Eligibility
Who is eligible for a free retreat at The Monastery?
At The Monastery, we refer to people who retreat with us as 'guests'. As part of our year-long initiative 'The Monastery opens its heart to Canterbury', we invite guest applications from men, women and young people between 14 and 18 years (attending as part of a family group), who:
- have experienced the devastating effects of the Christchurch earthquakes and are feeling tired, stressed or traumatised as a result
- need time out from the stressors associated with earthquakes, such as after-shocks and loss
- believe they are able to benefit from reflection and some time by themselves
- are able to manage their own medication, if they take any
- are generally able to manage the ongoing effects of anxiety, grief and trauma and are not distressed to the degree that suicide or self-harm is a risk
- have appropriate support services in place when they return home, or are willing, where possible, to arrange appropriate support services in their community
- are willing for a health professional to be contacted if necessary to validate information about them pertaining to safety and risk.
The Monastery is not suitable for those guests who:
- have acute or chronic symptoms of psychosis, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, or medical needs that require day to day medical attention
- have current drug or alcohol dependence.
We would be delighted to hear from guests who meet these criteria and who would like to come and retreat at The Monastery. Please contact us for further details.
