Retreats

At the Koumidou Retreat Center, we offer unique one-, two-, or three-day private individual, couples, and group retreats. Working one-on-one with Yolanda Koumidou, a licensed psychotherapist, you will benefit from the focused attention, intuition, psycho-spiritual wisdom, and 30+ years of experience that she brings to her work.

Your experience is further enhanced by the luxury of unlimited time, since the work is scheduled with no clocks running, as well as the beauty and serenity of the land, since all the work is conducted outdoors.

Couples Retreats

During your couples retreat, you will become crystal clear about the “dance” between you and your partner–both how it helps and hinders the level of satisfaction in the relationship. The awareness and skills gained will enable you to get unstuck and move forward with greater ease.

Most couples who come to see Yolanda are grappling with one or more of these challenges:

  • Poor communication
  • Trapped in repetitive judgments
  • Lack of intimacy
  • Lack of romance
  • Boredom
  • No time for rest and play together
  • Lack of emotional connection
  • Limited conflict resolution skills
  • Desire for a recharge in the relationship

Our couples retreats utilize the cutting-edge approach of Bonding Patterns to address these challenges while also offering you the opportunity for some breathing time from your daily routine to rest and spend time away, alone together in the country. 

Surrounded by the beauty of nature, you and your partner will receive concentrated time with Yolanda, together and separately, in the presence of your partner and/or privately.

For those desiring a retreat between November and April, Yolanda offers two options: hosting you at her Long Island office in Lynbrook or experiencing the retreat in the comfort of your home.

Individual Retreats

People from all walks of life have come to Yolanda to get unstuck or to expand–whether in the personal or professional aspects of their lives. Perhaps you are in pain, feeling lost, or have an inner knowing that you are meant to do something but you are unsure of which path to take.

During your private one-on-one retreat, you will gain a clear understanding of where your actions, words, emotions and reactions come from. Your work with Yolanda will clear the path forward and leave you with greater inner peace.

Group Retreats

UPCOMING GROUP RETREATS

YOUR LIFE’S EQUATION 
Be a part of your life’s equation instead of a passive participant:
6/1, and 2, 2024, at the Koumidou Retreat Center, Schoharie, NY
11/2, and 3, 2024 at the Lynbrook location, NY

INCORPORATING THE FOUR AGREEMENTS IN YOUR PERSONALITY 
Exploring the Four Agreements from the psycho-spiritual angle:
8/10 and 11, 2024, at the Koumidou Retreat Center, Schoharie, NY

Yolanda has been welcoming groups to her Retreat Center since she opened its doors 20 years ago. Some reasons you may choose a group retreat include:

  • The wish to see how other people handle similar situations.
  • The desire to be in the company of others for support.
  • You have a special interest in the subject being covered.
  • It is more financially viable for you.

Our group retreats are an eye-opening adventure. Utilizing all five senses, you will leave with a calm mind, an awakened spirit, and much lighter than when you arrived. All retreats are limited to 8 participants to ensure ultimate consideration and attention to every individual.

If you choose a topic that Yolanda has expertise in and you have a group of at least 5 people, she is open to organizing and facilitating a customized retreat for your group at the Koumidou Retreat Center during the months of May through October. If you would like to receive announcements about upcoming group retreat opportunities, sign up here.

F.A.Q.

The retreats are for couples who are starting out as well as for couples who have been together for years but are now feeling stuck or feel they need a boost in their journey together. Prior individual therapy is a plus, but not required.

You have a choice of a one-, two- or three- day retreat.

Retreats begin in the morning at the time most convenient for you and continue for a full day. Yolanda utilizes an array of therapeutic methods as needed. These might include, but are not limited to, Bonding Patterns, Voice Dialogue Facilitations, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Educational Information, Spiral Meditation, Hypnotherapy, Energy and Dream Work, and more.

The goal is to have you walk away with a deeper understanding of your personalities and needs and an actual map in hand, illustrating relational patterns that allow you to see each other through a new lens, providing guidance for the next steps in your relationship. 

For couples who are starting out, the focus is more on preparing for the journey ahead. This entails uncovering the intricate current “dance” between you, which helps predict and address patterns that may require future attention. 

For couples in longer relationships who are feeling stuck, we find the root causes of current problems, identify the areas that may need change, adjustment, or acceptance, and introduce new knowledge and specific skills in working on those areas. 

For couples who are ready for a boost, the focus is directed on building on the existing strengths and further expanding to embrace new phases in the relationship, rekindle joy, and emotional and sexual connection. 

Our retreats are unique because: You work one-on-one with Yolanda Koumidou, LCSW, BCD, CHt, a seasoned couples therapist working with couples for over 30 years. Yolanda is also a popular podcast host, whose podcast has over 100 episodes focusing on harmony within relationships. 

Koumidou Retreats hosts one couple at a time, ensuring personalized attention.The sessions are not timed by a clock, allowing us to work together throughout the day, with breaks as needed. You’ll participate in sessions both individually and as a couple.

Weather permitting, the retreat activities take place outdoors surrounded by the serene beauty of woods, streams, valleys, and mountains in absolute privacy. The experience these retreats provide is equivalent to at least six months in a therapist’s office. No couple leaves the same at the end of this kind of retreat.

The 70-acre Center is on the outskirts of Schoharie village, located at the foothills of New York’s Catskill Mountains. 

You can:
     1. Drive
     2. Fly to the Albany International Airport
     3. Take Amtrak to the Albany-Rensselaer train station

From the airport or train station you may take an Uber/Lyft for the 35-minute drive to the Center.

The retreats are offered only in-person. If you are unable to travel, Yolanda Koumidou will travel to your location to offer this retreat in the comfort of your own home from November to March.

After your registration is completed, a list of recommended B&Bs and Airbnbs close to the Center will be sent so you can make your own overnight arrangements. It is highly suggested that you arrive the night before the start of the retreat and depart the day after the retreat conclusion. The fee paid to the Center includes the retreat sessions and lunch only. It does not include overnight accommodations.

Refund Policy
Full refunds, minus a $100 administrative fee, will be provided until two weeks (fourteen days) prior to the date of the retreat. 50% refunds will be provided until one week (seven days) prior to the first day of the retreat.

Under no circumstances, including illness, will a refund be provided if participants cancel in less than seven days prior to the date of the retreat. Payments are not transferable to other dates, or programs.

Cancellations
The Koumidou Retreat Center reserves the right to cancel any retreat. Full refunds will be issued to the participants.

The registration process begins with a 15–20-minute free phone consultation. If it’s agreed that you are ready for the retreat, you will proceed with the registration and scheduling. However, if further clarification is needed for your presenting concerns, then a 1-2 hour couples meeting with Yolanda, in-person or virtual, is arranged in preparation for the retreat. 

To inquire about retreats, kindly complete the form on our contact page or text us at 516.297.8811. If you prefer to call, you can reach us at 516.568.0306