P4 Retreat: TEXAS 2024
A highly unique event specifically designed for DID trauma survivors.
Welcome to the Piney Woods of East Texas.
And welcome to P4'24. I hope you are thinking about joining us this year. We have lots of options.
Select to stay 3, 5, or 10 peace-filled nights, or pick a unique schedule of your choosing.
Enjoy this quaint, comfortable, spacious location, tucked away from the hustle and bustle of the city, surrounded by nature in a secure, private location. We will have an entire campus to ourselves! No neighbors, no roads, no traffic. We have well over 100-acres just for us!
We'll have fun -- lots of fun! This campus has all kinds of space for outdoor recreation and oodles of rooms and goodies to use for indoor activities as well. Let the fun begin!
OH, but don't be fooled by all the fun stuff. While you're here, be prepared to learn lots about living with DID, increasing system communication, and overall system management. We're gonna play, of course, but ultimately, the goal is learning more about increasing system communication and enhanced dissociative living.
ACTIVITIES and ADVENTURE
Each day we will have:
Morning discussion group process talks, where Kathy will present a topic related to life with DID. “Today’s focus will be…..”
Evening process groups where we discuss the events of the day, and have educational talks about what was learned or experienced.
Group discussions that are Q&A question periods, where we can talk openly about attendee questions about DID and how to problem solve or understand what is happening.
Group and individual activities demonstrating or encouraging DID system work and DID internal communication.
Designated and specifically designed as outdoor activities on the grounds to teach information about DID system communication.
Fun and playful activities designed specifically for the kid parts.
Art projects that emphasize DID system work, personalized to each participant. At P4 '24, we have a designated Art Building! More space for bigger projects.
Journaling or writing projects, including those infamous acronyms. Bring notebooks and plenty of writing utensils!
Ongoing array of puzzles to work, because the Puzzle Metaphor is just that important at P4 events!
Do puzzles include LEGO? Lego have their own unique qualities, and we have giant bins of LEGO to use.
Community sharing of regular household tasks, ie: cooking, cleaning, managing the lodge so there is no messy build up. Help House Mom keep our retreat house manageable!
Outdoor Relaxation-Recreation Time — sit outside on the porch, splash around in the lake, explore hiking trails, go on adventure walks, sit by the fire pit, play basketball or volleyball, try out a paddle board, use a canoe, play pool. There are so many recreational options here at this venue, it's hard to list them all!
Music time. Kathy will play the piano as requested. Bring music and playlists that you might want to share (not necessarily each day).
Dance and body movement — connecting to the physical self with a calm, relaxed atmosphere (not necessarily a daily event).
Breakfast, lunch and dinner, with spontaneously fun moments planned throughout our meal times.
Community Time. Yes, there will be plenty of down time where you can talk to other attendees, or take some personal time for yourself.
Time to rest. Time to breathe. Time to relax. Time to enjoy your stay in Texas. You can slow down the pace if you need to.
Equine Activities
HORSES! How can you come to Texas without seeing a horse?!
Without petting a horse?
Without standing next to a horse?
Maybe even riding a horse??!!
I'm very happy to announce that we are looking at a few different horse-related activities for the P4 '24 attendees.
More details will be posted soon.
The Clay Board Will Return!
Our Clay Board work was one of the most impactful, and helpful activities we did in Montana 2022 and NC '23.
In fact, the Clay Board was so popular, and so beneficial, it was requested for our Small Group Intensives as well.
The Clay Board is hugely effective in helping systems of people express some of their deeper feelings, inner pain, and complicated frustrations. Sometimes, this comes out as anger. But sometimes, we see feelings of fear, sadness, grief, heartache. Usually there are combinations of all kinds of emotions. Whatever heavy emotion you are carrying is welcomed here.
Some people use more words. Some people use sounds.
Some people read their prepared words. Other folks speak what they feel at the moment.
Loud voices, soft voices, even whispers are effective.
Everyone works on breathing and using some form of expression.
Some people use large body movements and big strong throws. Other people stand close to the board, and do soft tosses. Or both! Because of course, your insiders may want to have turns, and their throwing style may not be the same.
This is also the time when Kathy gets to have a little more individual time with the attendees. I will be right there with you, speaking with you, checking with you and your insiders, encouraging you, supporting you. It's a time when we get to talk more privately.
To make the most of the experience, you'll be given some pre-Clay journaling to do, and of course, some post-Clay writing activities for afterwards. The Clay Work brings up a lot of emotion, a lot of insiders will be paying attention. As a form of corrective emotional experience, Clay Work gives a voice to many insiders who often don't feel the freedom to speak. Your system may feel the impact of this internal movement. Clay can be helpful in moving your inside team through places of impasse.
Some folks are a little scared to try, but I hope everyone is willing.
Please note, you won't be forced to do this activity, although you will be encouraged to give it a go!
When we were in North Carolina, our clay got too wet from the rain, so we used rocks. Still effective! In fact, the rocks were so effective that we busted a hole, then another big right hole through the board. That took some powerful anger work!
The whole group cheered when we announced we had pounded the board enough through the week that we had made a hole. What a fantastic reward! We all cheered extra loud about that accomplishment!
Not to worry -- I have a new board, and I know where to get yet another one should we tear this one up as well.
A schedule to sign up for designated time spots will be provided when y'all arrive in Texas. You may have the option for 1 or 2 turns at the Clay Board, depending on how the schedule works for the whole group.
At the P4 '24 country campus, we'll find just the right place for our Clay Board, giving just enough privacy but not too far of a walk. And yes, of course, it will be accessible for everyone.
Get your brave on -- let's go slam some clay!
Cookie Day is BACK!
OH yes. Cookies and cakes are back on the schedule! YAY!
At our P4 '24 country campus in Texas, we'll have two different kitchens to use, located in two separate buildings.
These are both simple kitchens, but they are designated kitchens none-the-less! This means, if you want to bake your favorite cookies, or make your gramma's best banana bread, you will have the option to plan some kitchen-time and cook and bake, or ice your cake.
What is your favorite desert? Do you have any treats you would like to share?
*** Please NOTE: If you are planning on cooking or baking, please make sure to discuss specifics about bakeware, pans, and your cooking details with Kathy and the Discussing Dissociation Care Team well ahead of time. We'll coordinate our baking schedule with those of you who are interested in baking. We will likely spread out the options for cooking times so we can enjoy goodies all through our days here.
