Escape Your Heartbreak at the Cozy, Alcohol-Free Retreat
Ever thought about spending a weekend in a technology-free retreat, undergoing a conversion therapy, and marveling at the surrounding countryside, all in the name of healing your broken heart?
That's exactly what the Heartbreak Hotel, run by counseling psychologist Alice Haddon and author and life coach Ruth Field, promises.
The resort, which opened towards the end of 2021, is specifically designed for women and is located in Barsham Barns, a private house on the shores of Norfolk, England.
The Heartbreak Hotel was a dream of Harden, who closed her practice after her mother's death and reconsidered the traditional ways therapy was practiced.
"Heartbreak binds us together"
Harden listened to a radio segment on romantic betrayal and noticed there were few services available for women trying to overcome different kinds of heartbreak. She began investigating the possibilities of a "radical" new concept of conversion therapy that she believed could provide exactly what women fighting heartbreak in a group setting needed.
"We believe that heartbreak connects us with the essence of what it means to be human and that our vulnerability is the birthplace of empathetic change and courageous creativity," said Harden in a statement.
Harden then set about assembling a female team, and Field, one of her oldest friends, quickly joined her.
"We treat care homes like ICUs: warm water bottles, blankets, hot drinks, a crackling fire, no one moves a finger, and everyone is so well cared for that they can give their full attention to treatment," Field told CNN Travel.
The retreat takes place from Friday to Monday and can accommodate up to eight women at a time.
"This is a very safe place where these women will venture on this journey," Field added. "It's really a time of reorientation and self-discovery, moving away from heartbreak and towards a new way of life."
"They are not only freed from sorrow, but also from all the structures in which women often lose themselves, such as serving others and all the other roles we [women] have to play," Field explained.
"Trauma can remain in the body, and we have an EMDR expert on our team to help our guests process their trauma." EMDR, or Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy, is a technique used to unlock and resolve painful memories.
Beach Stroll
Additionally, retreat guests at the Heartbreak Hotel benefit from daily therapeutic group sessions and enjoy the heart-healing, nutritious (and delicious) vegetarian meals, which "inspire and nourish their broken hearts," as well as the beauty of the ocean and its coastline.
The location is essential, Field said. "It's also absolutely essential to be by the sea and go to the beach every day.
"The feeling of the vastness of the ocean and the smell of the ocean – it's incredibly healing. It really helps lower stress – the cortisol level decreases."
"Of course, heartbreak is also a time of immense physical stress, so we've really focused on dealing with it in a natural way," Field said.
The first two retreats at the Heartbreak Hotel, titled "Beyond Betrayal" and "Healing Heartbreak," focused on romantic heartbreak, and the guest feedback was overwhelmingly positive. The team focuses on grouping together women with similar experiences.
"Group therapy seems to be the most effective," Field explained. "This way, they can identify with each other, just as you can really identify with someone who has experienced the same thing as you, and that's very comforting."
Anyone interested in participating in a retreat at the Heartbreak Hotel must complete a detailed questionnaire, which can be found on the website, and explain why they want to participate.
After submitting the questionnaire, there is a " lengthy phone call " between the potential guest and Harden or Field to assess their suitability.
"We spend a lot of time on selecting the right guests for each retreat," Field said. "We don't turn anyone away, but if women are not suitable for the retreat, we often redirect them to other therapy offerings."
ALCOHOL- AND TECHNOLOGY-FREE
To ensure that clients truly open up migrate to the intense group therapy, it is essential to avoid mobile phones and alcohol, Field said.
"They have to relax and be with their feelings, and anything that distracts them from that is not considered valuable for their journey," Field said, and explained that each guest receives approximately eight hours of group therapy per day. "And daily seaside walks," she added. "There's not much free time left. It's a very intense, transformative therapeutic work."
Each retreat costs 2,500 pounds (approximately $3,275).
Haden and Field are currently exploring possible retreat options that focus on topics like sibling rivalry, midlife crises, and dealing with the loss of a loved one.
But regardless of the reason, the team has the same ultimate goal for every despairing guest who walks through the door:
"The mission of the Heartbreak Hotel is to ensure that all guests leave with a sense of strength and freedom to make decisions based on their own love values and needs," said Harden.
In 2021, the Swedish mattress company Hastens opened the world's first Hastens Sleep Spa Hotel in Coimbra, Portugal, with the goal of providing its guests with a restful sleep.
Recently, a hotel in Kentucky has started allowing guests to bring indoor plants, claiming to offer the world's first "plant-friendly hotel experience."
Also Read:
At the Heartbreak Hotel, retreat guests can immerse themselves in therapeutic activities and enjoy the healing power of nature, all while overcoming heartbreak. During the three-day retreat, participants engage in intensive group therapy sessions, enjoy nourishing vegetarian meals, and take daily seaside walks. These elements, combined with the tranquility of the ocean, help reduce stress, allowing guests to delve deeply into their healing processes.
While the Heartbreak Hotel is not specifically mentioned in the provided sources, guests can explore various wellness and support options, such as cognitive stimulation therapy, wellness retreats, massage and facials, spiritual treatments, and support groups, to help them heal from heartbreak. These services and activities aim to provide emotional support, relaxation, and personal growth.
