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Counselling Services
First Responder's Wellness Retreat
Join us for a one day retreat for first responders.
Please contact to be placed on Waitlist for 2025
Who is this for?
As a first responder, taking care of your mental health and wellbeing is crucial. That's why we created our First Responder's Retreat, a one-day event designed to help you rest, restore, and rebuild. Our trauma-informed facilitators will guide you through self-care exercises and techniques that are specifically tailored to the unique challenges you face in your line of work.
Find balance and prioritize your mental health.
Included in Your Experience
Hosted at the Choosing Change Ranch between Peace River and Grimshaw, Alberta, you will enjoy a day of country serenity. Immerse yourself in tranquility as we explore self-care through:
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Breathwork Session
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Guided Meditation
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Equine-Assisted Wellness Session
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Nature-Assisted Therapy (Forest Bathing)
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Self-Care Exploration Group
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You will also be treated to homemade baked goodies, snacks, beverages and a farm-to-table wholesome lunch.
Pricing
$250
Fee includes a full day of restorative activities guided by four highly trained facilitators, plentiful snacks, a hearty lunch, waters, coffee and a variety of teas.
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E-transfer and credit card payments are accepted.
E-transfers can be sent to: Charis@ChoosingChangeCounselling.ca
A receipt will be emailed to you.
Cancellation Policy
Cancellation with less than 1 week notice will result in a $100 cancellation fee. Cancellations with less than 48 hours notice or no shows will result in the full fee being charged to the credit card on file.
Extenuating circumstances may be considered.
Don't wait any longer to prioritize your wellbeing!
Meet Your Facilitators
Jellie Borger
Jellie was born in the Netherlands, but moved to Canada when she was 12. It was her father’s passion that drew her into horses, and a horse's ability that kept her hooked. In the last 20 years, horses have been a very important part of her life. From training, teaching riding lessons, competitions, and facilitating equine assisted interventions, Jellie has found that in life, connecting with animals and the land is very important for all of us. Having a passion for helping people, and helping them find their way in life, led her to complete training in Calgary & California under the EGALA umbrella to be able to offer Equine assisted education.
Jellie provides a variety of services from one on one sessions, team building exercises, couple's interventions, and school groups. From a very young age, she has been amazed at the horse's ability to heal trauma and help us find ways to move through pain, big or small. Horses know what we need in order to move forward from anything that has been holding us back. The way the horse can immediately get to the root of an issue, and show us in a nonverbal way, the steps we can take, is why Jellie loves working with horses.
Veronik Zawacki
As an certified hypnotherapist, Goulding SleepTalk Consultant, Breathwork Facilitator and Rapid Transformative Therapy Student, my mission is to empower parents and their families to thrive. My expertise lies in the SleepTalk Method, where I guide parents in tapping into the incredible power of their child's subconscious. Together, we cultivate emotional resilience, unshakeable self-esteem, and unwavering self-worth in their children.
But my commitment doesn't stop there. I also work closely with parents to heal their own triggers and break free from feelings of being stuck. This enables them to fully embrace their roles as parents and individuals, opening up a world of limitless possibilities and joyous living.
Beyond individual sessions, I truly believe in the transformative power of community healing. There is something truly potent about coming together as a group, sharing experiences, and supporting one another on this profound journey. That's why I am passionate about hosting retreats, workshops, and group breathwork sessions. These collective experiences strengthen the bonds among participants and accelerate their growth and healing.
The intricacies of the subconscious mind fascinate me, and it is through my work, both one-on-one and in group settings, that I aim to help clients navigate life with greater ease. While life may present challenges, it doesn't have to be excruciating. Together, we can uncover the tools and strategies to face life's obstacles with resilience, grace, and a sense of empowerment.
Caroline Raebiger
Caroline was born and raised in Germany and moved to Canada about 5 years ago. Being surrounded by trees and animals has always been a part of her life. That’s why she made the decision to move to Canada and immerse herself even further into the wildness of mother earth.
After she finished her masters degree in Geoinformation and Visualization she dedicated her life to bring healing back to the land therefore healing to the people.
As a certified equine guided facilitator, passionate organic farmer and energy healer, she uses horses, plants and reiki to reconnect people to their inner world. She works with people 1:1, in groups or in retreat and workshop settings.
To bring healing to the land, the people need to heal by aligning spirit, body, and mind. Caroline is very passionate to hold space and let the horses guide us through the journey of discovering who we are.
Charis Nepinak
Charis is the owner and operator of Choosing Change Counselling Services. As a commercial pilot for twenty-six years, Charis has wide range of lived experiences that she brings to her current career as a Clinical Counsellor. With a Masters degree in Counselling Psychology, Charis works with couples, families, and individuals. Charis believes in being a facilitator of discovery for each individual as they unearth their unique strengths and then helping to build resiliency specific to the individual and their life's path.
Growing up in rural Alberta, horses have always been an important part of her life. Combining her passion to help others with her awe and appreciation for horses, she has completed the fourth level of Integration training towards certification with Pro EFW Canada for Equine-Facilitated Therapy. Charis is pleased to be able to offer Equine-Assisted Therapy with her amazing horse partners.
The Horses!
Enjoy the peace and comfort felt in the company of our gentle and kind horses. There are several horses that are involved in the equine portion of the retreat all with unique personalities bringing different experiences to each participant in each moment.
Are you a little bit nervous about being around the horses? That's ok, and very normal. Rest assured all of our horses are safe and your facilitators are highly trained to honour your wellbeing along with the horses. You may also find in encouraging to know that the horses are always given the choice to come work with us each day and only those that want to join us will be present for our sessions. The horses are never 'forced' or coerced into the amazing moments of connection and awareness that come from being in their presence.
Accommodation Options
Not from the Peace River area and need a place to stay? There are several beautiful options within minutes of the retreat location including local hotels, the historical third mission suites in Peace River, and several vacation rental properties.
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Or! Choose to immerse yourself in nature and enjoy a stay in a cabin or even a TeePee along the mighty Peace River! Check out the options below to book your stay now!
Hope to see you there!
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