The first time I ever heard of a “counseling retreat” was when I was very young and had a holiday job working in what was at the time the “largest toy shop in the world” called Hamleys in Regent Street, London. Soon after huge mega toy stores arrived like space ships landing overnight taking over unwanted sites next to car parks and poor old Hamleys had to make do with a reduced tag line of, the “finest” toy shop in the world.
I worked alongside another holiday staff teenager by the name of Ben who was extremely friendly and kept disappearing to an odd place up in Scotland on his days off. This seemed extraordinary to me as it was a massive journey to make on a regular basis. The reason he was making it, he told me, was to attend something called a “Counseling Retreat” that was helping him deal with some anxieties and worries he had. I didn’t pry and left it at that. He described the accommodation as being rather basic (shared drafty bedrooms), and the food being plain but nourishing (porridge for breakfast and lentils for dinner). I wonder how he is now and whether he still makes overnight journeys to find peace of mind.
I thought of Ben and his counseling retreat stories recently when I was talking to Khun Att, the very nice and easygoing manager of the Puripunn Boutique Hotel. We use his hotel as a venue for our luxury counseling retreat. It’s perfect in every way and is everything we wanted our retreat holiday to be when we moved here to set up our Life Change Holiday company.
I always wondered why traditional counseling retreats are rather austere affairs, offering different versions of what my old friend Ben experienced. What about the other end of the counseling retreat spectrum? The luxury end where the emphasis is in comfort and individual attention.
Counseling Retreat Location
The hotel has a beautiful and quiet, with a free form swimming pool and jacuzzi and has the kindest most thoughtful staff in Thailand. The hotel is decorated with a magnificent collection of internationally important works of art and antiques. The hotel was designed by the owner and his wife, a design and architect enthusiast. It is modeled on a famous Buddhist temple in the neighbouring province of Lampang and reflects the quiet tranquility that temples often have. It must be one of the most wonderful locations for a counseling retreat anywhere in the world.
The individual Counseling Retreat sessions take place either in the sala next to the swimming pool or our own office that we have at the hotel.
I looked at the menu for this weekend before I left the other day. It started with scallops wrapped in smoked salmon, followed by a coconut chicken curry with lemon grass and ginger. I don’t suppose the old porridge and lentils would go down too well here, although I bet if you asked Khun Att and his wife Khun Koy and his team would rustle them up in no time.
If you are interested in a luxury counseling retreat in Thailand do let us know and we’ll let you know the latest offers and prices.
Alex.
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