“I came to this Havening Retreat, following a number of consecutive traumas in my life, mostly stemming from the sudden suicide death of my 15-year-old son in April 2016. This overwhelming trauma and the subsequent traumas left me with immense, complex PTSD, which was invading every aspect of my life. In addition, I had managed to escape the clutches of alcoholism and drug abuse in 2008, which had stemmed from my childhood sexual abuse experiences, but I was extremely fearful of returning to alcohol/drugs as a coping mechanism.
I approached Havening with an element of hope and optimism (having met Dr. Youngson previously in my professional life and being totally inspired with his work) but there was also a huge element of fear and apprehension, given the years of unsuccessful therapies that I had encountered. I spent many, many years in addiction counselling, before 2008, when eventually I decided that I had a choice to either completely destroy my life with alcohol and drugs or to not. I chose the “not” in Feb 2008.
In regard to my son’s death and the subsequent traumas, I had tried EMDR therapy and countless talking therapy interventions, some of which helped, as this allowed me to have some compassionate therapists give me the time and space and care that I much needed. However, my trust in therapy and therapists was also shattered when my most rock-solid, staunch and most supportive therapist took up with my husband (of 30 years) just 15 months after our son had died.
In addition and sadly, the EMDR was not effective for me, either. I also spent some time in a psychiatric ward which was a very mixed bag of compassion and caring, peppered with overbearing, punishing health professionals, who insisted on making my grief a pathological issue and insisted that they knew what was best for me. All of these ‘therapeutic’ interventions still left me with my a hugely debilitated and dysfunctional traumatised brain and invasive thoughts and beliefs of guilt, shame, hatred and self-loathing. Healing Retreat
I am most grateful that I was able to fully commit to immersing myself into Robin and Meredith’s personal, one-on-on, holistic, all-encompassing, 5-day healing retreat at their beautiful, peaceful home in Raglan (overlooking the harbour) with the perfect self-contained accommodation space. Meredith is an amazing cook, providing the best and most nourishing home-cooked food, from the produce in their garden. On top of this I was regaled to beautiful coastal and forest walks and for me, most importantly, I was able to swim in the sea frequently.
In addition to the daily Havening healing sessions with Robin, Meredith brought her energy healing through the ‘Access Bars’ process work and the Enhances Awareness Programme. Both Robin and Meredith have separate, peaceful, sacred, nurturing and healing spaces within their home, where I felt totally at ease, relaxed and 100% nurtured and nourished.
Another important aspect for me was Robin and Meredith’s ability to be totally respectful of my private time and space during this Retreat. I was fully able to dictate the terms of how much time I spent with Robin and Meredith and when the therapies and excursions suited me. This autonomy was a big part of me regaining some control back of my life and being able to reset my life, something that this Retreat fully allowed me to do.
The benefits of Robin’s Havening Touch therapy are that it has allowed me to totally reset my traumatised life. It has completely eradicated the trauma from my brain in the areas we have worked on so far (and thanks to the follow-up sessions, that I continue to work on) and I now feel free from the guilt, shame, hatred and self-loathing that burdened me beyond belief. I have finally found a peace that I never again thought possible.
Without a shadow of a doubt I would recommend Robin’s services and fully encourage anyone thinking about the Retreat to commit to this. As an experienced counsellor/therapist I am now thinking very seriously about undertaking the training in Havening (with Robin) to become a practitioner myself and to be able to bring such healing to others. I know this revolutionary practice is changing peoples’ lives in such a deeply, profound way.
Through Robin and Meredith’s Retreat I was given the most beautiful gift anyone could ever give me in my position; an all-encompassing, safe, sacred, nourishing and nurturing space to allow me to be released from the deepest, darkest pain and trauma imaginable. Their compassion knows no bounds….”
Catherine – Counsellor and Social Worker
