kokoro:Quebec
a 5-day rest & reset experience for sex therapists
kokoro:Quebec
September 24-28, 2026 retreat
A small-group retreat; apply now to reserve your spot.
Unplug. Indulge. Connect.
Immerse yourself in the fresh air of a Quebec forest
during this 5-day all-inclusive retreat for sex therapy practitioners.
“Kokoro implies one’s intellectual responses, or, in other situations, implies one’s emotional reactions, and in many cases, it connotes inclusively the mental, emotional and spiritual states of all sentient beings.”
- Kimiko Gunji
“…this word signifies also mind, in the emotional sense; spirit; courage; resolve; sentiment, affection;
and inner meaning — just as we say in English, “the heart of things.”
- Lafcadio Hearn (Kokoro: Hints and Echoes of Japanese Inner Life)
As therapists, a primary focus is to help our clients connect to themselves and those around them. We can sometimes be doing this while disconnected from our own selves. While we want to guide our clients to pleasure, we also want to ensure it hasn’t been absent for us. And our current world has us fused to devices that perpetuates a cycle of always being on. But do you feel truly connected to your work and yourself?
I invite you to join me as we reconnect to ourselves, our community, and what fulfills us.
This retreat at a 4-star spa will be a mix of rest and recharge. Days will include seminars, group activities, and peer discussion around what’s happening in the realm of sex therapy, all in service of our own kokoro. We’ll also take time for spa, forest bathing, and community connection. Modern accommodations (single and shared room occupancy available) and 3 nourishing meals per day will be provided.
The facility and grounds include a full thermotherapy spa with indoor and outdoor pools, treatment rooms, a full dining room, cozy and welcoming meeting areas, all surrounded by acres of forest. Roam the kilometres of trails, take a sunrise plunge in the lake, get a relaxing massage, or simply grab a tea and listen to the trees (you may even become passing friends with a deer or two).
A mix of learning, exploration, and leisure, you will come away rejuvenated and ready to incorporate what you’ve experienced into your own work with clients. We’ll also engage with each other in ways that nurtures our connections long after we all return home.
This retreat is designed to move at a slow pace with recognition of and reverence to the land around us. If you’re looking for days packed with workshops, lectures, party activities, and lots of people, this retreat likely isn’t for you (and that’s ok; you do you!). But if you’re looking an intimate setting to open up to new ways of seeing and being in the current world, surrounded by like-minded folk, then I welcome you with open arms.
The Oasis at Spa Eastman, Québec.
translated video:
A break which propels you. What if slowing down is your best accelerator?
The Oasis retreat. A unique space.
For reflection. To get out of automatic pilot.
To have real discussion. And to celebrate together.
Away from stress. In the great outdoors.
In the heart of what matters.
“The breakthrough we were waiting for arrived.”
Choose the Oasis next to the Shoulder Lake.
For more about the venue, visit Spa Eastman.
What’s included
Welcome ceremony on the evening of arrival. Say hello to your host and meet your fellow therapists.
Nourishing & healthy daily breakfast, lunch, and dinner, furnished by the Spa’s Tonique chefs. Healthy snacks will also be provided throughout the day.
Scandinavian-style resort accommodations, with comfortable Queen-sized beds and private bathroom (shared if in a double room), surrounded by trees.
Full access to the thermotherapy spa, gym, relaxation rooms, and nature trails.
A capped number of participants to maintain intimacy and connection.
Seminars and Guest Speakers that offer space to share, explore, and be curious. We aim for unique experiences likely not found in typical conference spaces.
All seminars and discussions held in English.
Peer Consultations. Explore issues that arise in the session room with the group and its years of experience & expertise.
Group activities that are kindred to why you’re at the retreat.
Over 20 hours of programming gently spread out over 5 days.
Space & time to start your day with self-guided care, including reading, yoga, meditation, forest bathing, or a morning coffee with a peer.
Personal time that allows for spa & treatments or whatever else you fancy before rejoining the main group.
A curated gift bag of relevant goodies that you’ll actually want to keep.
Farewell ceremony to close our shared space with new peers & friends.
What’s not included
Airfare or other travel costs
{a private participant group forum will be created to discuss ride sharing}
Travel insurance
{highly recommended because with the state of the world and life events,
you just never know}
Weather-relevant gear
We will be heading outside rain or shine {unless, you know, torrents & lightning}. Please bring comfortable clothing & footwear relevant for hiking, rain, sun, heat, and cold.
Spa treatments
Your registration grants free access to the pools, saunas, and rest lounges.
Any additional treatments, e.g. massage, are available at extra cost.
{Best to book any treatments as soon as you are registered as spaces are limited}
Apply to be one of the participants in our small group.
We’re keeping this under 18 to maintain connection and intimacy
while learning, exporing, sharing.
Upon acceptance, you will be sent a link to register.
The registration link will be time-limited to 72 hours
in order to allow for those waiting in queue to register.
Scholarship
Two partial scholarship spots will be available for those in financial or career hardship.
If interested, please complete the Scholarship section on the Application form.
Early Bird Bonus
Register before March 15th and receive a special welcome gift.
In addition, your choice of single or shared room is more likely.
Ticket pricing
5-day all inclusive:
room, meals, spa access, seminars, and activities
Shared Room
$2560/pp + tax
Rooms with 2 Queen beds
for the friendly type
Single Private Room
$3495 + tax
Private suite with one Queen bed
for the snug solo sleeper
About your host: Sonya JF Barnett
It me! All smug in a forest.
I’m a Gen X vintage, cis & bi, female, married Latina. I’ve been working in the sexual health and sexual expression spaces since 2009 (more deets about certifications and degrees and the formal blah blah blah of it all on my About Me page).
What I love doing is inviting people to explore the sides of themselves that remain hidden or have dimmed over time. Whether that's one-on-one in the session room, or gathering in a group, I’m at home in a space of curiosity and creativity.
Why am I hosting this retreat? Our therapeutic realm is being coated in a layer of tech that removes the truly human element of exploration and mistakes. This is why I adore the Japanese concept of wabi-sabi, where beauty lies in imperfection, and what nourishes me most is combining my love for learning, nature, and slow living. In 2025, I chose to attend a nature & therapy training retreat rather than larger conferences, and it wound up being transformative.
As someone with experience in creating community, I’m so excited to be crafting this package for others, and would love for you to join. Come be curious with me.
the fine print
Payment and Cancellation
Spa Eastman will be processing all registration payments. Their cancellation policy is as follows:
Registrations within 6 months or less: Full payment (100%) required to guarantee reservation. Registrations more than 6 months in advance: upon request, a two-payment option is available for reservations made by phone. A 50% deposit is required at the time of booking, and the remaining balance may be paid up to 30 days before arrival, at the guest’s convenience. Any additional balance will be payable upon departure.
For online reservations, full payment (100%) is required to guarantee the booking.
You may cancel your stay in full up to 15 days before the start of the retreat. If you cancel between 14 days and 1 day before arrival, a fee of $1875 (before tax) will apply to cover the costs associated with your withdrawal. Of the remaining amount, 50% will be refunded and 50% will be kept as a credit for a future stay. If you cancel less than 24 hours before your arrival, no refund will be issued and the full amount will be charged.
Any questions about payment processing should be directed to Spa Eastman.
A minimum number of participants is required for this retreat. Should that number not be reached, the retreat will, unfortunately, be cancelled and all ticket fees refunded.
Physical considerations
Please be aware Spa Eastman is located in the midst of kilometres of forested trails, and the buildings connected by unpaved paths. Forest bathing during this retreat means walking on uneven trails, and up and down some inclines. Please plan accordingly.
All content written by a real human!
