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During your retreat, you will be the therapist's sole client for a full working day. The therapist will typically be available from 9 AM to 4 PM with breaks, and while they employ a consistent treatment approach, variations exist in its application. The process begins with an orientation, followed by an extensive inquiry into your history, current situation, strengths, resources, problems, prior attempts, and both short-term and long-term goals. In cases involving more than one person, such as a couple or parent-child duo, some discussions occur jointly while others are individual. Around midday, the therapist will offer their assessment of your situation and provide recommendations for achieving your goals. These suggestions encompass both treatment-related activities and adjustments to your daily life. The subsequent steps vary depending on your specific needs: Grounding in a secure attachment relationship, especially if you lacked one in your history, may involve guided visualization. Stabilization and coping skills may be addressed. Practical strategies and problem-solving techniques may be explored. Once both you and the therapist agree that you're ready, you will begin processing trauma and loss memories, often employing techniques like Flash, PC, or EMDR. This process might commence with a "test run" involving a recent minor upsetting memory or a discrete past event. Typically, trauma and loss memories are addressed chronologically, from earliest to most recent. This phase varies in duration, with some completing it within a week, while others require more time. Subsequently, you will collaborate with the therapist to develop and practice coping skills for managing potential challenges, ensuring progress toward your goals. The final phase involves planning any necessary follow-up treatment, often limited to periodic check-ins to assess your progress, with the option for additional sessions as needed.

Rosemary Burns graduated in 2002 from the University of Hartford and has been working in the clinical mental health field for over 20 years. She and her family moved to Arkansas near the end of 2006, where she continued to work in day treatment and outpatient services in a multidisciplinary clinic.