Turning Trauma into Transformation
Trauma lives in our bodies, freezing us in past survival responses of fight, flight, or shutdown. While traditional talk therapy attempts to heal the brain, words alone often cannot reach deep visceral imprints. High Hopes Retreat in Greyton offers a different pathway, combining Janina Fisher’s Trauma-Informed Stabilisation Treatment (TIST) with Peter Levine’s Somatic Experiencing (SE) to facilitate a total nervous system reset.
A Fusion of Top-Down and Bottom-Up Healing
High Hopes, led by psychologist and kinesiologist Ange Craig, provides a "held container" that addresses both psychological fragmentation and bodily tension.
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Janina Fisher’s TIST: This "top-down" approach emphasises compassion for "parts" of the self that feel ashamed or stuck. By understanding symptoms as adaptive survival strategies, guests move from self-alienation to self-compassion and stability.
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Peter Levine’s Somatic Experiencing: This "bottom-up" approach discharges trapped survival energy. Through gentle somatic practices, guests "titrate" overwhelming sensations, restoring balance to the nervous system.
A Powerful, Day-by-Day Healing Plan
From the moment you step through the doors, a unique, action-oriented, and spiritually minded healing plan rolls out. This is a meticulous "re-tuning" of the entire being, integrating modalities that move you from survival to thriving.
The Trio of Somatic Release
Because the nervous system "remembers" trauma through muscular bracing, the program utilizes three specific massage types:
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Chi Massage: Targets vital energy centres and the abdomen to clear internal blockages and regulate the digestive system.
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Thai Yoga Massage: Uses rhythmic pressing and assisted stretching to release "survival armour" held in the joints.
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Bliss Body Massage: Employs long, flowing strokes and signature oils to shift guests into a "rest and digest" state.
This physical work is supported by Yoga, Tai Chi, Reiki, and Access Bars energy healing. Crucially, the retreat addresses biological fuel through nutritional re-visioning based on kinesiology testing, providing personalised plant-based meals that nourish at a cellular level.
Artistry, Animals, and the Soul’s "Spring"
What sets High Hopes apart is the creative tapestry woven into the clinical framework. Therapists are oriented toward the arts - from music and composing to goldsmithing, violin-carving, painting, and literature. These creative lineages allow guests to reconstruct their narratives with beauty, putting a "spring" back into the step of the soul.
This environment is anchored by resident animals whose non-judgmental presence offers co-regulation. In the stillness of Greyton, surrounded by the Riviersonderend Mountains, the body finally receives the signal: you are safe now.
Sensory Integration and Long-Term Care
The experience is deeply tactile. Guests are immersed in a sensory journey through a homemade range of aromatherapy products, including specialised scrubs made with essential plant oils, a unique face balm, luxury lotions, and artisan soaps.
To ensure the healing continues at home, guests receive personalised flower essence blends and a "nervous system map." These tools empower individuals to maintain their reset, moving from a life of reaction to one of calm, ease, and authenticity.
For more information and to get in touch, visit www.highhopesretreats.co.za.
