Deeper Wells: A Retreat for Men

DATE: November 13-16, 2025

LOCATION: SPIRIT OF FORMATION HOUSE (LANGLEY, BC)

COST: $650

**Up to $450 may be eligible for extended health coverage**

RETREAT SIZE: 10 PARTICIPANTS

RETREAT FACILITATORS: BRENT UNRAU & MATT ARMSTRONG

APPLy deadline: OCTOBER 15, 2025

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DEEPER WELLS is a group counselling retreat designed specifically for men, integrating evidence-based therapeutic practices with the rich, grounding traditions of contemplative Christianity.

Participants will share in opportunities to experience vulnerability and connection with their true selves, fellow men, and the God who sustains us in our hurt and our healing.

To facilitate these connections, retreatants will be invited to participate in:

  • Group counselling to act as the container for self-exploration and engagement with one another.

  • Contemplative practices to welcome us in to the presence of God as the ground of our being.

  • Personal times of silence and reflection.

  • Shared rhythms of eating, drinking, and movement in nature.

MORE INFO:

Cost Breakdown & Extended Health Coverage

The total cost for the retreat is $650. This includes accommodation, meals, and group counselling.

Counselling receipts (total: $450) will be issued following the retreat. This amount can be submitted to extended health providers for reimbursement. Please check that counselling by a Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC) or a Canadian Certified Counsellor (CCC) is covered by your extended health plan.

Full payment is due by October 15, 2025.

No refunds offered after November 1, 2025.

Spirit of Formation House?

The Spirit of Formation House is a charming, rustic retreat nestled in the forested heart of South Langley. For over 30 years, it has been lovingly managed by Catholic nuns dedicated to guiding others in spiritual formation. The home serves as a peaceful setting for workshops and retreats focused on personal and spiritual growth—offered at a cost that keeps them accessible to all.

Anyone can apply to this retreat, regardless of religious background.

What is group counselling?

The retreat includes 15 hours of group process counselling, delivered in five 3-hour sessions. In these sessions, participants meet in person to openly share their struggles and concerns, guided by two trained group counsellors. The strength of process groups lies in the opportunity to receive diverse perspectives, mutual support, encouragement, and constructive feedback within a safe and confidential setting.

To ensure the group experience is beneficial for all, participant selection will be based on individual readiness, capacity to engage, and alignment with the goals of the retreat.

What is contemplative practice?

The retreat will include spiritual practices rooted in contemplative Christianity, such as the prayerful and slow reading of scripture, meditative prayer (lectio divina), taking time for silence and solitude, engaging with nature, and an overall inward attentiveness to God's presence.