The Gaian Oasis
We're busy turning a neglected farm in Spain into a safe sanctuary for people suffering from depression, low mood, anxiety, overwhelm and burn out to to heal and thrive through connection with Mother Nature's therapeutic magick!Visit the Gaian Oasis website or follow our journey on YouTube to learn more about our amazing project.
I’ve created several ways for you to work with me in person:
My retreats and workshops are designed to be transformational and make sure you go home feeling refreshed, rejuvenated and restored.
Click the buttons to find out more.
(*Longer group retreats often include one to one sessions with me, so you’ll get everything you need to create your own personal Gaian Path.)
Upcoming Retreats and Live Gatherings in Spain
What’s the Gaian Oasis all about?
Waaaay back in 2005, I began a therapeutic riding school and care farm for kids with autism and ADHD. It was my dream business and we changed the lives of many children through our animal assisted therapy work.
But then 2013, it all came to an end.
I had a mental health breakdown that meant I lost my income, my rented farm and my gorgeous business. Losing everything broke me and I slipped into severe depression.
In the last decade, I’ve worked on my mental and physical health, moved from the UK to Spain for a better life, studied a lot and been certified in coaching, counselling and a bunch of different therapies.
I started an online business called ‘Ditch the Black Dog’ helping people struggling with depression to heal and thrive through following the Gaian Path to wellness.
But for the longest time, I’ve dreamed of rebuilding my physical business and bringing people together with animals again.
I always loved being able to meet with people face to face to share how Mother Nature, Gaia, and her gifts, can help us to heal and thrive in a world that’s often chaotic, confusing and stressful.
It felt like just a pipe dream. But in early 2025, after ten years of living in a rented farm in inland Spain, our landlady gave us notice that she wanted her house back.
At first we were devastated, then optimistic. Maybe this was just the kick up the bum we needed to look for a place where our dreams could come true.
We were devastated all over again when we discovered the reality of the housing crisis in Spain.
It seemed impossible to find a home that
1. we could afford and
2. would house 7 of us plus 3 elderly dogs, a bunch of cats, 2 ponies and 4 ducks.
You can find out more about our story here:
I’m a pretty good at manifesting what I want, so I made a list of everything we needed in a new home and carried on searching, even though what we were looking for didn’t seem to exist.
I wrote a note on a post it and stuck it to my whiteboard. It said,
‘Everything is going to fall into place. Believe in miracles.’
This scruffy scrap of post-it survived the move and so I put it back on my white board.
Long story short
After a year of searching, being rejected, not having enough money, pets, or too many kids, we found the place we’ve been dreaming of. It has everything on our wish-list and we could afford it.
The compromises? We aren’t able to buy it yet, we can only rent it for now.
And the biggest issue is that the house and land are in need of complete renovation.
Luckily, we’re not afraid of hard work, and we’ve renovated properties before.
Our miracle happened and I’m writing this at my desk in my new home!
We moved into the house in January 2026.
At the grand old age of 54, I’m getting a second chance to restart my dream business and I can’t tell you how excited I am!
The Gaian Oasis isn’t ready to open for you to visit yet, but if you’d like to follow our journey we’ve started a YouTube Channel showing you what we’re doing to create our beautiful sanctuary where wounded, lonely and lost souls will come to heal and thrive through the power of Gaian Magick!
Upcoming Retreats and Live Gatherings in Spain
Spain is a magickal country.
In my opinion, there’s no better place to come to ditch the black dog of depression and unleash your passion for life!
I moved here for the sunshine and got way more than I bargained for!
Blue oceans, majestic mountains, great food, culture and a relaxed, laid back attitude to life helped me to heal my wounded soul.
And now I want to share the magick of Spain with you.
I’m creating the kind of retreats and live gatherings that I wish had existed when I was fighting depression.
I felt so alone and I really needed to be around people who could understand what I was going through.
I also knew I didn’t want to leave an event feeling all fired up, but then ending up deflated and lonely once I got home.
So I’ve made it so that it’s not over when the live event finishes!
The group gatherings are powerfully therapeutic, but I want you to be able to access support after they end.
All of my retreats and live gatherings in Spain come with access to their own online community (NOT Facebook) where you can connect with me and the people who shared your journey.
The community is open 24/7 and gives you a whole toolkit of extras to help you when you need it.
No more feeling alone and struggling in the darkest hours of the night when everything feels bleakest.
My greatest wish is that you create a community of friendship and support around you to help nurture and nourish you when you need a helping hand.
My retreats and live gatherings in Spain aren’t just healing sessions, they’re
so much more!
We’re creating a movement – the Gaian REVOLution, where we bring sacred activism into the healing journey!
Sessions may include conservation activities, fundraisers, special projects designed to make the planet a better place for us all.
I told you I’m not your typical therapist!
Upcoming Retreats and Live Gatherings in Spain
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Ditch the Black Dog Retreats and Live Gatherings a Substitute for Therapy?
As a certified coach, counsellor, energy and Soul healer and nature therapist, I’m professionally bound to tell you that your first port of call when you feel depressed should be your doctor or a licensed medical professional who can prescribe medication.
But I have a caveat.
If for some reason you can’t get access to therapy, (maybe you’re on a long waiting list) or you’ve tried traditional therapy and counseling but just didn’t benefit from it the way you hoped, the Ditch the Black Dog Retreats and live gatherings could be for you.
You could use the resources in the Retreats and Circles in conjunction with therapy, to fill in the gaps between sessions or to help you fast track your recovery.
Your experience with depression is personal to you and it’s entirely your choice how you choose to help yourself.
You know yourself better than anyone and you know what your personal challenges are.
If what you’ve been doing isn’t working for you, it’s ok to try something different.
My advice is to take what works for you and leave the rest behind.
Where Do Your Retreats and Live Gatherings Take Place?
Currently, I offer retreats and live gatherings in and around the Costa Blanca area of Spain – expanding throughout the Valencian Community.
Ocean Therapy and Energy Healing Sessions take place in the Playa de San Juan area. I am also organising boat trips from various ports.
Forest Therapy and Energy Healing Sessions will be in the Sierra de Mariola area, Petrer, Xixona or anywhere there are trees!
Animal Assisted Therapy and Energy Healing Sessions will take place at various animal facilities to be confirmed. Check each event listing.
Check each event listing for details of Sacred Circle Packages. If enough people want to arrange a Sacred Circle locally, I’m willing to come to a specific area.
Details of retreats and their locations will be available as soon as I’ve chosen and booked suitable accomodation. I’m in the process of purchasing my own nature reserve and retreat centre, so look out for details of that! It will be amazing!
How Much Does it Cost? Do You Have Payment Plans?
I believe in a fair, just, inclusive and equal society. This means that I aim to make my products and services accessible to all. The price of each retreat or live gathering is different, depending on the offer.
Some events will take place within other organisations and I cannot do much about their fees, but I can try to put payment plans in place. Check each program for full details and any payment plans that might be available.
I use Klarna to pay in three for many things and I highly recommend it. Paypal may offer the opportunity to pay in 3 instalments or more depending on your circumstances. But this is a company that I prefer not to use if at all possible.
If you need financial help to access my paid programs, there will be an application form attached to each event where you can request a discount or scholarship.
Please visit my Giving Back page if you want to know more about how I give back and pay forward.
I Can't Make It, Can I Have a Refund?
All payments for retreats and live gatherings must be paid in full in advance.
If for some reason, you cannot make it, you MUST let me know as soon as possible.
RETREATS POLICY – retreats are residential stays of several days.
This is only a brief guideline.
Deposits are NOT refundable less than a month before the date of the retreat.
You can transfer your place to someone else.
It may be possible to change the date of your retreat for a more suitable one.
The best thing to do is contact me, so we can come up with the best plan to suit your circumstances.
LIVE GATHERINGS POLICY
All bookings must be made in advance and paid in full prior to attendance, unless previously agreed.
For one off events and gatherings, refunds will NOT be available if you cancel with less than 24 hours notice.
However, if I cancel the gathering, you will receive a FULL refund without quibble.
If you purchased a package and are not available to attend, no refund will be given. This is because you are paying for your space in the group as a whole and not each individual weekly session. You will still be able to access the online community and resources etc even if you don’t attend the live session.
Not able to come to Spain to heal the wounds that keep you trapped in depression?
Why not join the Ditch the Black Dog Virtual Retreat?
I know it’s not possible for you to hop on a plane and join me in Spain every time you need support, so I created a virtual therapeutic retreat.
You might not get to actually dip your toes in the Mediterranean Sea, but you can access this experiential space 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year!
This is typically the space where most peopIe ask you to sign up for their newsletter.
But I know that when you're depressed the last thing you need is loads of emails you'll never read clogging up your inbox.
Yes, you need tips, tools, and suggestions, but you also need to feel seen and heard by people who understand you.
This is my invitation to you to come join me in the Black Dog Café for a chat. All you have to do is bring yourself and your favourite drink!
The café is a little bit different than the typical online groups you might have seen before, and it's perfectly ok if you only want to lurk at first!
