Event Details - 8-Day Certification Retreat: Nutritional and Integrative Medicine for Mental Health Professionals

Escape to Blue Spirit Costa Rica, a world-class retreat center nestled between lush jungle and the Pacific Ocean, for the ultimate blend of professional development and personal renewal.

Immerse yourself in cutting-edge training designed to provide you the evidence-based tools you need to enhance client care and support their mind-body wellness. Between expert-led sessions, enjoy restorative free time and the natural beauty of Costa Rica’s beaches and rainforest. Savor nourishing, organic meals and connect with like-minded professionals in an inspiring,
eco-conscious setting.

Clinicians often say to me: “I want to include Nutritional and Integrative Medicine methods into my practice but I am not sure where to begin or how to do this? And, “What am I allowed to do?”

Many clients are already self-prescribing based on information obtained on the Internet or their friends. While many of these clinical methods have few negative side effects, some herbal supplements, juice fasts and other apparently healthy activities can have significant adverse outcomes if not tailored to the individual’s psychobiology.

This training will provide state-of-the-art, clinical skills you need to help your clients safely navigate nutritional and integrative medicine.

You will also have opportunity to discuss cases, ask questions, develop new assessment skills and explore both metaphorical and scientific language that allows for effective communication with clients. Guest speaker, who is a leading voice in her discipline, Mary Ann Osborne (click for bio), nurse practitioner, will join us during the retreat to share her specific area of expertise.

This content-rich retreat is organized with plenty of down time for rest, rejuvenation and relaxation or even for nourishing naps and massages. Blue Spirit is the ideal setting, with its premier oceanfront property, sustainable luxury accommodations, and holistic approach to wellness, in which to rejuvenate while learning integrative clinical skills.

I look forward to seeing you in Costa Rica!

Best,

Perched on a jungled hilltop that overlooks the Pacific Ocean and a three-mile-long white sand beach, Blue Spirit Retreat Center offers an extraordinarily beautiful and natural setting to relax and rejuvenate yourself.

Relax in the environmentally friendly saltwater pool with stunning views of the surrounding mountains and jungle, try some exquisite, gourmet vegetarian cuisine, or even try surfing in the Pacific Ocean along the stunning white sands of Guiones Beach – Blue Spirit has something for everyone!

Stimulate your mind and body – Leave feeling renewed and transformed on both a personal and professional level – and empowered to integrate nutritional and integrative medicine confidently and ethically into your treatments.

Your Journey to this Costa Rican Paradise Includes*:

Learn to help clients safely navigate nutritional & integrative medicine
Training and Q&A with a renowned integrative medicine expert, educator & author
CIMHP Certification Application Fee – a $99.99 value!
Up to 23.5 CE Hours, CE certificate, & course manual
Stunning views, peaceful environment, and saltwater pool
Pristine mountain jungle walking trails and 3 miles of white sand beaches
Private lodging for the duration of your stay
Luxurious room accommodation of choice, including scenic mountain or ocean view options
Free time for relaxation & excursions
All Standard Blue Spirit Amenities -
- Gourmet Vegetarian Cuisine (3 meals/day)
- Saltwater Infinity Pool
- On-Site Spa** (on-site reservations required)
- Direct access to Guiones Beach
- Deeply Relaxing Environment within the Costa Rican jungle
- Blue Spirit Cafe & Store**
- Convenient Travel – Blue Spirit Airport Shuttle Available & Highly Recommended**

Blue Spirit Costa Rica has a world class spa on site. Whether you’re experiencing underlying tensions in your tissues, seeking energetic balance, or simply in the mood to be pampered – all Blue Spirit bodyworkers, therapists, and counselors are highly qualified, excel in what they do, and enjoy being of service.

The Nosara Longevity Center at Blue Spirit offers a variety of health protocols and treatments to restore and maintain your state of optimal wellbeing and enhanced vitality. Developed by Blue Spirit founder, Stephan Rechtschaffen, MD.

Spa and longevity services can be booked once you arrive at the retreat center.

Guests rave about the treats at the café. If you like to start your day with a healthy superfood smoothie, fresh coconut water or fresh vegetable juice, or prefer to indulge in an afternoon cappuccino with an assortment of freshly made gluten-free and vegan snacks, the Blue Spirit Café is your spot. In the evening, guests like to mingle in the relaxing atmosphere while sipping excellent organic wines or refresh with a chilled artisanal beer or kombucha.

Whether you forgot your sunscreen at home or wish to treat yourself or friends at home with a little gift from Costa Rica: the Blue Spirit Store offers women’s and men’s apparel, spiritual books, gift items and snack foods, as well as personal and sundry items.

Clinical Application and Evidence-Based Research

Nutritional therapies
Culinary medicine
Behavioral medicine
Nutritional supplementation
Herbal medicine
Hydrotherapies for mood management
Aromatherapy
Bodywork therapies
Acupuncture and cranial electrical stimulation
Sound and music for insomnia and mood
Light & dark therapies
Stage appropriate yoga for anxiety, pain and PTSD
Integrative detoxification for addiction

Assessments

Learn to conduct a basic nutritional food/mood assessment
Learn to conduct an adrenal stress and biological rhythm assessment
Culture and ethnicity assessment and treatment
The Cultural Formulation Interview and CAM methods
3 basic lab tests for optimal mental health

The Psychology of Change Using Integrative Approaches

Balance the Sleep/Wake Cycle in Depression, Bipolar, and PTSD

Balance circadian rhythm in depression, bipolar, PTSD
Apply special yogic breathing exercises for mental health
Enhance sleep and address insomnia

The Complex Relationships between Mental and Physical Health

Strategies to reduce inflammation: the major factor in depression, anxiety, bipolar and ADHD
Chronic illness, fibromyalgia
Anxiety and digestion
The second brain: microbiome, probiotics and GBA and anxiety
Sleep, adrenal health and rhythms
Anger, alcohol abuse and liver health
Genetics, depression and brain
PTSD and auto immune, addictions and cognition
ADHD, ASD and food sensitivities
The science and practice of detoxification

Beyond Pharmaceutical Management

Address clients concerns and provide alternatives to psychotropics
Herbal medicine for mental health
Strategies for coming off or reducing psychotropics
Ayurvedic medicine and mental health
Exercise: aerobic, anaerobic, yoga, core, land and water-based
Sound and music for insomnia, anxiety and anger
Toning, binaural music

Nutrition, Diet and Culinary Medicine

Food as “brain-mind-medicine”
Fats: essential fatty acids, toxic fats, fish oil
Protein: the building blocks of happiness
What nutrients improve mental health and cognitive function
Vitamins, minerals, glandulars and special nutrients for the non-nutritionist
Hormones
Balance blood sugar to balance mood
Cultural and genetic variations
Enhance digestion for mental health
Thyroid function and mental health

Herbal Medicine

Seven major herbs for PTSD, anxiety, depression, sleep and cognitive health
Endocannabinoid deficit theory
Cannabis and psychedelic medicine
THC versus CBD
Evidence for medical cannabis for mental health
PTSD and chronic pain
Smell, mood and cognition
Evidence for essential oils to alter mood and cognition

Special Issues Across the Lifespan

Children: supporting sleep, focus, mood and attention
Alternatives to psychotropics for ADHD
Middle life: peri-menopause, menopause, andropause
Prevent cognitive decline
Nutrition and integrative methods to support people with dementia and their caregivers

Somatic Therapies, Acupuncture and New Approaches

Spectrum of somatic and bodywork therapies
NADA protocol for addictions
Cranial electrical stimulation for PTSD, insomnia, and optimal cognition

Comprehensive Non-Pharmaceutical Treatment Plans and Protocols for Treating the DSM-5™ Disorders

Depression & Seasonal Affect Disorder
Anxiety, PTSD, and complex trauma
Bipolar
ADHD
Body dysmorphia
OCD
Bulimia
Insomnia
Addictions

Develop a Niche Practice

Scope of your practice: ethics, law and competency
Build an integrative health team
When and where to refer clients
Where to find the right provider
Develop a niche practice as a certified specialist
Professional organizations and more training
Controversies and hot topics

This course fulfills the educational requirements to become a Certified Integrative Mental Health Professional (CIMHP) through Evergreen Certifications.

Click Here to Learn More About the Certification

Get Certified and Go Further
Become a Certified Integrative Mental Health Professional and show your employer, clients, potential clients and fellow professionals your commitment to honing your skills and staying up to date on holistic treatments.

Professional Reputation and Credibility
Distinguish yourself from your peers and increase your opportunities for career advancement, earning potential, and client growth. Certification is a personal accomplishment that you can be proud of!

Client Trust
Clients working with a Certified Professional can be confident they are receiving top-tier care for their unique needs.

Leslie Korn, PhD, MPH, LMHC, ACS, FNTP, BCTMB, is a renowned integrative medicine clinician and educator specializing in the use of nutritional, herbal and culinary medicine for the treatment of trauma and emotional and chronic physical illness. She is known for her dynamism and humor as a speaker. She has provided over 50,000 hours of treatment in private practice for diverse populations. Her clinical practice focuses on providing clients effective alternatives to psychotropics.

She completed her graduate education in the department of psychiatry and public health at Harvard Medical School and her life training in the jungle of Mexico where she lived and worked alongside local healers for over 25 years. She directed a naturopathic medicine and training clinic facilitating health, culinary and fitness retreats. She is licensed and certified in nutritional therapy, mental health counseling, and bodywork (Polarity and Cranial Sacral and medical massage therapies) and is an approved clinical supervisor. She introduced somatic therapies for complex trauma patients in out-patient psychiatry at Harvard Medical school in 1985 and served as a consultant in ethnomedicine to the Trauma Clinic, Boston. She is the former clinical director and faculty of New England School of Acupuncture and faculty at the National College of Naturopathic Medicine.

She is the author of the seminal book on the body and complex trauma: Rhythms of Recovery: Integrative Medicine for PTSD and Complex Trauma, 2^nd Edition (Routledge, 2012, 2023); The Brainbow Blueprint: A Clinical Guide to Integrative Medicine and Nutrition for Mental Well Being (PESI, 2023); Nutrition Essentials for Mental Health (W.W. Norton, 2016); Eat Right Feel Right: Over 80 Recipes and Tips to Improve Mood, Sleep, Attention & Focus (PESI, 2017); Multicultural Counseling Workbook: Exercises, Worksheets & Games to Build Rapport with Diverse Clients (PESI, 2015); The Good Mood Kitchen (W.W. Norton, 2017); and Natural Woman: Herbal Remedies for Radiant Health at Every Age and Stage of Life (Shambhala, 2019). She was a founder of the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork, a Fulbright scholar in Herbal Medicine and an NIH-funded scientist, in mind/body medicine. She is an approved clinical supervisor and is the research director at the Center for World Indigenous Studies where she designs culinary and herbal medicine programs with tribal communities engaged in developing integrative medicine programs.

Click here for information about Leslie Korn

Airport shuttle is NOT included in your package price.

Please arrange for this directly with Blue Spirit.

Blue Spirit offers airport pick-up services for guests at Liberia International Airport (LIR), aligning with most major U.S. flight arrivals.”

Upon arrival, there will be a person to greet you and guide you to your shuttle. He will have a Blue Spirit sign. When you arrive you should allow 30 – 60 minutes to go through immigration, customs and baggage claim.

Once you have retrieved your luggage and passed customs, your shuttle organizer will be waiting outside the only terminal exit at LIR. The organizer will be wearing a Blue Spirit T-shirt and will greet you with a sign that says BLUE SPIRIT.

The shuttle will depart when it is full, and all the arriving guests are in the shuttle – we don’t leave anyone behind – so you may need to wait a few minutes until everyone is in the shuttle.

The ride from Liberia Airport (LIR) to Blue Spirit is approximately 3 hours.

You can find additional shuttle information HERE.

US Citizens must present a passport with a validity of at least 6 months past your return date of May 30, 2026 to enter Costa Rica.  If you do not have a current passport or your passport will be expiring prior to November 30, 2026, we suggest applying as soon as possible as processing times are taking up to 3 months occasionally. Costa Rica requires you to carry your passport with you at all times. Some individuals prefer to make a copy to carry and leave their original passport in the safety box at Blue Spirit.

If you have a passport other than a U.S. Passport, it is your responsibility to verify what documentation you need to enter Costa Rica. If you fail to bring your required documentation, you may be denied boarding your plane or denied entry to Costa Rica.

What is NOT included in the price of the retreat?

Airfare, airport shuttle, and travel costs
Food, drinks, or items from the Blue Spirit Store and Cafe
Any Spa or Nosara Longevity Center bookings/services
Staff tips or gratuities
Any excursions or activities not listed in the standard amenities

Do I have to attend all the sessions to receive credit?

To receive credit for this event, licensing boards require full attendance at all sessions. Please plan accordingly.

What can I expect the weather to be like?

Expect temperatures in the 70’s to 80’s, with a chance of rain each day.

Is there a sundries or souvenir shop nearby?

Whether you forgot your sunscreen at home or wish to treat yourself or friends at home with a little gift from Costa Rica: the Blue Spirit Store offers women’s and men’s apparel, spiritual books, gift items and snack foods, as well as personal and sundry items. All purchases can be paid with a credit card or cash.

Does Blue Spirit accommodate special dietary requests?

Upon request, Blue Spirit will do its best to provide for special meal needs and food allergies. They require that these requests be communicated at least 2 weeks in advance. Please communicate your request to PESI. Please keep in mind that a huge variety of alternative food options are not as easily available in Costa Rica compared to the US.

Blue Spirit offers a Pure Food Option as an additional way of satisfying special meal needs. This option is a part of their daily lunch and dinner buffets and offers greens, grains, and legumes (beans) without oils or seasoning.

Does Blue Spirit have food options available outside of the dining hall hours?

There is an on-site café open daily (hours vary). The café offers fresh juices, smoothies, freshly baked goods, raw food snacks, coffee specialties, and locally brewed kombucha. In the evening, organic wines and artisanal beers are available.

Food and beverages purchased at the café are not included in the cost of the program. All purchases will be charged individually and can be paid with cash or charged directly to your room.

Is the water at Blue Spirit drinkable?

All the water at Blue Spirit is filtered and safe to drink. We suggest you bring your travel water bottle to reduce single-use plastic during your retreat.

Does Blue Spirit have a spa?

Blue Spirit Costa Rica has a world class spa on site. Services such as massages, bodywork, astrology, and more are available.

Blue Spirit also offers treatments at the Nosara Longevity Center. The center offers a variety of health protocols and treatments to restore and maintain your state of optimal wellbeing and enhanced vitality.

Spa and longevity services can be booked at the front desk once you arrive at the retreat center. Payment can be made in cash or charged to your room when the services are scheduled. Charges for services are not included in the cost of the program and are the responsibility of the individual.

Are there things to do outside of the educational seminar?

Blue Spirit Costa Rica’s magnificent property and idyllic location present a multitude of options for rest, relaxation, exploration, and adventure.

Saltwater infinity pool
Jungle walking paths
Direct beach access
Spa & Longevity Center
Café & Store
Excursions & Activities

What credit is offered on this retreat?

You can earn up to 23.5 CE hours. Credit hours may vary by board and profession. Please review the retreat’s credit information by clicking any of the “Click here for CE credit details” links found above, or by clicking here.

PLEASE NOTE: Most licensing boards require full attendance to the entire program to receive any credit.

Please review the retreat’s schedule above and plan your travel accordingly to ensure full attendance to the program.

Can I bring a colleague, friend, or partner?

Prices listed in the Program Pricing and Accommodations section above are per person and based on single/private occupancy. If you are interested in rooming with a colleague/friend/partner, please contact us HERE or by calling 800-844-8260 (Ask for our Retreats Team) for double occupancy rates.

PESI will not partake in or be responsible for roommate matching.

Please Note: Blue Spirit Costa Rica is an all-inclusive retreat center. All reservations are per individual, not per room. All individuals staying at the retreat center incur a room and board charge whether or not they are participating in the PESI educational training.

IMPORTANT: Online registration will only allow you to register a single individual. If interested in registering a colleague/friend/partner, please register yourself through the online registration process via this website FIRST in order to secure your room. NEXT, contact us HERE or by calling 800-844-8260 (Ask for our Retreats Team). A PESI customer service representative will assist in registering your guest. Securing your room first will reserve your room and provide you time to reach out to PESI without fear of rooms being no longer available.

What if I have mobility concerns?

Blue Spirit Costa Rica is located on top of a little hill overlooking the ocean. The beach can be reached via private access by walking down a pebbly road. The access to some of our rooms and classrooms is down the hill from the Main Building and/or via a stone stairway. Please pay close attention to the mobility notes in the Program Pricing and Accommodations section. Each room type has its own specific mobility note as the accommodation options are located in various areas throughout the property.

If you have any mobility issues, please contact both PESI AND Blue Spirit ahead of time via the following:

Please e-mail PESI at retreatinfo@pesi.com or call 800-844-8260 (Ask for our Retreats Team)

Please e-mail Blue Spirit at info@bluespiritcostarica.com

8-Day Certification Retreat: Nutritional and Integrative Medicine for Mental Health Professionals

Retreat Schedule

Saturday, May 23, 2026

Sunday, May 24, 2026

Monday, May 25 – Friday, May 29, 2026

Saturday, May 30, 2026

Who Should Attend?

Your Retreat Center

Gourmet Vegetarian Cuisine

Saltwater Infinity Pool

Spa & Longevity Center*

Guiones Beach

Nature

Extra Activities/Excursions*

Blue Spirit Cafe and Store*

Convenient Travel and Location

8-Day Certification Retreat: Nutritional and Integrative Medicine for Mental Health Professionals

Program Pricing and Accommodations

Superior Ocean View Room w/AC

$5,200

Ocean View Room w/AC - SOLD OUT

$4,900

Mountain View Room w/AC- SOLD OUT

$4,800

Garden Suite w/AC

$4,700

Pacifico Cottage w/AC - SOLD OUT

$4,650

Nature Suite w/AC

$4,600

Hermitage w/AC(Queen & Twin variants available)

$4,300

Eco Cottage

$3,630

Platform Tent

$3,330

Cancellation Policy

Retreat Content

8-Day Certification Retreat: Nutritional and Integrative Medicine for Mental Health Professionals

Are you ready to step into the life awaiting you as aCertified Integrative Mental Health Professional (CIMHP)?

Meet Your Retreat Instructor

Travel/FAQs

Air Arrangements

Shuttle Information

Passport Information

Health & Safety Information

8-Day Certification Retreat: Nutritional and Integrative Medicine for Mental Health Professionals

Our Satisfaction Guarantee

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Mountain View Room w/AC
- SOLD OUT

Hermitage w/AC
(Queen & Twin variants available)

Are you ready to step into the life awaiting you as a
Certified Integrative Mental Health Professional (CIMHP)?