Tell us what you most enjoyed / found helpful during your stay?
Rest, having a support worker, walking on a beautiful beach, being creative, the shared meals (one of my goals was/is to get more accustomed to spending time with others so this helped a lot).

In terms of helping you feel stronger and safer, did your stay at the Retreat assist you?
Yes, I felt a lot safer than I had been feeling and by the end of my visit I felt a lot stronger and armed with a courage I had not arrived with.

Do you think your stay at the Retreat will make a difference in how things are for you, now that you’re back home?
It already has! I have come home and put into place an action plan and started to act on it. it has given me the opportunity to re-energise physically, mentally and emotionally and I feel so much stronger. I also came away with a sense of personal balance, less mental and emotional extremes than when I arrived.

Finally, please add any other comments / feedback here 🙂
The Retreat is the most wonderful place in New Zealand for people who need it. Thank you – Jamie and Suzy and family for putting so much love and energy into a place of solace. The Retreat just oozes with goodness, warmth and aroha and I think anyone who has the need and gets the opportunity can only benefit from a stay.
The support workers are also AWESOME! and I appreciate coming home and contact being maintained for a time.

Coming to stay at the Retreat, what were you hoping for?

• Time-out, rest and relaxation
• Time to be around other people
• Finding spiritual well-being / healing
• Support – having the opportunity to speak to someone in confidence

Did that happen for you?
Yes. It was so great being out in the country away from the noise of the city. Being able to go to the beach and just relax with the others there was so wonderful.

Tell us what you most enjoyed / found helpful during your stay?
Going to the beach and talking with the others that were there. There is healing in knowing that you aren’t alone in this journey.

Do you think your stay at the Retreat will make a difference in how things are for you, now that you’re back home?
I came to the retreat hoping to find the cure all for my problems. Obviously this was not that case as my problems were still there when I got back. What had changed though was my ability to handle the situation. The retreat gave me the tools to grow as a person.

Finally, please add any other comments / feedback here 🙂
Thank you for the support you provided for me. You were all so loving and caring and made me feel at home.

Coming to stay at the Retreat, what were you hoping for?
Time-out, rest and relaxation
Time to be quiet / on my own
It was great to have Time-out from the stresses and pressures of having to cope with everyday living commitments such as having to maintain housing accommodation and its duties of upkeeping, especially when you have no choice having to do it alone. This includes having to deal with sickness and its disabilities.

Tell us what you most enjoyed / found helpful during your stay?
I found being able to have the freedom of speech being able to talk to trusting people at the surroundings of the Retreat. Knowing that it was drug and alcohol-free, and being able to have the space to breathe.

In terms of helping you feel stronger and safer, did your stay at the Retreat assist you?
Yes i felt very safe from pressures of society knowing I was with trusting people who were very kind and helpful.

How do you think we could improve things at Taranaki Retreat for future Guests?
By having people who have spent their time there spreading the word of what the Retreat may need to keep it going whether it be voluntary work sharing and caring.

Do you think your stay at the Retreat will make a difference in how things are for you, now that you’re back home?
Yes. Knowing that there are genuine people who care about you who are there when you need them for future requirements. 

Finally, please add any other comments / feedback here 🙂
The Retreat for me was a place for security peace and balance. A pleasure to share with the beautiful host/hostess and people involved who i found to be a blessing towards my journey of recovery.

Tell us what you most enjoyed / found helpful during your stay?
Being able to wonder around and just be. Having dinner together was just awesome.

In terms of helping you feel stronger and safer, did your stay at the Retreat assist you?
Yes

How do you think we could improve things at Taranaki Retreat for future Guests?
Maybe a couple more benches to sit on down in the bush area.

Do you think your stay at the Retreat will make a difference in how things are for you, now that you’re back home?
Yes

Finally, please add any other comments / feedback here 🙂
It was all wonderfully beautiful. Thank Jamie and Suzy .
Blessings to you and your precious family.

Coming to stay at the Retreat, what were you hoping for?

Time to be quiet/on my own AND Time to be around people. The opportunity to have both was just what I needed. Time to think on my own about my personal situation AND time to enjoy the friendship of others. Realising that we all have hiccups in our lives does put things in perspective.

Did that happen for you?
Yes. I needed to think about making decisions at this particular time of my life and have a clear vision for the future. The peacefulness of the place is very conducive to achieving this. So relaxing and with the added bonus of the maunga in the distance. A wonderful picture to take in!

Tell us what you most enjoyed / found helpful during your stay?
Doing the evening dishes with Jamie, of course! Time for serious talk but also time for a good laugh sharing with him the funny thoughts that were crossing my mind.

In terms of helping you feel stronger and safer, did your stay at the Retreat assist you?
It certainly did! I have also had the help of a good listener. Talking to her surrounded by the peace of the environment has been very beneficial. I thank her for her support at the Retreat and during the weeks after I got home with her phone calls. I really appreciated that.

How do you think we could improve things at Taranaki Retreat for future Guests?
I think you guys are already doing a fantastic job! BUT if I think of any suggestions in the future, that would be a good excuse for me to come up to the Retreat and discuss!

Do you think your stay at the Retreat will make a difference in how things are for you, now that you’re back home?
Absolutely! Best thing I could have done!

Finally, please add any other comments / feedback here 🙂
I was a bit apprehensive the first night thinking “I should be home…. two weeks up here is a long time….. with soooooo many things to do at home” BUT by the next night I knew this break was good for me and slept like a log every night from then on!
A big thank you. 

Coming to stay at the Retreat, what were you hoping for (feel free to enter more than one!).
Time-out, rest and relaxation
Time to be quiet / on my own
Finding spiritual well-being / healing
Support – having the opportunity to speak to someone in confidence

I was at my lowest point of my Life, I knew I wasn’t going to survive this time round. If my Counselor hadn’t recommended the Retreat I would not be writing this or sharing my story.

Did that happen for you?
Yes in every way possible.

Tell us what you most enjoyed / found helpful during your stay?
I enjoyed the Rest, the Tranquility of Peacefulness. I never met such an open Family such as Jamie their Wonderful Family plus the Support Workers.

In terms of helping you feel stronger and safer, did your stay at the Retreat assist you?
Yes

How do you think we could improve things at Taranaki Retreat for future Guests?
Be the People that you are is all I can say.
Much Love to Each and All

Do you think your stay at the Retreat will make a difference in how things are for you, now that you’re back home?
Totally. I focus more on my Goals working on my well-being.

Finally, please add any other comments / feedback here 🙂
Thank you so much Taranaki Retreat I wish you ALL the Best.
Regards
☺☺