Choose Again Attitudinal Healing Centre in Costa Rica, residential program
The Program's Underlying Principles
An untrained mind can accomplish nothing, so developing a disciplined mind is a significant part of our program. It is in fact a profound mind training.
At the Centre the clients are engaged daily in the process of transforming their limiting or negative core beliefs into the truth that they are whole and innocent. The intensive work at the Centre is guided by an approach that is both loving and focused.
This is not a Twelve-Step program. Many of our clients are AA based and find that what we offer could be considered the steps beyond AA. Recently we enjoyed the company of two AA members, both well over 20 years ‘dry’, who were dangerously overweight. While they had been ‘dry’ they had transferred their addiction (or attack on the self) from alcohol to food. In all the years of not drinking they had not explored what the underlying cause for their alcoholism might be. “It is a disease” closes the door on such exploration. We open that door and teach a methodology to correct the mistaken beliefs.
We study writings by Rumi, Poonja, Nisargadatta, Gerald Jampolsky, A Course in Miracles, Marianne Williamson, Ramana Maharshi, Meister Eckhart, Eckhart Tolle and others. All teach the same message: who you think you are is a construct of your own mind and, therefore, we have the power to change our minds at any time.
Above all we teach 100% accountability. We teach and demonstrate that we are the author of entire experience, our experience is the result of our choices and our choices are based on our beliefs; we can always choose again. There is no one to blame, not parents, not government, not genes and not ourselves. There simply is no blame.
The most powerful thing we do for our clients is to hold them as whole and complete in our minds, in other words, never lose sight of the truth within them regardless of what they believe to be true.
Client/Staff Ratio
The Choose Again Centre is a small facility. We accept no more than seven clients at any one time allowing for a very high staff to client ratio.
Can I keep taking my medications?
Although it is sometimes difficult to access feelings when drugs are used, it is always the choice of the client and his doctor what to do in the case of prescription medications. The fact is that almost all our clients, even those with a long history of being on meds, are now medication free. There is no depression medication on the market that 'cures' depression.
While we offer a non-pharmaceutical solution to issues such as depression and insomnia, we do not require clients to be medication free. We have found that most will choose to reduce their pharmaceutical intake and in many cases are completely medication-free by the time they leave the Centre. Of the hundreds of people we have worked with only a couple still choose the help of meds from time to time.
How much does it cost?
Please contact us directly for the current daily and monthly rate.
Why is the Centre in Costa Rica?
There are so many reasons why and we'll attempt to list them not in any order of importance:
- The climate around Lake Arenal in Northern Costa Rica is moderate, yearly average temperature is 24C (75 F) this allows us to be outside year around and to enjoy constant interaction with nature.
- We are on 11 acres of beautifully landscaped grounds with rain forest, flowers and amazing views of the Lake below. The bird population is stunning, the plant variety amazing and the insects provide a never ending source of wonder.
- We enjoy walks down to the Lake and swim several times a week in the clear, clean water.
- Arenal is one of the most active volcanoes in the world and even though it is a very safe 32 kilometers away provides a majestic backdrop and energizing presence.
- We regularly visit the Arenal hot springs where the experience of swimming in water heated by volcanic action or sitting under a pounding hot waterfall is dramatically detoxifying and profoundly relaxing.
- Exposure to an entirely different culture. We in North America are so used to thinking that we need 3 TV’s, two cars, movie theatres, shopping malls, latest fashion etc. The Costa Ricans do mostly without these and are an extraordinarily happy population. We learn that all these goodies from outside of us will never bring us happiness.
- Color therapy. The colors of the vegetation, flowers, birds and insects are stunningly different from our northern palette.
- Fresh fruit and vegetables. Tasting a carrot or a tomato grown in rich fertile soil brings back memories from days gone by when locally grown produce had flavor. While the average food on the table in North America has travelled thousands of miles the food we serve came from local farms and you can tell the difference immediately.
- Pacific Ocean beaches. Occasionally we journey to any of the stunning beaches on the Pacific side of Costa Rica. Miles of pure nature, clear warm water, pelicans, frigate birds, turtles and hot, hot sun.
We could keep going, but we are sure you get the idea: we love it here!
Local Medical Facilities and Support
The town of Tilarán, a mere 15 minutes away, offers complete medical care. There is a well-staffed and equipped clinic and we have developed a relationship with an MD/homeopath who is fluent in English. She has seen several of our clients for a variety of issues and has been most helpful and professional at all times. While we offer a non-pharmaceutical solution to issues such as depression we do not require clients to be medication free. We have found that most will choose to reduce their pharmaceutical intake and in many cases are completely medication free by the time they return to Vancouver.
The Staff
The program director is Diederik Wolsak RPC, MPCP, and co-founder of Choose Again Society. While Diederik resides mostly in Costa Rica he returns to Vancouver regularly in order to lead workshops, give talks and follow-up sessions.
Other staff members include highly trained counselors, yoga instructor, a myo fascia release therapist, and increasingly, peer mentors.
Also, read the Bios Page.
Peer mentors are individuals who have spent considerable time at the Centre as clients and are now returning to deepen their understanding of the work and strengthen their practice while being of service to others. We are in the process of developing a certification-training program, which would allow program graduates to apply for Registered Professional Counselor status.