Part 1: The Living Mirror
Observing the Wild Within
12–19 March 2027
Four core training days woven into a seven-night retreat stay.
Nyosi Wildlife Reserve | South Africa
Step into the wild and deepen your clinical presence.
Part 1 is the first of two Immersive Trainings for Therapists held in the South African bush. Participants may attend this training independently or continue into Part II the following week.
Through guided encounters in nature, therapists explore observation, instinct, and the primitive foundations of the human psyche. At the heart of this experience is a central inquiry:
What does it mean to observe — and to be observed?
Program Overview
Set within Nyosi Wildlife Reserve, this immersive training invites therapists into an experiential and didactic exploration of observation as a lived relational process.
We examine how presence, perception, and attention shape internal experience, nervous system regulation, and relational dynamics. How does being seen alter identity and behaviour? How does the act of observing influence what emerges within a relational field?
Using animals and natural systems as living mirrors, participants explore brain development, instinctual behaviour, and what we call the “animal hierarchy within.” Attention is given to biases, preferences, and judgements toward certain animal behaviours and how these reactions mirror our relationship to our own primitive parts.
We examine how projections onto animals parallel projections onto clients, and the clinical implications of disowned or idealised instinctual energies.
Nature is not a backdrop, it functions as a co-facilitator in the learning process, offering immediate feedback on projection, hierarchy, regulation, and presence.
Ideal for therapists seeking depth, embodiment, and expanded clinical awareness beyond traditional classroom learning.
Core Areas of Exploration
• Observation as a relational act
• The impact of being seen on identity and behaviour
• Attention, perception, and projection in therapeutic work
• Instinct, hierarchy, vigilance, and regulation
• Survival responses and their influence on attachment
• Bias and judgment toward self, others, and clients
Learning Integration
By the end of Part 1, participants will:
• Recognise how observing — and being observed — alters internal state and relational dynamics
• Identify projection and perceptual filtering in therapeutic encounters
• Discern the influence of hierarchy and survival responses in attachment and regulation
• Integrate evolutionary and neuroscience-informed perspectives into clinical presence
• Translate experiential insight into grounded, embodied practice
Who This Training Is For
This training is designed for therapists and mental health professionals who:
• Seek immersive, experiential learning beyond traditional classroom settings
• Want to deepen embodied understanding of instinct and relational dynamics
• Are curious about nervous system organisation in therapeutic work
• Value structured reflection within a thoughtfully held professional environment
What You Will Leave With
• Refined observational sensitivity
• Greater clarity around projection and relational influence
• A deeper understanding of instinct and adaptive response
• Practical approaches for working with nervous system states
• A more grounded, embodied clinical presence
Retreat Structure
The week includes:
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Arrival day
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Two integration days with optional activities or reflection time
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Four structured training days
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Departure day
Participants attending only Part I depart on 19 March 2027. Those continuing into Part II remain onsite for a seamless transition.
Your registration fee includes:
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Workshop tuition and training materials
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Continuing Education credits (pending approval)
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Accommodation at Nyosi Wildlife Reserve
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Meals on structured training days (coffee, tea, juice, and water included)
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Two guided game drives
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A full-day bush immersion with picnic
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A guided fynbos walk
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Welcome and farewell dinners
Lodging
Participants attending both Part 1 and Part 2 will remain onsite at Nyosi Wildlife Reserve for the full duration of the retreat.
Participants attending only one part may be accommodated at a neighbouring lodge, depending on room availability.
Accommodation includes:
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Shared luxury cabins or villas
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Room assignments finalised after registration closes
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Transportation provided between lodging and the training venue if accommodation is offsite
The reserve is privately reserved for our group during workshop days, creating a contained and immersive retreat environment.
Travel & Personal Expenses
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Flights and additional transfers
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Travel insurance (strongly recommended)
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Alcoholic beverages and specialty coffees
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Personal expenses
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Meals on non-training days
Enhance your experience
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Optional experiences are available on the arrival and integration days and may include:
Rangers’ Braai evening
Beachfront boardwalk excursion
Walking with giraffes at Nyosi
After-dinner wine tasting
After-dinner gin tasting
Optional activities selected during booking
Frequently asked Questions:
Booking Flights
International participants typically travel to South Africa via Johannesburg (OR Tambo International Airport) or Cape Town International Airport. From there, a short domestic flight connects to Port Elizabeth (Chief Dawid Stuurman International Airport), which is the closest airport to Nyosi Wildlife Reserve.
On the arrival day (12 March 2027), group shuttles will be arranged from the Port Elizabeth airport to the reserve at approximately 12:30 and 14:30.
Participants arriving outside of these shuttle windows can easily reach the reserve via Uber or private transfer.
More detailed travel guidance will be shared with registered participants closer to the retreat.
Travelling with Family
For international participants, the retreat is sometimes part of a wider trip to South Africa.
While accommodation within Nyosi Wildlife Reserve is reserved for retreat participants, partners or family members are welcome to stay nearby.
The seaside suburb of Seaview, located approximately 15 minutes from the reserve, offers a range of comfortable bed-and-breakfasts and guesthouses where family members can stay while participants attend the training.
Some participants choose to extend their visit and explore the surrounding coastline and nature reserves with their families before or after the retreat.
If you are considering travelling with family, please feel free to reach out and we will gladly share nearby accommodation options.
Investment – Part I
Participants may secure their place by paying in full (best value) or through a structured 6-month payment plan.
Payment plans must be completed by 31 January 2027. Instalment availability depends on booking date.
All programme fees are set and payable in USD.
Booking and Payment Options
Payment Plan
R59,700
≈ $3,500 USD*
6 monthly payments of
R9,950 each**
≈ $583 USD*
Secure payment via Yoco. Confirmation and receipt issued immediately.
*Estimate based on current exchange rate. All payments are processed in South African Rand (ZAR). USD amounts are approximate for international participants.
**Price includes payment and processing fees
Cancellation Policy
Cancellations must be submitted in writing.
A full refund of the course fee, minus a $150 USD administrative fee, will be provided if Global Therapy Connect is notified in writing within 30 calendar days of registration.
After 30 calendar days from registration, or within four weeks of the retreat start date (whichever occurs first), payments become non-refundable due to contractual lodging and activity commitments.
If an emergency prevents participation, please contact Global Therapy Connect directly. Requests will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis at the sole discretion of Global Therapy Connect.