This interview is with a Palladium Private guest who stayed at the retreat in March 2012. Although he would like to remain anonymous, our guest felt he would like to share his experience at Fountainhead Organic Retreat.
He tells us why he found his program and The Fountainhead Method® so beneficial to help him understand the thinking behind why he had been taking drugs.
Q. It’s been three weeks since you arrived at the Retreat, how have you found your stay so far?
A. It’s been perfect for what I need. One of my specifications was the ability to remain private, I didn’t want group therapy, I was here to understand why I was behaving the way I was and I wanted to do that alone.
My particular program, Palladium Private has certainly been able to accommodate that, all my therapies have been done one on one in my cabin – plus all my dinners would come to me if I wanted – complete privacy.
Q. Was there a particular trigger that made you look for help and brought you to Fountainhead?
A. Well, for the past 10 months I had started using drugs, it’s not something I’ve done before, so I found myself struggling to understand how I’d got to this point. During my personal sessions of Life Coaching and Journey Therapy, I started to understand my thinking and my beliefs, so I was able to see what had happened and why I had got myself where I was.
Q. And has that helped how you think now?
A. What I gained most from those sessions was that I didn’t have to beat myself up about the previous thoughts I had, or my previous actions. I learnt how and why I was thinking like I was and by accepting this, I can see how to bring around a change. I just have to apply what I’ve learnt day to day now.
Q. So do you think you’ll be able to implement the Fountainhead Method in your life when you leave the Retreat?
A. Yes, I’ll definitely carry on with the Method, the journal writing and the mindfulness too. I like the idea of an appreciation diary… I’ll also start my kids using one as well.
Q. Apart from the personal therapies, did you find any benefit in the other aspects of the retreat?
A. Yes for sure, ‘healthy body, healthy mind’ is what I’ll take with me. The personal trainer, Dom was fantastic and the steam room was a favourite for me. I enjoyed all the massages and the organic food; yes they were of great benefit.
Q. Being in your own cabin, did you get to a point that you wanted to interact with the other guests, or were you quite content to be on your own?
A. Oh yes, I joined them for a few of the social activities – I went on the beach trips and I participated in the group discussions, plus I did the Weekend Intensive. It was good to know that I could join in if I wanted to, and under no pressure to see anyone if I didn’t want to.
Q. Have you found the staff to be supportive enough throughout your program?
A. I have to say that everyone has played their part really well, in particular Michelle has been brilliant with me, my wife met her too and she said the same. As I mentioned earlier Dom was fantastic and also Mia was great.
Overall I have to say I’ve been very satisfied with my Fountainhead experience and I’m looking forward to going home with my new tools.
