Event Details - 8-Day Costa Rican Internal Family Systems (IFS) Therapy Retreat

Join us for this transformative 7-night retreat in the nourishing and awe-inspiring Blue Zone area of Costa Rica for the Internal Family Systems (IFS) Therapy Retreat with trauma and IFS therapy expert, Stacy Ruse!

A continuing education training unlike any you’ve ever taken.

This is your invitation to finally SAY YES to an all-inclusive trip in paradise—where you’ll be trained in one of the most sought-after treatment approaches in psychotherapy today—Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy.

Where the Pacific Ocean meets the jungle at the Blue Spirit Retreat Center near Nosara, Costa Rica, you'll discover a sanctuary of renewal and deep transformation.

Spread over your six days of classroom time with trauma therapist, IFS therapy expert, and author,
Stacy Ruse, LPC, E-RYT-500, you'll discover the fundamentals of IFS therapy and get step-by-step instructions on how to integrate it into your practice.

Between deeply experiential sessions, you’re invited to be nourished by the unhurried pace of the jungle. Slip into the saltwater infinity pool, take a meditative stroll on the sand, explore the local village, or melt into a treatment at the spa. The center itself and the surrounding region, known for longevity and a culture of well‑being, create an environment that naturally supports settling the nervous system and replenishing clinical presence.

And the sunsets over the Pacific Ocean...pure magic.

But be careful...once you attend a PESI retreat once, you’ll never want to get CEs any other way...

Internationally renowned educator Stacy Ruse, LPC, E-RYT-500, specializes in using IFS therapy for gentle and effective trauma work with clients and has trained multitudes of clinicians just like you to reach their full potential using the IFS model.

From the amazing classroom that overlooks the Pacific Ocean, Stacy will provide you with a robust learning experience complete with lectures, demonstrations, and practical real-world applications that will deepen your understanding of the IFS framework and enhance your therapeutic skills.

Full of specific techniques, tips, and insight-building case studies, Stacy will empower you to:

Quickly build clients' sense of trust, inner stability, and cooperation within themselves
Release emotional and physical trauma stored in the body with IFS techniques
Work with anxious parts in the IFS framework to reduce their intensity
Integrate IFS therapy with EMDR, CBT, and other treatment modalities you already use
And much more!

With the IFS framework, you can work with your clients’ multiple parts, each with its own thoughts, emotions, and behaviors in a way that is both compassionate and deeply transformative. Stop chasing symptoms and start addressing the core issues that underlie your clients’ biggest challenges.

Get ready for hours of immersive, engaging learning that will transform your clinical practice and your perspective on trauma treatment.

Experience Costa Rica at its most vibrant during the lush “green season,” when rain showers transform the rainforest into a wildlife-filled paradise with dramatic waterfalls and misty jungle views. Less busy, more tranquil—the perfect setting for an escape from reality.

As part of one of the world’s rare Blue Zones, Nosara offers an invitation: move your body daily, rest deeply, and return to what truly matters.

At Blue Spirit Retreat Center, you’ll find delicious vegetarian food that has been carefully crafted to fuel the body. You can spend your free time easily going back and forth between the warm ocean and saltwater pool... or experience a world-class spa treatment. Live like a local and ride into Guiones for their famous artisan farmers market, take a surf lesson, or book a once-in-a-lifetime nature excursion. The options in Costa Rica are endless.

Your Journey to this Costa Rican Paradise Includes*:

A robust IFS therapy training experience with lectures, demonstrations, and practical real-world applications
Up to 19 CE hours and 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.

Introduction to the IFS Therapy Model and Theory

Brief history of IFS
Basic assumptions and holistic approach
Inclusivity, cultural humility, and competency
Therapeutic and clinical applications

The Self-Led Therapist

The 8 C’s: self qualities
Holding self-energy: 5 Ps for self-led therapists
The benefits of self-energy and therapist presence
Compassion, connection, and understanding
Setting appropriate boundaries
Biases and transference in the therapeutic relationship

Neurobiology, Neuroscience, and IFS Therapy

IFS therapy as a bottom-up treatment method
Neuroscience 101 for therapists — what you need to know
Sensing vs. making sense of things
Stress reactions and the autonomic nervous system: Polyvagal 101
Fear circuitry and the development of PTSD, trauma, dissociation, and complex trauma

The Internal System Through the IFS-Lens

Defining parts: who and what are parts?
Defining self: who and what is self?
The burdened system
Protective Parts
- Managers: the proactive parts
- Firefighters: the reactive parts
- Exiles: the wounded & shadowed parts

Understanding IFS Therapy in 6 Phases

Understanding the situation: Mapping internal and external factors
Engaging the client: Intro, relationship, target, and tracking
Permission to work with the protective system
Healing exiles and internal wounds
Integration of the work: Adapting to changes
Completion & closure: appreciation and closing sessions

Foundational IFS Therapy Step by Step

Unblending the system for emotional regulation
The 6 Fs of IFS: Getting to know parts
Shifting to inner story & connection
In-sight work
Direct access work

Working with Protectors

Creating safety and getting permission
Targets and use of trailheads
Resistance as a protection
Distinguish between parts and self
Significance of appreciation
Assess ability for in-sight or direct work
Getting to know managers
Getting to know firefighters
Common protector concerns and fears

Working with and Unburdening Exiles

Getting to know exiles
Trauma, attachment wounds, and exiles
Common exile concerns and fears
Safely working with exiles
Unburdening process step by step
- Self to part relationship and preventing overwhelm
- Witnessing, invitation, do-overs, and retrieval
- Integration of work and additional considerations

Difficulties and Challenges

Internal polarizations and alignment
Therapist parts interfering
When burdens and parts come back?
Predicting ‘backlash’
Complex systems - hard to track; lack of client self-energy
Blended parts not unblending
Lack of awareness in the body

Adaptations and Integration of IFS Therapy

Attachment-based
Somatic-based
Complex trauma and dissociation
Spirituality, transpersonal psychology, and IFS therapy
Integration with other models

Evidence, Research Limitations, and Treatment Risks

Examining the current research
Challenges to the research and research limitations
Addressing potential risks
Contraindications and other considerations

Stacy Ruse, LPC, E-RYT-500, is an Evergreen EMDR consultant and clinician, IFS therapist, and founder of Aglow Counseling. She’s a trauma expert who specializes in using IFS Therapy, EMDR, and Somatic therapies to unravel the intricate threads of trauma and guide clients towards empowerment and resilience. Her approach, while deeply rooted in trauma-informed methodologies, is characterized by a transpersonal twist that transcends the boundaries of traditional therapy. Stacy is certified in EMDR as well as a Nationally Certified Counselor (NCC) and Certified Yoga Instructor.

Click here for information about Stacy Ruse

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 October 31, 2026 to enter Costa Rica. If you do not have a current passport or your passport will be expiring prior to April 30, 2027, 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.

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 19 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 for either single or double occupancy. If you are interested in adding a non-participating guest to your room, 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 select single or double occupancy. If you select double occupancy, you must add the second member to your order before completing your registration. If interested in registering a non-participating guest, 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 Internal Family Systems (IFS) Therapy Retreat

8-Day Internal Family Systems (IFS) Therapy Retreat

Retreat Schedule

Saturday, October 24, 2026

Sunday, October 25, 2026

Monday, October 26, 2026

Tuesday, October 27, 2026 (Free Day)

Wednesday, October 28, 2026

Thursday, October 29, 2026

Friday, October 30, 2026

Saturday, October 31, 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 Internal Family Systems (IFS) Therapy Retreat

Program Pricing and Accommodations

Superior Ocean View Room w/AC - SOLD OUT

Single Occupancy: $5,650Double Occupancy: $4,500 per person

Ocean View Room w/AC - SOLD OUT

Single Occupancy: $5,250Double Occupancy: $4,400 per person

Mountain View Room w/AC

Single Occupancy: $5,150Double Occupancy: $4,300 per person

Garden Suite w/AC

Single Occupancy: $5,050Double Occupancy: $4,300 per person

Nature Suite w/AC

Single Occupancy: $4,950Double Occupancy: $4,150 per person

Hermitage w/AC(Queen & Twin variants available)

Single Occupancy: $4,500Double Occupancy: $3,825 per person

Cancellation Policy

Retreat Content

8-Day Internal Family Systems (IFS) Therapy Retreat

Meet Your Lead Retreat Instructor

Travel/FAQs

Air Arrangements

Shuttle Information

Passport Information

Health & Safety Information

8-Day Internal Family Systems (IFS) Therapy Retreat

8-Day Internal Family Systems (IFS) Therapy Retreat

Our Satisfaction Guarantee

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Single Occupancy: $5,650
Double Occupancy: $4,500 per person

Single Occupancy: $5,250
Double Occupancy: $4,400 per person

Single Occupancy: $5,150
Double Occupancy: $4,300 per person

Single Occupancy: $5,050
Double Occupancy: $4,300 per person

Single Occupancy: $4,950
Double Occupancy: $4,150 per person

Hermitage w/AC
(Queen & Twin variants available)

Single Occupancy: $4,500
Double Occupancy: $3,825 per person