Question 1

What happens at a trauma retreat?

Accepted Answer

A trauma retreat replaces the weekly-appointment format with continuous, immersive care. At Sanctuary Tulum a typical day pairs one-to-one therapeutic sessions with somatic and nervous-system work — breathwork, yoga, bodywork, guided meditation — alongside physician-supervised integrative therapies, clean nutrition, and time in the ocean and cenotes. There is no group therapy and no shared timetable. Every client's plan is different and is built around history, symptoms, and medical screening.

Question 2

Is this the same as trauma therapy?

Accepted Answer

No. Trauma therapy usually means scheduled outpatient sessions that fit around ordinary life. A retreat removes that life for a period of weeks so the nervous system can down-regulate before deeper work begins, and it adds body-based and integrative modalities that outpatient care rarely includes. The two are complementary rather than interchangeable. Clients who want the clinical PTSD framing should read our PTSD treatment page for details on diagnosis-led care.

Question 3

How long does a trauma retreat last?

Accepted Answer

Stays generally run from four weeks to several months. Shorter stays suit single-incident trauma or clients who already have a stable therapeutic relationship at home. Complex or developmental trauma, especially where sleep, mood, and substance use are also affected, usually needs longer. Length is set during medical and psychological screening rather than sold as a fixed package, and it can be adjusted during the stay.

Question 4

Is a trauma retreat safe if I am on medication?

Accepted Answer

Medication history is reviewed by licensed medical staff before admission, and some medications are contraindicated for specific modalities. Nothing is changed, tapered, or discontinued without physician oversight, and you should never adjust prescribed medication on your own in preparation for a retreat. If your medication profile makes a particular therapy unsuitable, the program is built without it.