I am pleased to learn that LifeSpring Counseling Services is hosting a retreat in Costa Rica for business owners. I am a 2018 participant of LifeSpring’s Cultural Immersion workshop in Jantetelco, Mexico for mental health providers. My week-long workshop had a two-fold purpose, building cultural competence and continuing education. The days were balanced with half day workshops crafted around scheduled cultural experiences. Our hosts were both knowledgeable about the culture and sensitive to the needs of their participants. We were challenged to question our beliefs and to become familiar with the struggle of others. The invaluable part of this experience was the connections I made with my fellow participants and the speakers. 5 years later, we remain in touch. I cannot say what I enjoyed more, trips to see Mexico’s national treasures such as the pyramids of Chalcatzingo or shopping at the market in Amayuca. The presentation entitled Stereotypes about Mexico/Mexicans, US demographics and application to mental health practices in Maryland laid the ground work for roundtable discussions with residents of Jantetelco who have lived in the US and a group of women who built a business and the location of the workshop, Piedra Rojada. Go ahead, sign up for LifeSpring’s retreat for business owners!

I was thrilled to learn that LifeSpring Counseling Services was going to be facilitating a retreat in Costa Rica for business owners. I have had the good fortune to be able to participate in previous LifeSpring retreats and, most notably, a cultural immersion workshop in Jantetelco, Mexico for mental health providers. The intentionally crafted workshop structure meaningfully brought together professionals to learn and grow together, to support and develop best practices toward serving the greater community, and to practice self care. I found the experience transformative in multiple ways - on an emotional level, I was incredibly moved by the tenacity, resilience, and generosity of everyone I met in Mexico. On a professional level, I could see first-hand how services in the U.S. fail to recognize or acknowledge the many lived experiences of individuals from Mexico who now live in the U.S. On a healing level, the connections I made with the other participants allowed me time to step outside of my professional role and focus on my own wellness needs, while building a network of support and resources to better serve our clients and communities. I will gladly take up the opportunity to participate in future workshops and retreats facilitated by LifeSpring Counseling Services.