7-Day Small Group EMDR Retreat

What if you did not need to retreat from your life but you could run towards it?

Who is this for?

This retreat is designed for all individuals who wish to engage in an intensive group EMDR experience while also living their lives. Have you been struggling with something that is meaningful to you and you notice it gets in the way of living in alignment with your values? This retreat is a chance to focus on yourself. This is a fully immersive and experiential retreat, not a professional training or workshop. You will journey inwards daily towards a personal and private place of your choosing alongside others on their own journeys. You will also have the opportunity to explore the stunning landscape of Newfoundland while you continue to process and begin to integrate your personal work into everyday life experiences. The backdrop includes a sweet and historic coastal town filled to the brim with natural beauty.

What can I expect?

Join retreat facilitators, clinical psychologists Noelle Opsahl and Lisa Carlin for this unique retreat experience! While EMDR is widely known for its focus on trauma, it can also touch many other aspects of one’s life. Some people choose EMDR for support navigating relationship struggles, ongoing stress, burn out, anxiety, depression, chronic pain, losses of loved ones/pets, identity, and fears. Whatever it is that you value and feel committed to focusing on in this specialized retreat, It is important to keep in mind that we are working to help you shift your relationship with the thoughts/memories/feelings/body sensations, not simply “get rid of” an issue. The goal is to support value-driven actions towards living a meaningful life. Group EMDR can prove to be an extremely powerful container in which to safely hold you in community. Specific details of your chosen focus will not be disclosed to other participants, but you will be invited to share the ways you are relating to your struggles and how they are currently affecting you in your life.

Why Newfoundland?

Newfoundland, Canada is a destination you won’t want to miss! Its breathtaking natural beauty will hook you from the moment you land to the moment you cozy-in at your retreat setting. You will arrive in St. John’s, a bustling explosion of music, art, jelly bean-colored homes, and steep hills that will get your heart going. As the retreat gets underway, we will slow down the pace and move deeper into nature and immerse ourselves in Port Rexton, a quaint little town tucked away on the Bonavista Peninsula. The intensive EMDR work in which you have chosen to engage on this retreat requires a setting that fosters rest, relaxation, and quiet. Newfoundland also invites you to move your body in gentle ways on walks and hikes as forms of self-care, present moment awareness, and perspective taking. The ocean’s salt air, rugged cliffs, and wildlife will activate the wonder of your beginner’s mind as you take in the striking setting. You will sip tea while overlooking the ocean, eat fresh local ingredients, and rest in a room with a view.

Where you’ll be staying….

Retreat Cost

$5,800 USD per person

Fee includes:

  • Daily EMDR group processing and integration

  • 2 hours of Zoom prep (pre-retreat)

  • 2 hours of Zoom integration (post-retreat)

  • Room and board (Monday dinner-Sunday breakfast)

  • Roundtrip bus transportation to retreat site (St. John’s/Port Rexton)

Fee does not include:

  • Travel/airfare to and from St. John’s, Newfoundland, Canada

  • Breakfast and lunch on 10/26; Lunch and dinner on 11/1

  • Excursions of your choosing

What’s the Schedule?

Monday, October 26-Sunday, November 1, 2026

Monday: Meet in St. John’s in the morning for an optional hike; travel to Port Rexton as a group; Retreat welcome and orientation; EMDR group prep

Tuesday|Wednesday: EMDR Intensives 

Thursday: Morning EMDR Integration; Afternoon rest and excursions on your own

Friday|Saturday: EMDR Intensives 

Sunday: Retreat closure and final reflections; Travel back to St. John's together

Application Process

  1. Complete the retreat interest form below Registration is open!

  2. Interview invitation to assess fit

    *Due to the small group nature and commitment to creating a cohesive community, not all applicants who apply will be accepted. Interest forms will be reviewed as they are received and registration will close when the retreat is at capacity.

  3. Reserve and confirm your attendance

    *Refunds will be given at 50% before March 1st, 2026. No refunds will be issued after this date.

Complete Interest Form

Meet Your Team

You will be supported by Noelle and Lisa throughout the entire retreat. Noelle and Lisa have worked collaboratively for 8 years and counting! They look forward to welcoming you on this journey and will actively support your hard work as well as add some playful energy throughout the week.

  • EMDRIA Approved Consultant and EMDR therapist

    Noelle will be leading your EMDR intensive days. She has been working with clients using EMDR for over a decade and is passionate about bringing groups together to experience this work in community. Noelle is excited to be working alongside Lisa Carlin, a trusted colleague and skilled therapist.


  • Clinical psychologist

    Dr. Lisa Carlin is a dedicated trauma-focused therapist, co-founder and supervisor at the Trauma Resilience and Education Center (TREC DC), and EMDR trained clinician. She and Noelle will be working collaboratively to provide a safe and nurturing experience for retreat participants, individually and as a group.