THE FOUNTAINHEAD RETREAT

AN INTERVIEW WITH A YOUNG GUEST FROM SOUTH AUSTRALIA

A young man in his twenties had found himself in a downward spiral of drug addiction over the last few years, he had tried many rehabilitation centers – but the cycle of his addiction was not being broken. He came to the Fountainhead Retreat in a terrible way, thinking that he would use his 28 day Change Your Life program to simply rid his body of the drugs for yet another time…

What he didn’t expect was to receive a whole new outlook on life at the Fountainhead Retreat, finally freeing himself from his inaccurate beliefs and most importantly, breaking the habits that had held him captive for so many years.

Q. You’ve come a long way, I see – all the way from SA, have you been to retreats before nearer where you live?

A. I’ve tried other places, more like rehabs – but they never worked for me, as soon as I left I went straight back to my supplier and started on the drugs again.

Q. What makes you think this time the Fountainhead Retreat will be different?

A. It’s totally different here to any rehab I’ve been too, I didn’t realise that it was like this. My father looked into the Fountainhead Retreat and arranged for me to talk with the Fountainhead Team, then he organised to book me in. I was really ready to come because I knew I’d had enough of the drugs I was taking. I’d been smoking marijuana since I was 15 and using ice and meth since 18, so I really needed some help to quit. I thought at first that this was just another rehab, but no – I have done so much learning about myself since I’ve been here. I thought I was just coming along to get off drugs, I had no idea I was going to find out the reason why I was taking them! I actually resisted for a while, didn’t really want to open up – but when I did, well – I just didn't realise I needed to be knocked down before I could get back up. My Life Coach really found that out!

Q. What have you learnt about yourself in particular since you've been at the Fountainhead Retreat?

A. That I have will power and that I have much more self-confidence than I thought.

Q. I would never have thought you lacked self-confidence the way you have been sprinting about all over the farm and the friendly waves you gave everyone.

A. Hmm yeah, a bit different to when I arrived, I kept my hat on and my sunglasses, had a moustache and was a bit huddled over. I suppose I just didn’t want to draw attention to myself. I needed a few days to get my head clear and I was glad to have my Fountainhead Retreat Chaperone, she was great.

I think the fitness part with the Fountainhead Personal Trainings has been brilliant. I had no idea how unfit I was though, underweight too. So it was great to have a personal trainer, it got me right back into the fitness. I kept running around the farm just to keep up the training even when I wasn’t having the PT, and I used the gym facilities a lot too… and the detox box.

Q. You say you were underweight when you arrived at the Fountainhead Retreat, how have you found the food since you have been here?

A. It’s not something I’ve ever eaten like before, but it was great. I’ve put on weight since I’ve been here and I found out so much through Matt about food and stuff, plus he was a great laugh too.

I did the Fountainhead Retreat Food School too; I made minestrone soup – pretty easy!

Q. Did you find that the 28 days Change Your Life program have been enough? You had a lot to deal with, coming off the drugs and learning the Fountainhead Method.

A. I know it’s something I am going to have to work at, but I’ve already made plans to set up a study when I get home, with all my Fountainhead Retreat stuff. It’ll be my personal development room. I pretty much have got the hang of upgrading my thoughts, I can do it almost automatically now, it’s just when I leave and I come across bigger obstacles – that’s when I will have to write down, journal and upgrade it that way.. but I’ll have my room to do that.

I think I will come back again though; I’m interested in finding out more about Life Coaching, and doing the stage three and four.

I know so many people who would benefit from coming along here, so I think I’d like to help with doing something like that. Kids too, I’d like to be able to help them; I think this method would be great.

Q. So it really looks like you have got a hold of the Fountainhead Method, which other therapies did you find helpful at the Fountainhead Retreat?

A. I enjoyed the Fountainhead Mindfulness Intensive day,  the therapist was really great, she always has a happy face. I was surprised about the group discussions, I thought I didn’t like them much – but I really made an effort to participate and it ended up being very helpful. I wanted to do the Weekend intensive too, and I ended up doing that twice. I understood it the first time, but the second time really cleared things up and I got a lot out of it, a lot more information. The Life Coach was so motivational the way he talked in front of the class. The Life Coaching and Journey Therapies were brilliant. I really got deep down with those. I think the Fountainhead Retreat has been great; everyone in their own way has made a contribution into getting me well again.

Q. Thanks,  do you have anything else to add before I let you get on with your schedule?

A. Oh, the hot water is out! (he laughs) but really, what I’ve come to realise is that you could have put me up in a tent here, it’s not about where you are staying or what you have, it’s what you have inside… and what you teach at the Fountainhead Retreat has made a huge difference. I’ve come to look at everything differently, and I know it sounds funny but even looking at things around the farm… the notches in the tree trunks, just things I’ve never even noticed before – I think being mindful and being in the moment is a great thing to practice.