"My time in Costa Rica, was life changing. I have never experienced a group of people with such love and compassion and light.
I was just blown away with the kindness, in a place of profound beauty, I felt safe and welcomed and at ease. I am so grateful. The process has become an important part of my life. I also bought the ACIM text book and am reading that too. Thanks for all that you guys do." Love Susan.
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"I feel the benefits of my time in Costa Rica. I was deeply struck but the sense of connection I felt so quickly there and it has definitely affected my day to day encounters with others." - Toodi W
It was in February 2017 that I first heard about Diederik Wolsak’s work and the Six Steps to Freedom Process.
At that point I had been a student of the Course in Miracles for 4 months and had been hoping for the miracle that would take me out of the deep anxiety and the feeling of hopelessness that I felt on and off for years. My life had become one coping mechanism after another for years, between a desperate spiritual practice, tools and medicine journeys, workshops, study groups and I had spent thousands of Dollars and countless hours in online courses to try to find out what was wrong with me – I figured there had to be something wrong with me because despite all the efforts, and the deep spiritual journeys, realisations and having lived in an Ashram for years nothing seemed to last more than a couple of days or weeks at best, before that same old feeling of desperation and being a failure came back. What was wrong with me?? I wanted to let you and the rest of the team know that my time at El Cielo was life changing. I know that I have only been home a couple of weeks but I have been using the tools and feel so free. It is amazing how taking responsibility for my own happiness and giving up responsibility for anyone else's can flip the world upside down.
I have had no symptoms of anxiety or depression since I arrived in Costa Rica. I feel like a different person. "I went to El Cielo in 2014 when I was fifty-eight years old. I had been receiving talk therapy for PTSD and Asperger Syndrome, which provided a measure of symptomatic relief, but I wanted more: I wanted my self-relationship to be healed. I spoke with Diederik on the phone to ask whether Choose Again might be appropriate for me. I look back on that conversation with bemusement because I know now that Choose Again is an appropriate course of learning for anyone (irrespective of the name he gives his unhappiness.) The daily
As I sit here at the Choose Again Intensive Retreat Centre in Costa Rica, I still have to pinch myself that I'm so blessed to be here. Only 3 short weeks ago, I arrived here not knowing what to expect but have been so truly and pleasantly surprised and delighted by the beautiful transformation that's taking place within me here.
The Costa Rican name for the Choose Again centre is El Cielo, which means Heaven. The name could not be more apt because the change of mind that is taking place since being "I am a professional therapist. I lived in the Eastern countries for a number of years and I am somewhat versed with the concepts of self awareness and the practice of yoga and meditation. Yet, while being in El Cielo (the Residential Centre in Costa Rica) I found a whole new dimension of being and living that enriched my life." - DY
"The impact of Choose Again has been huge in my life. I have been involved with Choose Again for ten years, and can honestly say life is getting better for me all the time!" - DH
"Choose Again has been a great benefit for our family. Diederik Wolsak’s patient and steady counsel through quotes like “be gentle with yourself” have provided me with a guide on my journey to ‘get over myself’. Association with Choose Again and its counsellors have helped me in my personal life and my job." - D H
"Today all is for me. For my healing, learning or growing. Today, I am responsible. Today I am happy. Today I am free. Today I know peace. Today I am alive. My gratitude knows no bounds." - R. A.
"The Choose Again approach is lovingly, gently, radically different. They teach that all situations are for my learning and healing, and that what I need to change is my negative beliefs about myself. My self-hatred fueled my needle use –my self-love fuels my recovery."
– Dan P. "The love, peace, and happiness that I have experienced in the few weeks since I have made contact with the people at Choose Again is a priceless gift. The weekend was among the most positive, life-changing experiences of my life. I am profoundly grateful to the program participants, Diederik, and his staff for their courage and their love." - GS
"I gained tremendous psychological and emotional benefits from my stay in Costa Rica. I have now been free, for two months, of depression medication I was on for twelve years, and have used concepts acquired at the Centre in dealing with those down times, to great effect." - MS
"The Centre in Costa Rica is located in a very lush tropical and incredibly beautiful area. The staff were very professional, accessible and caring. The accomodation is simple but clean and comfortable. The food was very good, healthy and made from scratch, a lot of vegetarian meals. There are ongoing activities which keep you busy which is great. I enjoyed our Tuesday outings to the hot springs and kayaking. The daily walks/hikes were fantastic. I felt fantastic when I was at the centre!" - K
Read an independent evaluation of the Choose Again program.
"The immersion in the process, the lack of distraction from TV etc enabled me to cleanse my mind too. I had no idea what to expect when I went to visit, but, like some of the other clients there, I had not expected the calm, the sense of inner quiet that I left with and still feel a week later. Nor had I expected the clarity of thought and seeing that I experienced in the Circle." - Dr. Norma Clark
"In a very short time I was able to understand where my problems were coming from, take responsibility for my experience in life and change my way of thinking. The results for me were extraordinary. I became happier than I ever imagined I could be." - EA
"Choose-Again’s approach was incredibly different than any other Centre. In Costa Rica they focused on my BELIEFS about myself. Rather than trying to change my behavior, they worked on having me realize my fundamental self." - Dan P
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Find out what other people think of us!
We try to get as much feedback as we can so we know we are doing our best for you. Here are some of the great things people had to say about our workshops and intensive retreats. Archives
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