No. This is an educational and experiential retreat. While meaningful inner work may occur, the retreat is not psychotherapy and is not a substitute for therapy or medical treatment.

Do I need to have Dyad experience?

No previous experience with dyads is required. We will introduce the practice gently and guide you step by step throughout the retreat.

Will there be psychedelic work?

No. This retreat focuses on relational meditation, parts awareness, and embodiment practices.

Is the retreat trauma-informed?

Yes. The retreat is designed with attention to pacing, choice, and nervous system awareness. Participants are always encouraged to move at their own pace and respect their personal boundaries.

Who is this retreat for?

This retreat tends to resonate with therapists, coaches, facilitators, and people already engaged in personal development or relational practices. Many participants have experience with IFS, NVC, meditation, circling, or other awareness-based work.

How does the application process work?

After registering, you will receive a short questionnaire. This helps us ensure the retreat is a good fit for you and the group. Once we review your responses, we will confirm your place.

What happens if my application is not accepted?

If we feel the retreat may not be the right fit at this time, your deposit will be fully refunded.

What if I feel unsure about joining?

Feeling some uncertainty is completely normal. Many participants arrive with a mix of curiosity and hesitation. The retreat environment is designed to be welcoming, gradual, and supportive.

Can I contact you before applying?

Yes. If you have questions or would like to check whether the retreat might be a good fit, you are welcome to reach out. info@compassionate-self.com(mailto:info@compassionate-self.com)

Awakening to Self

For those longing to explore the depth of IFS work in relationship.

An immersive Dyad & Internal Family Systems intensive
to deepen presence, welcome protective parts,
and experience Self-energy in relationship.

Apply for a place

Chateau Frandeux, Ardennes, Belgium
5 -11 February 2027

A different kind of inner
exploration retreat

Many people who come to IFS (or parts work) discover something profoundly meaningful — a new way of relating to their inner world with more clarity, compassion, and respect for their parts.

And at the same time, this work often happens quietly and alone… in therapy rooms, in personal practice, in the privacy of our inner world.

Over time, a different kind of longing can begin to emerge — for space, for time, and for the depth of this work to unfold more fully in the presence of others.

Awakening to Self is a carefully held intensive designed to support the gentle shift from insight into embodied, relational presence.

By weaving together the depth of Dyad meditation with the clarity and compassion of Internal Family Systems (IFS), we create a space where Self-energy begins to feel more available — both within yourself and in connection with others.

Why Dyads and IFS together?

In our years of facilitating dyad retreats and working with Internal Family Systems, we kept noticing something subtle and yet undeniable: these two approaches seem to support the same inner movement — each in their own way.

Dyads offer a simple but powerful relational space where what is present in the moment tends to reveal itself quite naturally. Protective parts often become more visible in real time, especially in the presence of another.

IFS, meanwhile, gives us a compassionate and practical map for meeting what shows up inside — helping us relate to our parts with more clarity, curiosity, and care.

When these two are brought together, something often begins to deepen.

Many IFS practitioners tell us that dyads help them:

notice parts more quickly in live interaction
experience unblending in a more embodied way
and sense Self-energy arising in relationship, not only internally

And for those familiar with dyad practice, the IFS lens often brings an added layer of gentleness and precision to the inner work.

We don’t see this as combining techniques so much as creating the conditions where Self-energy can become more accessible and more stable.

What you will experience

The days follow a gentle but steady rhythm, balancing depth practice with spacious integration time.

The retreat includes:

Extended guided dyad meditation practice
IFS-informed teachings and processes
Partner and small-group exploration
Periods of silence and integration
Gentle embodiment and movement sessions
Trauma-sensitive breathwork (optional)
Ongoing nervous system support

The design of the intensive allows insights to land not only cognitively, but somatically and relationally.

Who this retreat is for

This intensive tends to serve people who:

Are IFS practitioners, therapists, or IFS-informed
Have experience with NVC, meditation, or relational practices
Long to live more consistently from Self-energy
Feel curious about dyad meditation
Value depth, structure, and emotional safety

You do not need prior dyad experience.

Familiarity with parts work or IFS is helpful but not required.

If you are unsure about fit, you are warmly welcome to contact us.

Your Facilitators

We are Sarah Dekker and Nicholas Burnand. Together we bring many years of experience in:

Dyad and relational meditation retreats
Internal Family Systems (Level 3)
Nonviolent Communication (Certified)
Trauma-sensitive facilitation
Breathwork and embodiment

Nic & Sarah � Branding � Eline Spee Fotografie � Regio Noord-Brabant, Helmond � 03.jpg

Sarah Dekker

While originally Dutch, I lived all over Africa until I decided to join Nic in Europe in 2018. I discovered Nonviolent Communication at 19, which ignited my path of self-development. Now, more than 24 years later — including 16 years facilitating workshops and retreats — I’m continually touched by how much becomes possible when people feel safely met.

Dyad meditations have been a precious container in my own life, offering direct experiences of dropping into this moment when my parts were very activated and supporting me to reconnect to Self.

Participants often experience my facilitation as calm, warm, and grounded, with a natural emphasis on creating spaces of trust and safety.

Alongside this work, I’m deeply nourished by nature, colour, music, food, and conscious dance — another beautiful doorway into meeting the moment through the body.

Nic & Sarah � Branding � Eline Spee Fotografie � Regio Noord-Brabant, Helmond � 18.jpg

Nicholas Burnand

I was born in Durban, South Africa, and, after many years of travelling and exploring different cultures, I now live in Belgium together with Sarah and my teenage daughter Ayla. Over the years, I’ve been drawn again and again to work that supports people in meeting themselves more honestly and compassionately.

My path has included many years of meditation practice, including Vipassana and Mondo Zen. Again and again, I’ve been struck by how powerful the dyad process can be — the simple presence of a compassionate witness often allows something to settle and reveal itself in real time.

My approach is grounded in a deep respect for the inner system and the protective intelligence each person carries. I’m especially passionate about creating the conditions where Self-energy can emerge more naturally — both within ourselves and in relationship.

Testimonials

What past participants have experienced...

“The realisation: I am allowed to be there, I am allowed to show myself with a smile and a tear. Thank you for the guidance! This retreat was palpable proof for me “my path is mine to walk, AND I don’t have to walk it alone”.

Nele Mestdagh

“I experienced Nic and Sarah’s guidance as clear, soft & comfortable in a strong and solid way. Which gave me the opportunity to go deep, relax, let go, feel openness, love and most of all great joy.”

Petra van Hauwaert

“The Dyad retreat with Sarah and Nic brought me to a surprisingly deep silence. After the retreat, I felt more space to remain calm in situations and to react from a more relaxed place.”

Stijn van Hulle

“I want to thank you both for the retreat. For your expertise and professionalism, and the clarity with which you provided the information and instructions. That brought incredible peace and clarity to me and allowed me to surrender in confidence and flow of the day and all the dyads brought. For safety too, thanks in part to your loving and open presence. And then I haven’t even mentioned the beautiful surroundings in autumn colours, and the pure food, both so welcome and supportive of the process of slowing down and getting closer to myself.”

Liesbeth Fivez

“This retreat reminded me of what is essential to me. Nic and Sarah created the opportunity to remind us of who we really are. I encountered myself and the other participants in many ways and I am very grateful for that. I feel deeply nourished.”

Hilde van Gool

The practical bits

Retreat starts: 6pm, Friday 5 February 2027

Retreat ends: 5pm, Thursday 11 February 2027

An optional extra integration night (Thursday) is available for €120 if you’d like a more spacious departure.

Group size: We plan to keep the group between 16–25 participants so the retreat remains intimate and spacious while allowing a rich relational field to emerge.
Location: Château Frandeux, - Rue des Pèlerins 4, 5580 Mont-Gauthier, Belgium

Pricing: €1650-€2200 (depending on accommodation)

Note: We ask for a €500 deposit upon application

To support early commitment (which really helps us plan well), we offer an Early Bird reduction of €150 for the first 8 participants or until 31 August 2026.

Price Includes

Full retreat programme
Accommodation
All meals
Facilitator support throughout

This retreat is confirmed once a minimum of 16 participants have registered.
If this number is not reached by 15 October 2026, all payments will be fully refunded.

Application required
We use a short application process to help ensure a well-matched and supportive group.

Apply for a place

Accommodation & Pricing

Early Bird: €150 discount for the first 8 participants or until 31 August 2026 (whichever comes first).

Notes

Participants may choose to stay an optional additional night (€120) after the retreat ends for a more spacious transition home. This quieter evening offers time to integrate the experience and enjoy the beautiful surroundings before departing the following morning.
Rooms are allocated in order of booking and preference, while balancing the needs of the group.
Double rooms are prioritised for couples or participants booking together.
The retreat is confirmed once a minimum of 16 participants have registered.

Atmosphere

Our retreat venue is nestled on the edge of the Belgian Ardennes, directly beside a peaceful lake and surrounded by beautiful forest.

The quiet natural surroundings and warm indoor spaces create a supportive backdrop for deep inner work.

As you enter the château, you’re welcomed into a spacious lounge with a majestic fireplace and piano — a comfortable place to land, connect, or simply take in the view over the water.

Bring some walking shoes if you’d enjoy wandering the nearby forest paths.

Comfort & Facilities

We will gather in the spacious practice hall in the adjacent building, while accommodation is in the Château itself, where simple and comfortable rooms support both rest and integration.

Throughout the retreat, we will be served nourishing, home-style vegetarian meals to gently support the depth of the process.

On selected evenings, the sauna will be available for those who would like to unwind and integrate more deeply — with the lake nearby for anyone who enjoys a refreshing dip.

Fully experiential retreat

The main focus of the retreat will be on direct experiencing primarily through dyad work but also through individual and group processes, including body movement and integration time in nature. Facilitators will be there not to teach, but to offer guidance and support.

Art materials will be provided for those wishing to explore their inner world creatively.

Intensity and dedication

This retreat will be held as a sacred time for your deepest self. By “intensive retreat”, it means that you will be working from around 7:30 a.m. in the morning to around 9:30 p.m. in the evening. We you to refrain from using the internet (including email and phone), unless absolutely urgent, for the duration of the entire retreat. We will be inviting you, during breaks and free time, to keep your intention and focus on conscious inquiry into your deepest authenticity (rather than engaging in casual socializing).

Apply for a place

START: Friday 5 February 2027 @6pm

END: Thursday 11 February 2027 @5pm

LOCATION: Chateau Frandeux, Belgium

Frequently asked questions

This retreat is best suited for people who already have some familiarity with Internal Family Systems (IFS), Nonviolent Communication (NVC), or other forms of parts-oriented inner work. You do not need formal training or certification. However, some prior exposure to these approaches will help you engage more fully with the practices. We will not be teaching the IFS model in detail, as the retreat focuses on experiential exploration within a group of people who share a similar language.

A 2017 Dyad Retreat Impression

Come for the Stillness