SOMA·ATHENE · Nature Retreats

Reset Your Nervous System
in Maine Wilderness

A 5-day immersive retreat for individuals and small groups ready to do real work — in nature, in community, and within themselves. Not crisis intervention. Intentional transformation.

Apply for the Next Cohort See the 5-Day Arc
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What's Included

A complete container
for deep relational work

Every element of the retreat is intentional — chosen because transformation requires the right conditions, not just the right intention.

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Clinical Therapy

Individual sessions with James using EMDR, Flash Therapy, and Narrative Integration — one-on-one depth work woven throughout your time together.

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Botanical & Nutritional Planning

April's herbal and nutritional protocols are individualized — supporting nervous system regulation, sleep, and integration before, during, and after.

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Group Processing & Ceremony

Facilitated vulnerability and witness work within the group. Nature-based ceremony woven throughout — self-directed and guided.

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Nature Immersion & Lodging

Five days in Maine's natural environment. Nature bathing, grounding, time by water. All accommodation and nourishing meals included.

The Structure

The 5-Day Arc

Each day is designed to build on the last — moving from arrival and grounding through individual depth work, group processing, ceremony, and a clear path forward.

Day 1

Arrival & Grounding

Settling into the land and into each other. Intake conversations, orientation to the retreat structure, and initial nervous system regulation work. April introduces herbal and nutritional protocols. The first day is about arrival — not just physically, but inwardly.

Days 2–3

Individual Clinical Work & Nature Immersion

The core of the retreat. One-on-one sessions with James using EMDR, Flash Therapy, and Narrative Integration. Time in nature — nature bathing, grounding, unstructured wandering — woven between clinical sessions to support processing and integration.

Day 4

Group Processing, Ceremony & Integration

Facilitated group witness-work — structured vulnerability and deep listening. Nature-based ceremony, self-directed and guided. April's botanical sessions support what has emerged. Space to breathe, consolidate, and be witnessed.

Day 5

Closing & Departure Planning

Closing sessions, departure planning, and a clear roadmap for what comes next. You leave with integration tools, individualized herbal and nutritional protocols, and an optional follow-up session scheduled.

Who This Is For

This retreat is designed
for specific people

  • Individuals, couples, or small groups of 3–5 people who are motivated for genuine personal growth
  • People who can emotionally regulate themselves — not in acute crisis, but ready to go deeper
  • Those who have done some work on themselves and want something more immersive than weekly therapy
  • People drawn to nature as a healing environment — grounding, stillness, and the wilderness itself
  • Those willing to be vulnerable in a small, witnessed group and to witness others in return
  • People who can make a real investment — financially and emotionally — in their own transformation

"This is not crisis intervention. It is for people who are stable enough to go somewhere uncomfortable on purpose — who have the resources and the readiness to do something that actually changes them."

— James B. Skelton, LCSW, LADC, CCS

Availability & Investment

2026 Cohorts

Each cohort is limited to 3–5 participants to ensure the quality of individual clinical attention. Once a cohort is full, the waitlist opens for the following season.

Summer 2026

Dates TBA

Limited availability — 3–5 participants

$3,500

starting investment per person

Apply Now

Fall 2026

Dates TBA

Accepting applications now

$3,500

starting investment per person

Apply Now

Winter 2026–27

Dates TBA

Join the interest list

$3,500

starting investment per person

Join Waitlist

Full investment range: $3,500–$5,000 per person depending on accommodations and optional add-ons. Private group bookings available. Payment plans available.

Questions

Frequently Asked

Who is this retreat actually for?
Individuals, couples, or small groups of up to 5 people who are emotionally stable and genuinely motivated for growth. The key word is motivated — not in crisis. You don't need to be "doing great." You need to be regulated enough to go somewhere uncomfortable on purpose, and willing to do the work.
Is this HIPAA compliant?
Yes. All clinical work conducted during the retreat falls under standard HIPAA protections. You will complete a standard informed consent process as part of onboarding. Group components involve a facilitated confidentiality agreement between all participants.
What's the group size?
3–5 participants per cohort. This is intentional — the small group creates the conditions for genuine witness-work without losing the depth of individual clinical attention. Everyone gets one-on-one time with James.
Can I book a private retreat for my group?
Yes. If you have 3–5 people who want to come together — friends, a couple, a family unit — private group bookings are available. Note your interest in a private format on the application and we'll discuss what that looks like.
What's the physical requirement?
No significant fitness level is required. Time in nature is part of the retreat structure — walks, outdoor sessions, time by water — but nothing strenuous. If you have mobility considerations, note them in your application and we'll ensure accessibility.
What should I bring?
A full packing list is sent upon acceptance. Generally: comfortable layers for Maine weather, walking shoes, a journal, and an openness to being uncomfortable in productive ways. All clinical materials, herbal and nutritional preparations, meals, and lodging are provided.
Is there follow-up care after?
Yes. All retreat participants receive a complimentary 60-minute integration session within 30 days of departure, plus your individualized herbal and nutritional protocol to carry forward. Ongoing support through standard clinical sessions at SOMA·ATHENE is available and encouraged.
Does insurance cover this?
Retreat-based intensive services are generally not covered by insurance as a bundled package. Individual clinical sessions within the retreat may be partially reimbursable depending on your plan. We provide documentation for out-of-network submission. Payment plans are available — this is a conversation we're glad to have.

Your Facilitators

The people holding the space

Two practitioners, two distinct disciplines — working in integration to offer something neither could offer alone.

Clinical Director

James B. Skelton

LCSW · LADC · CCS

James is a licensed clinical social worker with advanced training in EMDR, Flash Therapy, and Narrative Integration — a proprietary clinical method he has developed for processing complex relational and intergenerational trauma. He has worked with couples, families, and individuals navigating betrayal, addiction, and post-crisis transition for over a decade. His approach is precise, direct, and deeply attuned.

Botanical Medicine & Somatic Support

April Martin

Clinical Herbalist · LMT

April is a clinical herbalist and licensed massage therapist who brings a rigorous, science-rooted approach to botanical medicine and nutritional therapy. Her work within the retreat is individualized from the start — herbal and nutritional protocols designed specifically for each participant's nervous system, sleep, and integration needs. She also facilitates somatic and ceremonial elements of the group experience. Her protocols travel with you after departure.

From Past Participants

What couples have said

"I didn't come broken. I came ready. That distinction mattered — the retreat met me exactly where I was, and pushed me somewhere I couldn't have gotten to on my own."

Retreat participant · Names withheld for privacy

"James holds the room in a way I've never experienced in therapy. Nothing was avoided. Everything was survivable. That combination is rare."

Retreat participant · Names withheld for privacy

"April's herbal and nutritional work wasn't peripheral — it was load-bearing. I slept during those five days in a way I hadn't in years. That mattered more than I expected."

Retreat participant · Names withheld for privacy

Testimonials are illustrative placeholders. Real participant testimonials will be added after the pilot cohort.

Apply

Apply for the Next Cohort

This is not a booking — it's the beginning of a conversation. We'll review your application and reach out within 2 business days to schedule a brief screening call.

What Happens Next

After submitting, James will review your application personally. If there appears to be a strong fit, you'll receive an invitation to a 20-minute phone conversation — no commitment, no pressure.

Screening Is Mutual

We screen for fit as much as you do. Not every person is right for this format, and we'll tell you honestly if we think a different approach would serve you better.

Confidentiality

Everything shared in this application is held in strict confidence. No information is shared with third parties. This process is HIPAA-aware from the first contact.

Investment Range

$6,500–$9,000 per couple for the full 5-day retreat including all lodging, meals, clinical sessions, herbal protocols, and integration support.

Thank you.

Your application has been received. James will be in touch within 2 business days.

Your information is held in strict confidence and never shared with third parties. This form is HIPAA-aware. Submitting does not create a clinical relationship.