casita.
Extra Activities
Walking and rambling are readily available as well as cooling off in our small non-chlorinated pool.
Cortijo Llano de Manzano
Cortijo Llano de Manzano has been a center for personal growth and spiritual development for over 21 years. It is also a family home and a small-holding where we aim to be as self sufficient as possible; sustain the land by nurturing rather than depleting; pursue organic and biodynamic farming methods and create a beautiful, nurturing environment for ourselves, our friends and visitors.
An Eco-Friendly Lifesytle
We lead an eco-friendly low impact life-style, using composting toilets and solar energy. As well as growing vegetables, flowers and trees on our organic smallholding, we keep dogs, cats and chickens. Our water is drawn from our own pozo (well). In the winter months our source of heat is estufas (wood burners) burning local olive, chestnut and walnut wood. The climate here is very agreeable, but August and July are usually very hot and February is the coldest month. Please bring and use only bio-degradable toiletries and soaps.
Therapy Sessions with Richard
Each day, usually in the morning and the evening, you have two 50 minute therapy sessions followed by a 10 minute shared meditation with Richard. Extra therapy sessions are available during your retreat, if you feel the need for more individual time.
After making your booking, you write down your goals for the retreat and send this information to Richard for a confidential assessment. Richard sends it back to you with comments. Work with these comments to refine your goals and bring them with you to the retreat.
Your Retreat Schedule
Your retreat schedule may include inner work in the form of writing, drawing, dialoging, holistic exercises, meditations, breath exercises, awareness exercises, walking and relaxation, punctuated by meal times, periods of relaxation, walking and time for contemplation and communing with nature.
You might find it helpful to look at my article on inner work practice, and this interview on personal retreats, as well these articles.
Times
A one-week retreat consists of a preparatory day and an integrating day with five days of intense inner work in between. This allows you to fully prepare for your retreat and to ease back into the world. Two-week or longer retreats can be arranged on a pro rata basis.
Travel
If you are coming from abroad, the nearest airports are Malaga and Granada and frequent and cheap flights are available to both. You will need to hire a car from one of the many hire companies at the airport.
Cost
The full cost of the one week long Personal Retreat, which includes accommodation, full board and ten individual sessions is 2550 euros.
Booking A Personal Retreat
Follow these steps to book your Personal Retreat:
- Read and digest the information above. Make your booking application by giving your name, email, mobile phone number and your proposed dates (remember a week-long standard retreat should span 7 days inclusive) in a message to Richard.
- We will confirm your dates by email or discuss alternative dates with you if we cannot meet your preferred dates. When your dates are agreed, pay a 50% deposit to secure your retreat. The deposit is payable to secure your booking and is non-refundable if you cancel for any reason. On receipt of your deposit you will receive a Booking Conformation with all the information you need for your Personal Retreat.
- Within 10 days of the starting date of the retreat, email Richard a page-long statement of your aims for the retreat. I will review your aims and send my comments back to you with suggestions, reflections, and ideas for you to work with up to the start of your retreat.
- Pay the balance of your retreat, preferably in cash on arrival (in euros) or online before arriving.
- Following your preparatory day at an agreed time, we will begin your retreat at a frequency of two hour-long sessions a day for five days. We will discuss tasks, practices, and inner work for you to do in between sessions. The days before and after the retreat should be as quiet and contemplative as possible to allow the most beneficial results for the retreat.
If you have any questions at all, please message Richard.
What Clients Say
“I came to the retreat with not much hope of releasing the demons within. It took Richard one day and two sessions to relieve me of my abuse. I don’t believe just anybody would have been able to do this. There is something about Richard that makes you feel safe. An amazing teacher!! His ability to help you release your pain is vast. I will never forget my time spent here. I will use all the tools given to me to achieve the happiness I desire. For anybody looking for counseling on spiritual enlightenment, this is the place to go! Thank you Richard.” -- Kelli Barwick
“Visiting Richard for a week’s retreat has been a life-changing experience. I am a fellow therapist and as such already felt I had great insight into my mind, emotional and behavioural states. Indeed, I do. However, on this retreat with Richard’s techniques I delved much, much deeper into myself to a new level of awareness and the way I live my life, already successful but perhaps without an understanding of me as a whole person: body, mind and soul. I cannot tell you my search for the deeper 'me' was easy: at times, tiring, draining and like a search for an old, moldy piece of jigsaw buried so deep within me, I had forgotten it was ever there. However, the expansion of myself has been exhilarating albeit challenging, but... I would not change this experience; it has been utterly life-changing and I recommend it to anyone wishing to find their true self.” -- E.B., Counselor
“I feel deeply grateful for the whole experience, for what I have discovered of myself and of life during the sessions with Richard as well as for the realizations, feelings or awakenings that have come to me. The retreat has given me a much clearer understanding of my own mechanisms and automated responses that have guided my choices and actions throughout my life, a clear path forward for the inner work ahead of me, a strong sense of purpose in my life and a meeting with a clear, sincere and in all aspects extraordinary human being and therapist to guide me through my inner work.” -- H.C.
A New Opportunity for Psycho-Spiritual Seekers! -- The Spiritual Internship
For inner seekers who are ready for a new challenge, Richard offers the spiritual internship where you live and work alongside us here at Cortijo Llano de Manzano personal and spiritual growth center with meditation and guidance for your inner work through reflecting and deepening in your psycho-spiritual process experientially in the challenges of everyday life. The internship is for committed seekers who are already familiar and experienced in inner work practices and who bring a serious willingness and openness to new insights into their psycho-spiritual growth and development. If you are interested in this opportunity, send a message to Richard giving your reasons for wanting to participate in the internship, along with some background on your psycho-spiritual journey thus far and what length of time you have available to spend here ( a minimum of two weeks is required).
Online Retreats for Personal and Spiritual Growth
Whether you are looking at a specific issue or exploring your life's purpose, a personal retreat allows you the time and space for personal exploration, clarity and relaxation, personal growth, deepening insights and replenishment.
A retreat gives you the opportunity to withdraw and turn inward, away from the world of ordinary everyday demands, pressures and responsibilities. On retreat you make time for issues that are calling to you from your inner world, to relax, recuperate and refresh yourself spiritually, physically, energetically, mentally and emotionally.
You may want to give time to any one of a wide range of issues: health, relationships, career, personal development, a sense of meaninglessness, lack of purpose, challenges of aging, coping with emotions, anxiety, depression, crisis or spiritual enquiry.
Your retreat can be self-directed, or themed with guidance, skilful reflection and encouragement from Richard in daily therapy meetings.
Retreats are available to individuals and couples.
Reasons for Retreating
If you are motivated to put some quality time into your personal growth and development…
- or you sense that you are at a crossroads, a threshold or approaching a breakthrough of some kind
- or you are facing a crisis of some sort in your life
- or you want to concentrate on relationship issues and overcome your present impasse or difficulties
- or you seek spiritual guidance and support for whatever you are presently facing in your discipline and practice
- or you are a practitioner (a therapist, counselor, or healing professional) who needs time for yourself.
…an online retreat may be for you! You need to set aside six or seven days to attend to your personal and spiritual growth and development before booking an online retreat.
Therapy Sessions with Richard
Each day, usually in the morning and the evening, you have two one-hour therapy sessions with Richard. Extra therapy sessions are available during your retreat, if you feel the need for more individual time.
After making your booking, you write down your goals for the retreat and send this information to Richard for a confidential assessment. Richard sends it back to you with comments. Work with these comments to refine your goals and bring them with you to the retreat.
Your Retreat Schedule
Your retreat schedule may include inner work in the form of writing, drawing, dialoging, holistic exercises, meditations, breath exercises, awareness exercises, walking and relaxation, punctuated by meal times, periods of relaxation, walking and time for contemplation and communing with nature.
You might find it helpful to look at my article, pointers on inner work practice.
Times
A one-week retreat consists of a preparatory day and an integrating day with five days of intense inner work in between. This allows you to fully prepare for your retreat and to ease back into the world. Two-week or longer retreats can be arranged on a pro rata basis.
Cost
The full cost of the Personal Retreat is 1800 euros.
How to Book
- Apply for your retreat, using the request form below, giving us your preferred dates and any alternative dates.
- We will confirm your dates by email or discuss alternative dates with you if we cannot meet your preferred dates.
- Pay a 50% deposit to secure your retreat, using our secure Paypal payment facility (if you don't have a credit card or a Paypal account, contact us for bank details to make a transfer or for other arrangements). Note that all bookings are made subject to the payment terms below.
- You will receive a confirmation email, with instructions and directions, once we have received your deposit.
- Pay the balance online before the start of your retreat using our secure Paypal payment facility.
Payment Terms
Deposit: A 50% deposit is payable to secure your booking and is non-refundable if you cancel for any reason.
The Balance: must be paid by the start of your retreat. You can pay online using our secure Paypal payment facility (if you don't have a credit card or Paypal account, contact us for bank details to make a transfer).
Retreat Request Form
You will receive an automatic copy of the request you send, at the email address you enter below.
Required fields*
Your email address will not be given to any third parties (please see our privacy statement for more information).
Donations and Bursaries
Bursary grants are sometimes available through Richard Harvey/Therapy and Spirituality, so that people who sincerely wish to, and would otherwise not be able to afford to, can benefit from a retreat.
If you would like to apply for financial assistance for an online personal retreat please send your reasons to us using our contact form form. Preference is given to women who are unable to support themselves due to societal restraints, being single-parent mothers, victims of domestic violence, or who are simply unable to afford therapy when they are in need and/or particularly motivated toward self-enquiry.
If you would like to make a donation or to know more about supporting the work of Richard Harvey/Therapy & Spirituality see offering support.
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What clients say
I
came to the retreat with not much hope of releasing the demons within. It
took Richard one day and two sessions to relieve me of my abuse. I don’t
believe just anybody would have been able to do this. There is something
about Richard that makes you feel safe. An amazing teacher!! His ability
to help you release your pain is vast. I will never forget my time spent
here. I will use all the tools given to me to achieve the happiness I desire.
For anybody looking for counseling on spiritual enlightenment, this is the
place to go! Thank you Richard.” Kelli Barwick
Visiting
Richard for a week’s retreat has been a life-changing experience. I am a
fellow therapist and as such already felt I had great insight into my mind,
emotional and behavioural states. Indeed, I do. However, on this retreat
with Richard’s techniques I delved much, much deeper into myself to a new
level of awareness and the way I live my life, already successful but perhaps
without an understanding of me as a whole person: body, mind and soul. I
cannot tell you my search for the deeper 'me' was easy: at times, tiring,
draining and like a search for an old, moldy piece of jigsaw buried so deep
within me, I had forgotten it was ever there. However, the expansion of
myself has been exhilarating albeit challenging, but... I would not change
this experience; it has been utterly life-changing and I recommend it to
anyone wishing to find their true self.” E.B., Counselor
I
feel deeply grateful for the whole experience, for what I have discovered
of myself and of life during the sessions with Richard as well as for the
realizations, feelings or awakenings that have come to me. The retreat has
given me a much clearer understanding of my own mechanisms and automated
responses that have guided my choices and actions throughout my life, a
clear path forward for the inner work ahead of me, a strong sense of purpose
in my life and a meeting with a clear, sincere and in all aspects extraordinary
human being and therapist to guide me through my inner
work.
H.C.
Related information
- Interview on Personal Retreats
- Individual Counseling and Psychotherapy
- My Approach to Therapy
- Workshops for Therapy and Spiritual Growth
