- Define somatic awareness and describe both the benefits and challenges of heightened interoceptive sensitivity in couples’ relational functioning.
- Differentiate between under- and over-activation of the autonomic nervous system (ANS) and explain how these states affect emotional communication in couples.
- Define the principles of somatic psychology and describe how they intersect with trauma healing, embodied intimacy, and relational repair.
- Implement somatic dyad exercises to access awareness of preference.
- Observe and map nervous system responses in self and others during relational interaction.
- Demonstrate techniques to enhance interoception and emotional knowing, including role play, emotion labeling, and acknowledgment statements.
- Distinguish between intuitive and fear-based responses in moments of emotional repair and trust rebuilding.
- Apply down-regulation and up-regulation interventions for clients presenting with reactivity, dissociation, or emotional shut-down in relational conflict.
- Identify attachment-related somatic movement patterns and integrate these movements into therapeutic practice.
- Practice physicalizing attachment gestures to make implicit patterns overt and explore how ambivalent and avoidant dynamics manifest in the body.
- Apply guided internal visualization techniques to resolve trauma and increase embodied pleasure.
- Implement rupture and repair exercises using mirroring and acknowledgment statements to foster reconnection in couples.
- Describe the role of the autonomic nervous system in couple dynamics.
- Identify interoceptive cues and bodily sensations that signal emotional states and relational needs.
- Evaluate the effects of pleasure denial, avoidance, and rejection on relational and sexual intimacy.
- Conduct guided preference and communication exercises that help couples identify, express, and negotiate needs for connection, boundaries, and support.
- Facilitate exercises to enhance clients’ awareness of pleasure.
- Use interoceptive awareness and creative expression to identify emotional states and enhance communication.
- Practice movement-based exercises for rupture and repair and explain how these support attachment security.
- Integrate movement and gesture as tools for making unconscious attachment dynamics overt in session.
- Facilitate a “competent protector” exercise to strengthen clients’ internal and external boundaries.
- Guide couples in embodied boundary work using “no” and “yes” practices to restore autonomy and trust.
PESI proudly presents, as a part of Blue Spirit Costa Rica’s world-renowned
Wisdom & Wellbeing Weeks…
Your invitation to join relationship expert Dr. Tammy Nelson and somatic expert Dr. Abi Blakeslee for a groundbreaking clinical getaway that explores the transformational power of somatic-based couples therapy among the natural beauty of Costa Rica’s Pacific Coast.
Join us & spend 8 days filled with clinical skills-building and personal transformation –
PLUS earn up to 22 CE Hours!
Wisdom & Wellbeing Weeks…
Your invitation to join relationship expert Dr. Tammy Nelson and somatic expert Dr. Abi Blakeslee for a groundbreaking clinical getaway that explores the transformational power of somatic-based couples therapy among the natural beauty of Costa Rica’s Pacific Coast.
Join us & spend 8 days filled with clinical skills-building and personal transformation –
PLUS earn up to 22 CE Hours!
Where the Pacific Ocean meets the jungle, Blue Spirit Costa Rica offers a sanctuary of renewal and deep transformation.
Sweeping hilltop views, open-air dwellings, nourishing organic meals, and the sound of waves below create the perfect environment for nervous system regulation, embodied awareness, and connection. Days unfold with sunrise beach walks, experiential learning, and time to unwind by the saltwater infinity pool. Each moment is designed to restore balance and awaken clarity. The essence of pura vida.
A setting could not be more well-designed for absorbing the strategies you need to help your clients repair relationships, transform trauma, and reclaim intimacy.
Clinicians often find themselves attempting to guide clients through relational repair using traditional talk therapy.
The result…progress stalls, repetitive patterns emerge, and true change remains elusive.
That’s because trauma, disconnection, and desire are not just cognitive experiences. They are stored and expressed in the body.
Without an embodied understanding of how the nervous system, pleasure, and intimacy interact, clinicians can miss key opportunities to help clients regulate, repair, and reconnect.
But most clinicians are left baffled where to begin...
Join renowned sexologist and leading relationship expert, Tammy Nelson, PhD, and renowned trauma healer and Somatic Psychology expert, Abi Blakeslee, MFT, PhD, as they offer a transformative path for integrating trauma healing, embodied intimacy, and relational repair.
Through trauma-informed somatic practices and guided experiential work, you’ll learn how to engage the nervous system, emotion, and attachment dynamics simultaneously to help clients move from narrative processing to embodied transformation.
You’ll gain practical tools in somatic mapping, embodied communication, and nervous system regulation. Techniques that allow clients to reconnect with their bodies, rediscover pleasure, and rebuild trust after trauma, betrayal, or disconnection.
In a safe, nurturing, and inclusive environment, you’ll experience live demonstrations, interactive partner and group exercises, and experience firsthand how somatic awareness can restore safety, passion, and secure attachment. As a clinician, you are welcome to bring your partner, if along for the journey, during the experiential exercises to further integrate your new skills.
You’ll leave grounded, inspired, and equipped with ready-to-use interventions for erotic recovery, embodied attachment repair, and trauma resolution.
Whether you attend individually or with a partner, this retreat offers a rare opportunity to unite professional development with personal renewal within the tranquil beauty of Costa Rica’s Pacific coast.
Don’t miss your opportunity to be a part of something bigger. All for one, all-inclusive price that includes education, meals & accommodations.
Secure your spot today!
Somatic Couples Therapy Training Retreat
Clinical Strategies for Healing Trauma, Repairing Relationships & Reclaiming Intimacy
LIVE in Costa Rica during Wisdom & Wellbeing!
Saturday, March 21st – Saturday, March 28th, 2026
Single Occupancy
Double Occupancy
Bring a partner, friend, or colleague!
All-Inclusive Packages
Starting at $5,650*
*Total for 2 people
Starting at $5,650*
*Total for 2 people
Plus, earn up to 22 CE Hours — included in your tuition. Click here for Credit details
Don't see your state profession listed? Contact us. Credit hours may vary by board and profession.
Click here for cancellation policy details
Don't see your state profession listed? Contact us. Credit hours may vary by board and profession.
Click here for cancellation policy details
As a clinician, your ability to help clients heal depends on more than insight or analysis. It requires an embodied understanding of how trauma, intimacy, and the nervous system intertwine.
By integrating somatic awareness and embodied intimacy practices, you can move beyond cognitive repair and guide clients into deep, lasting transformation.
Join a group of your colleagues as Abi and Tammy help you bridge the gap between insight and embodiment. Through experiential learning, live demonstrations, and hands-on clinical practice, you’ll learn to:
- Integrate trauma-informed somatic interventions into your clinical sessions
- Regulate the nervous system to support safety, trust, and connection
- Use embodied communication and somatic mapping to resolve trauma at its root
- Guide clients toward reconnection with pleasure, intimacy, and self-awareness
- Rebuild erotic connection and secure attachment after betrayal or disconnection
- Confidently facilitate emotional repair through the body, not just the mind
As you learn these practices, you’ll experience them yourself and discover what it means to feel grounded, connected, and fully present in your own body. This embodied experience is the foundation for helping clients move from disconnection and dysregulation to resilience, pleasure, and relational healing.
Don’t miss this opportunity to learn directly from two world-renowned experts in trauma and relational healing and to return to your practice renewed, confident, and equipped with interventions that transform lives.
Are you ready? Register today and we’ll see you in Costa Rica!
Somatic Couples Therapy Training Retreat
Clinical Strategies for Healing Trauma, Repairing Relationships & Reclaiming Intimacy
LIVE in Costa Rica during Wisdom & Wellbeing!
Saturday, March 21st – Saturday, March 28th, 2026
Single Occupancy
Double Occupancy
Bring a partner, friend, or colleague!
All-Inclusive Packages
Starting at $5,650*
*Total for 2 people
Starting at $5,650*
*Total for 2 people
Plus, earn up to 22 CE Hours — included in your tuition. Click here for Credit details
Don't see your state profession listed? Contact us. Credit hours may vary by board and profession.
Click here for cancellation policy details
Don't see your state profession listed? Contact us. Credit hours may vary by board and profession.
Click here for cancellation policy details
Wisdom & Wellbeing Winter Learning Vacations
Blue Spirit Costa Rica
Since opening their doors in 2009, Blue Spirit has welcomed guests to weeklong retreats that combine the richness of a learning community with the ease and renewal of a wellness vacation.
These winter weeks at Blue Spirit bring together inspiring classes with exceptional teachers, all set within the natural beauty of Costa Rica’s Pacific coast.
This is your opportunity to absorb world-class education while also having free time each day at your fingertips to experience Blue Spirit and Costa Rica to its fullest. Walk the beach, take a dip in the Pacific Ocean, get a surf lesson, relax with a massage or spa treatment, float in the saltwater infinity pool, grab a snack or drink at the on-site café, or even head off to explore the local village.
This is your opportunity to make this time your own. Improve your overall well-being by reducing stress, increasing your focus, and nourishing your body with nutritious meals and engaging activities. And, with all-inclusive pricing, your lodging, meals, and training are all covered in one simple price.
By the end of this retreat, you will feel transformed on both a personal and professional level – refreshed, revitalized and confidently equipped with new tools and practices for taking your clinical work to the next level.
All-Inclusive Retreat Package
Your Journey to this Costa Rican Paradise Includes*:
- Learn from leading relationship expert, Tammy Nelson, PhD & renowned Somatic Psychology expert, Abi Blakeslee, MFT, PhD
- Immersion in experiential activities, demonstrations, group work, and more!
- Learn to help clients heal trauma, repair relationships, and reclaim intimacy
- Up to 22 CE Hours, CE certificate & course manual
- Stunning views, peaceful environment, and saltwater pool
- Pristine mountain jungle walking trails and 3 miles of white sand beaches
- Private lodging for the duration of your stay
- Luxurious room accommodation of choice, including scenic mountain or ocean view options
- Free time each day for relaxation & excursions, plus morning/sunset Yoga or Qigong***
- All Standard Blue Spirit Amenities-
- Gourmet Vegetarian Cuisine (3 meals/day)
- Saltwater Infinity Pool
- On-Site Spa** (on-site reservations required)
- Direct access to Guiones Beach
- Deeply Relaxing Environment within the Costa Rican jungle
- Blue Spirit Cafe & Store**
- Convenient Travel – Blue Spirit Airport Shuttle Available & Highly Recommended**
*Airfare, airport shuttle, staff gratuities, optional services,
excursions, etc. not included.
**Additional fees/cost apply.
***Offered on select
days
Retreat Schedule
All Times Listed in Local Time
Saturday, March 21, 2026
4:00–6:00 pm
Check-in
6:00–7:30 pm
Dinner
Sunday, March 22, 2026
7:00–9:00 am
Breakfast
9:30–10:15 am
Blue Spirit Orientation (required)
10:15 am–12:00 pm
Free Time
12:00–1:30 pm
Lunch
1:30–4:30 pm
Free Time
4:30–5:30 pm
Sunset Qigong on the Beach**
6:00–7:00 pm
Dinner
7:00–9:00 pm
Evening Program*
Monday, March 23, 2026
7:00–9:00 am
Breakfast
9:00 am–12:00 pm
Morning Workshop*
12:00–1:30 pm
Lunch
1:30–4:00 pm
Afternoon Workshop*
4:30–5:30 pm
Sunset Qigong on the Beach**
6:00–7:30 pm
Dinner
Tuesday, March 24, 2026
7:00–9:00 am
Breakfast
9:00 am–12:00 pm
Morning Workshop*
12:00–1:30 pm
Lunch
1:30–4:30 pm
Free Time
4:30–5:30 pm
Sunset Qigong on the Beach**
6:00–7:00 pm
Dinner
7:00–9:00 pm
Evening Program*
Wednesday, March 25, 2026
7:00–9:00 am
Breakfast
9:00 am–12:00 pm
Morning Workshop*
12:00–1:30 pm
Lunch
1:30–4:00 pm
Afternoon Workshop*
4:30–5:30 pm
Sunset Qigong on the Beach**
6:00–7:30 pm
Dinner
Thursday, March 26, 2026
7:00–9:00 am
Breakfast
9:00 am–12:00 pm
Free Time
12:00–1:30 pm
Lunch
1:30–4:30 pm
Free Time
4:30–5:30 pm
Sunset Qigong on the Beach**
6:00–7:00 pm
Dinner
7:00–9:00 pm
Evening Program*
Friday, March 27, 2026
7:00–9:00 am
Breakfast
9:00 am–12:00 pm
Morning Workshop*
12:00–1:30 pm
Lunch
1:30–4:30 pm
Free Time
4:30–5:30 pm
Sunset Qigong on the Beach**
6:00–7:30 pm
Dinner
Saturday, March 28, 2026
7:00–9:00 am
Breakfast
9:00–10:00 am
Check Out and Depart Retreat Center
*CE is awarded during these specified times. A 10-minute break will be included during the
Morning Workshop, at the discretion of the speaker. Licensing boards require full attendance to
each CE training session throughout the entire retreat to receive ANY credit for the
entire retreat. Please review the retreat schedule carefully and plan
accordingly. Daily schedule from Sunday-Friday is subject to change, but the total number of CE hours will
remain unchanged.
**Offered on select days
Who
Should Attend?
The target audience includes:
- Psychologists
- Therapists
- Counselors
- Social Workers
- Marriage & Family Therapists
- Other Mental Health Professionals
- Relationship and Sex Coaches
Your Retreat Center
Gourmet Vegetarian Cuisine
Your stay at Blue Spirit includes three consciously prepared
gourmet vegetarian meals a day. We serve fresh locally sourced fish three evenings per week and eggs
every morning along with breakfast; cheese is also regularly available while our buffet always
provides vegan and gluten-free options.
Saltwater Infinity Pool
The environmentally friendly saltwater pool located near the Main
Building has views of the mountains and the jungle surrounding Blue Spirit. You will enjoy the soft
feel of the water, which is soothing to skin and hair and easier on eyes and noses than the water
found in traditional chlorine pools.
Spa & Longevity Center*
Blue Spirit Costa Rica has a world class spa on site. Whether you’re
experiencing underlying tensions in your tissues, seeking energetic balance, or simply in the mood to be
pampered – all Blue Spirit bodyworkers, therapists, and counselors are highly qualified, excel in what
they do, and enjoy being of service.
The Nosara Longevity Center at Blue Spirit offers a variety of health protocols and treatments to restore and maintain your state of optimal wellbeing and enhanced vitality. Developed by Blue Spirit founder, Stephan Rechtschaffen, MD.
Spa and longevity services can be booked once you arrive at the retreat center.
The Nosara Longevity Center at Blue Spirit offers a variety of health protocols and treatments to restore and maintain your state of optimal wellbeing and enhanced vitality. Developed by Blue Spirit founder, Stephan Rechtschaffen, MD.
Spa and longevity services can be booked once you arrive at the retreat center.
Guiones Beach
Blue Spirit sits atop a hillside overlooking a three-mile-long
white sand beach along the Pacific Ocean. Guiones Beach is home to a Turtle Refuge, which preserves
the flora and fauna along the entire length; no building is permitted. The north and mid sections of
Guiones Beach offer great surfing to beginners and advanced alike. Blue Spirit is located at the quiet
end of the beach, where swimming is easy, thanks to the gentle current.
Nature
Blue Spirit Costa Rica is not only located along the beach, but it
is nestled atop jungle-covered mountains. The 700-foot walk (220 meters) from Blue Spirit to the beach
transverses lush grounds full of mango trees and coconut palms.
Extra Activities/Excursions*
Blue Spirit Costa Rica’s exquisite location offers the opportunity to
engage in some fantastic extracurricular activities outside of the seminar program. Surf lessons,
horseback riding, turtle nesting, boat tours, kayaking, and more are available. The Front Desk team can
provide more information. Payment is the responsibility of the guest and is made directly to the specific
tour provider.
Blue Spirit Cafe and Store*
Guests rave about the treats at the café. If you like to start your
day with a healthy superfood smoothie, fresh coconut water or fresh vegetable juice, or prefer to
indulge in an afternoon cappuccino with an assortment of freshly made gluten-free and vegan snacks,
the Blue Spirit Café is your spot. In the evening, guests like to mingle in the relaxing atmosphere
while sipping excellent organic wines or refresh with a chilled artisanal beer or kombucha.
Whether you forgot your sunscreen at home or wish to treat yourself or friends at home with a little gift from Costa Rica: the Blue Spirit Store offers women’s and men’s apparel, spiritual books, gift items and snack foods, as well as personal and sundry items.
Whether you forgot your sunscreen at home or wish to treat yourself or friends at home with a little gift from Costa Rica: the Blue Spirit Store offers women’s and men’s apparel, spiritual books, gift items and snack foods, as well as personal and sundry items.
Convenient Travel and Location
Blue Spirit Costa Rica is located only about three hours from Liberia
International Airport (LIR). From there we recommend you take advantage of Blue Spirit’s own shuttle
service and take in the breathtaking scenery as you ride. Please see Blue Spirit’s website for
instructions on scheduling their shuttle HERE.
*Costs not included in the program cost. Costs incurred for additional services, products, activities, etc. are the individual’s responsibility.
Somatic Couples Therapy Training Retreat
Clinical Strategies for Healing Trauma, Repairing Relationships & Reclaiming Intimacy
LIVE in Costa Rica during Wisdom & Wellbeing!
Saturday, March 21st – Saturday, March 28th, 2026
Single Occupancy
Double Occupancy
Bring a partner, friend, or colleague!
All-Inclusive Packages
Starting at $5,650*
*Total for 2 people
Starting at $5,650*
*Total for 2 people
Plus, earn up to 22 CE Hours — included in your tuition. Click here for Credit details
Don't see your state profession listed? Contact us. Credit hours may vary by board and profession.
Click here for cancellation policy details
Don't see your state profession listed? Contact us. Credit hours may vary by board and profession.
Click here for cancellation policy details
Program Pricing and
Accommodations
All prices shown are for 7 nights and include
taxes.
*Double occupancy prices are shown as the total for two people (not as a “per person” rate)
*Double occupancy prices are shown as the total for two people (not as a “per person” rate)
Superior Ocean View Room w/AC
Single: $5,575 | Double: $8,250*
Single: $5,575 | Double: $8,250*
These beautiful double rooms have step-out balconies and lots of
windows with extraordinary ocean views. The room is elegantly furnished to provide the most luxurious
space for couples or singles. Each room has a king-sized bed, a private bathroom with solar hot water,
a/c and a safety box large enough to fit a 17” laptop computer. Located in the Main Building and
accessible via stairs or elevator.
Ocean View Room w/AC
Single: $5,075 | Double: $7,975*
Single: $5,075 | Double: $7,975*
These double rooms have step-out balconies and beautiful ocean
views. The rooms are tastefully furnished and provide the perfect space for two people. Each room has
a king-sized bed or two twins, with a private bathroom with solar hot water, a/c and a safety box
large enough to fit a 17” laptop computer. Located in the Main Building and accessible via stairs or
elevator.
Mountain View Room w/AC
Single: $4,975 | Double: $7,775*
Single: $4,975 | Double: $7,775*
This double room has a step-out balcony and large windows with an
extraordinary mountain view. The room is tastefully furnished and provides the perfect space for two
people. It has a king-sized bed or two twins with a private bathroom with solar hot water, a/c and a
safety box large enough to fit a 17” laptop computer. Located in the Main Building and accessible via
stairs or elevator.
Garden Suite w/AC
Single: $4,650 | Double: $7,275*
Single: $4,650 | Double: $7,275*
Newly built and furnished with a contemporary design, these rooms
provide privacy and elegance. Featuring a balcony overlooking the jungle, each suite provides a King
bed to comfortably sleep two people, a private bathroom with solar hot water and A/C. These rooms have
a safety box large enough to fit a 17″ laptop computer. Located a short walk up a small hill to the
Main Building.**
Nature Suite w/AC
Single: $4,550 | Double: $7,175
Single: $4,550 | Double: $7,175
This double room has a step-out balcony and large windows with an
extraordinary mountain view. The room is tastefully furnished and provides the perfect space for two
people. It has a king-sized bed or two twins with a private bathroom with solar hot water, a/c and a
safety box large enough to fit a 17” laptop computer. Located a short walk from the Main Building.**
Pacifico Cottage w/AC
Single: $4,575 | Double: $7,075*
Single: $4,575 | Double: $7,075*
Tucked away amid lush tropical gardens and close enough to the
sandy Pacific beach so that the sound of the ocean will rock you to sleep. These beautiful and rustic
new rooms feature a private porch with a hammock, one queen-size bed, an outdoor shower, and a safe
big enough to fit a 17” laptop. Located a short walk from the Main Building down the hill via a stone
stairway.**
Hermitage Queen or Twin w/AC
Single: $3,850 | Double: $6,225*
Single: $3,850 | Double: $6,225*
These rooms are specifically designed for singles and provide
privacy and elegance, while being cozy and inexpensive. Some have partial views of the ocean and
others of the mountains nearby, and feature a queen-sized bed or two twins, private bathroom with
solar hot water, natural ventilation system, and a large safety box. Located in the Main Building and
accessible via stairs.**
Eco Cottage (no A/C)
Single: $3,175 | Double: $5,650
Single: $3,175 | Double: $5,650
The cottages are situated in lush vegetation, allowing for a
sensual being-in-touch experience with nature. They are simple and natural wood frame structures with
screening for natural ventilation. Each cottage sleeps two people, has a large safety box and a
private bathroom with ambient temperature water shower, or one may use our shared bathhouse with hot
water showers. Everything runs on solar powered electricity. Located a 5-minute walk from the Main
Building via a stone stairway.**
Platform Tent (no A/C)
Single: $2,750 | Double: N/A
Single: $2,750 | Double: N/A
Each Platform Tent has a queen-sized mattress and is placed on a
platform under a wooden roof for protection against the sun and rain. The Tents are surrounded by
nature and close to a shared bathhouse. All linen, pillows, and towels are provided to guests. Guests
in the Tents can bring valuables to be stored in the safety box at Reception at no charge. Located a
5-minute walk from the Main Building via a stone stairway.**
*Double occupancy prices are shown as the total for two people
(not as a “per person” rate)
**This room is only accessible via stone stairway. If you have any
mobility concerns, please find more important information in the FAQ section.
Click Here
Cancellation Policy
This program is being offered within Blue Spirit’s Wisdom & Wellbeing Weeks series of programs and therefore falls under Blue Spirit's cancellation policy.
For a cancellation made 60 days prior to your arrival, you will receive a refund less a 4.5% Processing Fee and $200 Penalty Fee.
No refund or credit will be offered for cancellations made within 60 days of the start of the program, no-shows or early departures.
For any incidentals or unforeseen circumstances we strongly suggest Traveler’s Insurance.
Retreat Content
Outline
Intersections of Trauma Healing, Embodied Intimacy, and Relational Repair
- Explore crossroads between awareness and stabilization
- PRACTICE: Regulating the nervous system
Pleasure, Essential Mirroring, and Somatic Couples Mapping Techniques
- What is pleasure?
- External & Internal – orienting to pleasure
- Internal visualization and journaling
- Being in the body – Tools & exercises
- Live demonstrations and deconstructions
- PRACTICE: Reestablishing pleasure in the body
Erotic Recovery, Betrayal, and Somatic Attachment Strategies
- What is erotic recovery?
- Emotional repair/rebuilding trust
- The body as transformative container – Tools & exercises
- PRACTICE: Guided exercise and/or partner work to open to healing
Somatic Awareness
- Mapping the nervous system
- Individual vs. systems maps
- Repairing and reconstructing – Tools & exercises
- PRACTICE: Live demonstrations
Embodied Emotion and Communication
- Thoughts, behaviors, emotions, and sensations
- Connection and communication
- Somatic skills for connection and authentic expression
- Interoception and emotional knowing – Tools & exercises
- PRACTICE: Coloring and journaling emotions
Emotional Repair, Trust, Regulation, and Empowerment
- Emotional repair and rebuilding trust
- Intuition vs Fear
- Internal skills for navigating choices
- Regulation techniques – Tools & exercises
- Live demonstrations and deconstructions
- PRACTICE: Competent protector work
Dr. Nelson’s Relationship Dialogue Series: Appreciation
- Activate empathy, safety & desire
- Build emotional intimacy through acknowledgment
- Strengthen emotional & erotic connection through gratitude
- PRACTICE: Couples appreciation dialogue
Boundary Exercises
- Somatic circles of consent
- Working with developmental movements to improve couple’s connections
- Reaching, contact, yield, holding, pushing, pulling
- Somatic attachment – Tools & exercises
- PRACTICE: Rupture and repair
- Live demonstrations and deconstructions
- Practices in triads with practicer working with somatic interventions
- Participants role play a “couple”
- Application of theory in real time
Dr. Nelson’s Relationship Dialogue Series: Erotic Recovery
- Couples healing after infidelity, betrayal, or sexual disconnection
- Rebuilding erotic connection & emotional trust
- Curiosity, honesty & permission vs. pressure or performance
- PRACTICE: Couples erotic recovery dialogue
Communication, Giving and Receiving, Closure
- Preference exercises – Demonstrations & practice
- Somatic giving and receiving – Practice & applications for Couples
- Consensual happy “YES”
- PRACTICE: Moving toward “YES”
Research Limitations & Potential Risks
Somatic Couples Therapy Training Retreat
Clinical Strategies for Healing Trauma, Repairing Relationships & Reclaiming Intimacy
LIVE in Costa Rica during Wisdom & Wellbeing!
Saturday, March 21st – Saturday, March 28th, 2026
Single Occupancy
Double Occupancy
Bring a partner, friend, or colleague!
All-Inclusive Packages
Starting at $5,650*
*Total for 2 people
Starting at $5,650*
*Total for 2 people
Plus, earn up to 22 CE Hours — included in your tuition. Click here for Credit details
Don't see your state profession listed? Contact us. Credit hours may vary by board and profession.
Click here for cancellation policy details
Don't see your state profession listed? Contact us. Credit hours may vary by board and profession.
Click here for cancellation policy details
Meet Your Retreat Instructors
Tammy Nelson, PhD, is a licensed psychotherapist in private practice, a relationship and international speaker, an author, a faculty member and teacher with a doctorate in philosophy in clinical sexology. She is a board-certified sexologist, a diplomate of the American Board of Sexologists, a licensed professional counselor, an AASECT Certified Sex Therapist, a registered art therapist, a licensed alcohol and drug counselor, a Certified Imago Relationship Therapist and an Advanced Imago Clinician as well as an ISTI Certified Sex and Couples Therapist.
Dr. Tammy is the author of six books, including Open Monogamy: A Guide to Co-Creating Your Ideal Relationship Agreement (2021), Integrative Sex & Couples Therapy: A Therapist’s Guide to New and Innovative Approaches (2020), When You’re the One Who Cheats: Ten Things You Need to Know (2019), The New Monogamy: Redefining Your Relationship After Infidelity (2013), Getting the Sex You Want: Shed Your Inhibitions and Reach New Heights of Passion Together (2008), and What’s Eating You? A Workbook for Anorexia and Bulimia (2004). She is also the creator of Date Night Card Deck (2023), a TEDx speaker, host of the podcast The Trouble with Sex, and founder and executive director of the Integrative Sex Therapy Institute.
Click here for information about Tammy Nelson
Dr. Tammy is the author of six books, including Open Monogamy: A Guide to Co-Creating Your Ideal Relationship Agreement (2021), Integrative Sex & Couples Therapy: A Therapist’s Guide to New and Innovative Approaches (2020), When You’re the One Who Cheats: Ten Things You Need to Know (2019), The New Monogamy: Redefining Your Relationship After Infidelity (2013), Getting the Sex You Want: Shed Your Inhibitions and Reach New Heights of Passion Together (2008), and What’s Eating You? A Workbook for Anorexia and Bulimia (2004). She is also the creator of Date Night Card Deck (2023), a TEDx speaker, host of the podcast The Trouble with Sex, and founder and executive director of the Integrative Sex Therapy Institute.
Click here for information about Tammy Nelson
Dr. Abi Blakeslee is a world renowned trainer in trauma recovery and the founder of Implicit Psychotherapy. She is senior faculty at Somatic Experiencing International. Dr. Blakeslee holds a PhD in clinical and somatic psychology and an MA in counseling and depth psychology. She integrates the study of implicit memory and psychophysiology in clinical research, primary and secondary trauma interventions, neuro-consulting, and the psychobiological principles of attachment and shock trauma.
Click here for information about Abi Blakeslee
Click here for information about Abi Blakeslee
Travel/FAQs
Air Arrangements
Airfare is not included in your package and will be an additional cost. There are two international airports in Costa Rica – Liberia International Airport (LIR) and San Jose International Airport (SJO). Blue Spirit Costa Rica recommends flying into Liberia International Airport. From the airport you can shuttle to Blue Spirit (recommended) or rent a car. All attendees are advised to purchase travel insurance that includes a cancellation for any reason option to protect your travel plans.
Learn more about the area where Blue Spirit is located here.
Shuttle Information
Airport shuttle is NOT included in your package price.
Please arrange for this directly with Blue Spirit.
Blue Spirit offers airport pick-up services for guests at Liberia International Airport (LIR), aligning with most major U.S. flight arrivals.
Upon arrival, there will be a person to greet you and guide you to your shuttle. He will have a Blue Spirit sign. When you arrive, you should allow 30 – 60 minutes to go through immigration, customs and baggage claim.
Once you have retrieved your luggage and passed customs, your shuttle organizer will be waiting outside the only terminal exit at LIR. The organizer will be wearing a Blue Spirit T-shirt and will greet you with a sign that says BLUE SPIRIT.
The shuttle will depart when it is full, and all the arriving guests are in the shuttle – we don’t leave anyone behind – so you may need to wait a few minutes until everyone is in the shuttle.
The ride from Liberia Airport (LIR) to Blue Spirit is approximately 3 hours.
You can find additional shuttle information HERE.
Passport Information
US Citizens must present a passport with a validity of at least 6 months past your return date of January 17, 2026 to enter Costa Rica. If you do not have a current passport or your passport will be expiring prior to July 17, 2026, we suggest applying as soon as possible as processing times are taking up to 3 months occasionally. Costa Rica requires you to carry your passport with you at all times. Some individuals prefer to make a copy to carry and leave their original passport in the safety box at Blue Spirit.
If you have a passport other than a U.S. Passport, it is your responsibility to verify what documentation you need to enter Costa Rica. If you fail to bring your required documentation, you may be denied boarding your plane or denied entry to Costa Rica.
Health & Safety Information
It is the responsibility of the customer to research and be informed of any necessary health and safety requirements imposed by Costa Rica and/or your airline to enter the country.
We recommend, as part of your research, reviewing the information provided on the following webpages on the official site of the Costa Rican Tourism Board:
Travel & Safety Tips (includes required vaccinations)
Entry Requirements
Somatic Couples Therapy Training Retreat
Clinical Strategies for Healing Trauma, Repairing Relationships & Reclaiming Intimacy
LIVE in Costa Rica during Wisdom & Wellbeing!
Saturday, March 21st – Saturday, March 28th, 2026
Single Occupancy
Double Occupancy
Bring a partner, friend, or colleague!
All-Inclusive Packages
Starting at $5,650*
*Total for 2 people
Starting at $5,650*
*Total for 2 people
Plus, earn up to 22 CE Hours — included in your tuition. Click here for Credit details
Don't see your state profession listed? Contact us. Credit hours may vary by board and profession.
Click here for cancellation policy details
Don't see your state profession listed? Contact us. Credit hours may vary by board and profession.
Click here for cancellation policy details
Will there be WIFI available for use during the retreat?
Yes, every room at Blue Spirit has internet access via provided WIFI at no extra cost.
What is included in the price of the retreat?
• Up to 22 hours of high-quality, hands-on Somatic-Based Couples Therapy training
• Luxurious room accommodation of your choice
• 3 gourmet, vegetarian meals per day
• All standard amenities at Blue Spirit’s incredible Pacific Coast location
What is NOT included in the price of the retreat?
• Airfare, airport shuttle, and travel costs
• Food, drinks, or items from the Blue Spirit Store and Cafe
• Any Spa or Nosara Longevity Center bookings/services
• Staff tips or gratuities
• Any excursions or activities not listed in the standard amenities
Do I have to attend all the sessions to receive credit?
To receive credit for this event, licensing boards require full attendance at all sessions. Please plan accordingly.
What can I expect the weather to be like?
Expect temperatures in the 80’s and 90’s, with dry and sunny conditions.
Is there a sundries or souvenir shop nearby?
Whether you forgot your sunscreen at home or wish to treat yourself or friends at home with a little gift from Costa Rica: the Blue Spirit Store offers women’s and men’s apparel, spiritual books, gift items and snack foods, as well as personal and sundry items. All purchases can be paid with a credit card or cash.
Does Blue Spirit accommodate special dietary requests?
Upon request, Blue Spirit will do its best to provide for special meal needs and food allergies. They require that these requests be communicated at least 2 weeks in advance. Please communicate your request to PESI. Please keep in mind that a huge variety of alternative food options are not as easily available in Costa Rica compared to the US.
Blue Spirit offers a Pure Food Option as an additional way of satisfying special meal needs. This option is a part of their daily lunch and dinner buffets and offers greens, grains, and legumes (beans) without oils or seasoning.
Does Blue Spirit have food options available outside of the dining hall hours?
There is an on-site café open daily (hours vary). The café offers fresh juices, smoothies, freshly baked goods, raw food snacks, coffee specialties, and locally brewed kombucha. In the evening, organic wines and artisanal beers are available.
Food and beverages purchased at the café are not included in the cost of the program. All purchases will be charged individually and can be paid with cash or charged directly to your room.
Is the water at Blue Spirit drinkable?
All the water at Blue Spirit is filtered and safe to drink. We suggest you bring your travel water bottle to reduce single-use plastic during your retreat.
Does Blue Spirit have a spa?
Blue Spirit Costa Rica has a world class spa on site. Services such as massages, bodywork, astrology, and more are available.
Blue Spirit also offers treatments at the Nosara Longevity Center. The center offers a variety of health protocols and treatments to restore and maintain your state of optimal wellbeing and enhanced vitality.
Spa and longevity services can be booked at the front desk once you arrive at the retreat center. Payment can be made in cash or charged to your room when the services are scheduled. Charges for services are not included in the cost of the program and are the responsibility of the individual.
Are there things to do outside of the educational seminar?
Blue Spirit Costa Rica’s magnificent property and idyllic location present a multitude of options for rest, relaxation, exploration, and adventure.
- Saltwater infinity pool
- Jungle walking paths
- Direct beach access
- Spa & Longevity Center
- Café & Store
- Excursions & Activities
What credit is offered on this retreat?
You can earn up to 22 CE hours. Credit hours may vary by board and profession. Please review the retreat’s credit information by clicking any of the “Click here for CE credit details” links found above, or by clicking here.
PLEASE NOTE: Most licensing boards require full attendance to the entire program to receive any credit.
Please review the retreat’s schedule above and plan your travel accordingly to ensure full attendance to the program.
Can I bring a colleague, friend, or partner?
Yes, of course!
PESI will not partake in or be responsible for roommate matching.
Please Note: Blue Spirit Costa Rica is an all-inclusive retreat center. All reservations are per individual, not per room. All individuals staying at the retreat center incur a room and board charge whether or not they are participating in the PESI educational training.
What if I have mobility concerns?
Blue Spirit Costa Rica is located on top of a little hill overlooking the ocean. The beach can be reached via private access by walking down a pebbly road. The access to some of our rooms and classrooms is down the hill from the Main Building and/or via a stone stairway. Please pay close attention to the mobility notes in the Program Pricing and Accommodations section. Each room type has its own specific mobility note as the accommodation options are located in various areas throughout the property.
If you have any mobility issues, please contact both PESI AND Blue Spirit ahead of time via the following:
Please e-mail PESI at retreatinfo@pesi.com or call 800-844-8260 (Ask for our Retreats Team)
Please e-mail Blue Spirit at info@bluespiritcostarica.com
What is the cancellation policy?
This program is being offered within Blue Spirit’s Wisdom & Wellbeing Weeks series of programs and therefore falls under Blue Spirit's cancellation policy.
For a cancellation made 60 days prior to your arrival, you will receive a refund less a 4.5% Processing Fee and $200 Penalty Fee.
No refund or credit will be offered for cancellations made within 60 days of the start of the program, no-shows or early departures.
For any incidentals or unforeseen circumstances we strongly suggest Traveler’s Insurance.
Somatic Couples Therapy Training Retreat
Clinical Strategies for Healing Trauma, Repairing Relationships & Reclaiming Intimacy
LIVE in Costa Rica during Wisdom & Wellbeing!
Saturday, March 21st – Saturday, March 28th, 2026
Single Occupancy
Double Occupancy
Bring a partner, friend, or colleague!
All-Inclusive Packages
Starting at $5,650*
*Total for 2 people
Starting at $5,650*
*Total for 2 people
Plus, earn up to 22 CE Hours — included in your tuition. Click here for Credit details
Don't see your state profession listed? Contact us. Credit hours may vary by board and profession.
Click here for cancellation policy details
Don't see your state profession listed? Contact us. Credit hours may vary by board and profession.
Click here for cancellation policy details