Questions to ask before attending a retreat
Screening, facilitator training, aftercare, and the answers that should make you walk away.
By Editorial team
Retreat quality varies more than almost anything else in this space. The questions below are the ones our community consistently says they wish they had asked.
Who screens participants, and how? A form is not screening. Ask whether a clinician reviews medical and psychiatric history and current medication.
What is the facilitator's training, and who supervises them? Ask for specifics, not adjectives.
What happens if someone becomes distressed? Ask about staffing ratios overnight, medical access, and the nearest hospital.
What does aftercare look like? A retreat with no follow-up is selling you the easiest part.
What is the legal status of what happens here? You are entitled to a clear answer.
Red flags: guarantees of outcome, pressure to book quickly, dismissiveness about medication interactions, vague credentials, no screening, no aftercare, and any suggestion that leaving early is a failure on your part.
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