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 31st July 2010
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Tranquil Mayenne is perfect for retreatsTherapy workshops in the Pays de la LoireWomen and couples will soon have the opportunity to take part in a series of therapeutic retreats being offered in the Mayenne countryside.
“What we’re looking to achieve is that people will come and escape from their everyday lives for a week…and go away taking part of what we think is wonderful about France…to feel empowered and refreshed and ready to get on with their lives in perhaps a slightly different way,” states Julie Askew, a professor of Marriage and Family Therapy and Sex Therapy at Hofstra University in New York and one of the founding members of Wisdom Retreats, the organisation hosting the retreats. Julie received her Ph.D. in Marriage and Family Therapy at the University of Georgia, in Athens, Georgia, which is where she met Lacy and Tom Camp, both extensively experienced marital therapists. The concept of Wisdom Retreats came about during a weekend getaway at the Camp’s home in the north Georgia mountains, while discussing ideas about women and couples and the modern issues confronting them. France was chosen as the ideal location for the retreats because of the relaxing and welcoming atmosphere here. The first workshop offered in France is the ‘Women’s Wisdom Retreat: Celebrating Midlife and Beyond’, taking place May 31 to June 5, 2009. “We felt that this is such an important phase of women’s lives that we really felt more should be done to make women feel empowered,” said Julie. “This is a time when women generally feel fairly negative about aging and we wanted to do something to try and correct that.” Next up is ‘Better Sex: Relationship & Sexual Enrichment Retreat for Couples’, offered June 7 to 11, 2009. “Couples find it difficult to communicate and that’s a big part of intimacy”, states Julie. “What a great idea to come and be in France together and have a very intensive time with other couples and two or three very experienced couples therapists who will explore their relationship, their sexual relationship, and their intimacy. And then we’re suggesting that they might like to finish the week up by going to Paris for a romantic weekend.” The final retreat offered during the 2009 summer is ‘Phenomenal Women’, inspired by the Maya Angelou poem, Phenomenal Woman. A particular project of Lacy Camp’s, Julie explains that this retreat is “for women of all ages to come and have a long weekend retreat. It’s mainly going to be a mixture of meditation and creative work and conversation… where women can come and be together and talk about what it is that’s wonderful and phenomenal about them and get back in touch with that.” It’s thought that a number of therapists might wish to attend and combine this retreat with a vacation in France.
Moving from Brighton, Derek and Carole bought their French farmhouse on the spur-of-the-moment in 2000, scraping together the down payment. They’ve completed the impressive restoration themselves, sourcing materials and furnishings in keeping with the authentic building; part of it was built by the English in the 1400’s and it has now come full circle to be owned by English again!
After visiting her parents’ new home in France, Julie bought herself a house in Montaudin in 2001 that she is currently renovating. Also from Brighton, where she was a therapist with the NHS, Julie has lived in the United States for several years now and plans to eventually move to France permanently, wishing to raise her children here. She recently adopted beautiful baby son Luc, who turns one in November, 2008. The experience has been so wonderful, she’s planning to adopt another child. When she does make the move, she will probably offer therapy to English-speaking people in the Mayenne. “There are a number of people here with anxiety problems and I think a lot of couples here find it a stressful time for their relationship.” Good news for the English-speaking people of the Mayenne department. As most of us know, the transition to life in France can be exciting, but can also be stressful. Living in a foreign environment where you don’t speak the language well, getting to know the different culture and ways of doing things, couples being together now 24/7 - it’s all a big adjustment. Also in the works for Julie is the possibility of writing a book. “We’re going to be doing a large survey of women who had hysterectomy and asking them to talk frankly about their sexuality after hysterectomy, because it’s an area that’s still very poorly understood.” If you are interested in taking part in the confidential survey, Julie would love to hear from you and you can contact her through the Wisdom Retreats website. For more information or to sign up for a retreat, visit the Wisdom Retreats website. To contact Derek and Carole Askew about B&B or dinner hosting, please visit the Sous-Carelles website. Pays de la Loire Property, Living and Holidays Home Page |
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