Crockwood Farm Retreat
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Discover how my Stress Retreat can transform your life gently, powerfully and effectively
Anxiety And Stress Retreat In Cornwall Regain Your Peace Of Mind In A Tranquil, Rural Setting
Living with anxiety and stress can feel like your life is no longer your own. The feelings of overwhelm can make you feel paralysed, unable to live up to your duties as a parent, employee, partner or friend. And despite all the publicity about mental health, it can still be so hard to reach out for help when you need it most.
Crockwood Farm is here to change all that. Having suffered from work-related burn-out myself, I know what it’s like to suffer repeated panic attacks, how scary it is to realise that you are no longer yourself and to wonder if you will ever feel normal again. I am here to reassure you that you can feel better and you will. Crockwood Farm will give you the time and space you need to reflect on your situation, to gain some new perspectives and the specific help you need to recover.
Experience peace and tranquility. Take your time. Be gentle on yourself.
And try not to worry. Help is at hand.
Why Residential Retreats are the Most Effective Option for Mental Wellness
Many organisations provide on-site coaches or helplines for their employees. Whilst that’s a great resource, I don’t believe it’s as helpful as it could be because the employee is kept in the “problem space”. If work is the problem, then on-site or telephone help do not enable the person to escape from the source of the anxiety.
Whereas a residential retreat, particularly one that is set in Cornwall, provides the much-needed distance and separation from the source of the problem. Distance really does make a difference when it comes to work-related anxiety.
Our residential Retreat provides a more holistic treatment experience that addresses the deeper causes and far-reaching effects of your condition rather than just its symptoms, allowing you to heal more fully. I blend the most effective techniques to help you recover quickly but in the most gentle, yet powerful way.
In an immersive residential setting, you will be given sustainable strategies to take away to enable you to maintain your recovery once you are back home.
We really do help you regain your peace of mind, your emotional balance, your natural perspective and that feeling that you are returning to “normal” once more.
It’s a great feeling to know that help is at hand, there is light at the end of the tunnel and that you are working with someone who has been where you are now and has recovered, to live an even better life than the one she had previously!
If I can do it, so can you.
At Crockwood Farm We Treat
Anxiety
Anxiety is a response to fear. Whilst normal concerns are necessary to keep us safe and protected, it is the increased amount of anxiety that becomes a problem. I describe this level as “irrational” anxiety, that keeps you at home, unable to face what were once, everyday activities, such as going to the shops and visiting places where there are large crowds of people. Post-lockdown, even returning to the traditional office environment is causing unprecedented levels of anxiety in employees. If left unchecked, severe anxiety can lead to panic attacks which are terrifying and debilitating.
Executive Burnout
Burnout is a particular type of prolonged job stress that leads to extreme mental, physical and emotional exhaustion. It is often marked by pronounced feelings of insecurity about professional value and competence. Intervention is needed to create distance from the source of stress, and address underlying issues with the appropriate therapy. The Retreat offers that much needed distance from the source of stress, both logistically and from a perspective point of view.
Stress
Stress is how we react when we feel under pressure or threatened. It usually happens when we are in a situation that we don’t feel we can manage or control. This can lead to feelings of overwhelm and may result in procrastination, low productivity, fatigue, excessive worrying, poor quality of sleep and lack of motivation.
Sometimes, a small amount of stress can help us to complete tasks and feel more energised. But stress can become a problem when it lasts for a long time or is very intense. If left unchecked, stress can affect our physical and mental health.
Imposter Syndrome
Impostor syndrome occurs when sufferers believe that they are not as competent as others perceive them to be. It is a condition that is closely linked to perfectionism and the highly limiting belief of not feeling good enough.
In simple terms, imposter syndrome is the experience of feeling like a fake. Sufferers become convinced that, at any moment, they will be found out and exposed for the fraud that they really are. It’s almost as though, however they got that new job or promotion, they only managed it through good luck, not merit. This condition can affect anyone no matter their social status, work background, skill level, or degree of expertise, but, surprisingly, is very common among high achievers and celebrities.
In old fashioned terms, it is a huge lack of confidence and self-esteem, which can lead to patterns of self-sabotaging behaviour.
Depression
Depression usually involves ruminating about the past. It is a condition marked by persistent feelings of worthlessness, disinterest and hopelessness; and a disconnection from life, with sufferers unable to find any pleasure in the things they used to enjoy, such as hobbies and interests. Fortunately, depression can be lifted far more quickly than is often reported and responds very well to therapeutic interventions like coaching and hypnotherapy.
Not Feeling Good Enough
This is a very powerful, core belief that can be very destructive in the life of the sufferer. It is what as known as a limiting belief, because it limits what people can achieve. As we are all driven by our belief system and act in accordance with it, if we believe we aren’t good enough, then we will attract that truth into our lives. This belief can manifest in a variety of contexts, such as not deserving enough, not intelligent enough, not lovable enough and, at work, can result in workaholic, perfectionism types of behaviour, as well as anxiety about being the impostor, or stressing continually if a mistake has been made or negative feedback has been received. This belief can be present in many contexts or can be reduced to manageable levels, only being triggered by very specific circumstances. In some cases, it can be eliminated altogether though hypnotherapy.
Why Crockwood Farm is The Best Retreat for Mental Health
Stress, worry and lack of downtime are known triggers for most mental health conditions. At Crockwood Farm, I focus, in particular, on work-related stress, having suffered Imposter Syndrome and burn-out in my early thirties.
At Crockwood Farm you will find the solace you need, participating in a programme of wellness that is specifically aimed at massively reducing your anxiety and stress. The programme includes re-connecting with nature, mindfulness, complete rest and tailor-made therapy, designed around your exact needs. I have created a unique place of tranquility so that you can unwind and let go of all the tension and worry that has been weighing you down.
You’ll stay in your own private cosy cottage with a secluded back garden and patio and enjoy access to our ponds, 9 acres of beautiful grounds, which provide the perfect setting for self-reflection or just pure relaxation. The beauty and serenity of Crockwood Farm provides an ideal environment for healing and the naturalness of the environment enables you to observe the wildlife going on all around you.
Listen to the birds, watch them feast on the bird-feeders, delight in how cheeky the squirrels can be when they steal the food, count the pheasants and rabbits and if you’re very lucky, you may even see the deer that visit our paddocks from time to time.
There can be no better setting in which to relax and forget all about life for a while. But I’m not going to send you home without first enabling you to re-gain your physical, emotional and mental health. You will leave The Retreat confident that you can cope with life once more … just like you used to.
At Typical Day At Crockwood Farm
When I place myself in your shoes, I often think how scary it must be when you are already suffering from anxiety, to take yourself to a remote place in Cornwall, with someone you don’t know, not having a clue what’s going to happen to you when you get there! If that were me, my anxiety would leap off the scale!!
So I want to set out a typical day here, so that you can reassure yourself that it will be a lovely experience and that you won’t be put under any pressure to do anything.
I offer 3 and 5 day residential stays and on each day the walk is in a different location. We begin with a gentle walk on Day 1, gradually building to a spectacular walk on Day 3 or 5, which is both demanding and rewarding with breath-taking views.
As we walk, we can chat about what’s troubling you and after you have enjoyed a home cooked lunch in the privacy of your cottage, we will spend the afternoons together, really focusing on and getting rid of whatever is troubling you.
Only one person stays at The Retreat at any given time, ensuring you total privacy and exclusive therapy, completely tailored to your needs.
I ensure your cottage is equipped with luxury, calming and relaxing toiletries so that you can completely unwind during your evenings with a hot bath and settle down with a good book or a DVD. I also provide sleep aids, such as pillow sprays, to help give you a deep and nurturing sleep.
As you can see, there is plenty of time for you to be by yourself, free from the sources of your anxiety but there is also time to work with a trained therapist who can liberate you from your feelings of overwhelm and stress. If there’s anytime in between, I encourage you to tend to your cottage garden – a known mindfulness activity which is both calming and productive – but nothing is forced on you. You are always free to do nothing, if that is what you prefer or need.
Everything at The Retreat is designed with your total well-being in mind. You can trust that your time here will be well spent and that we will take care of you. You will be completely safe and looked after.
In fact, as much as I would like you to receive specialist therapy that would take care of your issues forever, I must promise you that if you wanted to come here and do absolutely nothing but sleep or rest, I would respect that and leave you to it. (But I also think that would be a waste of your money, when a solution is within arm’s reach!)