The Training Path
The training program to become a professional dark retreat facilitator is intentionally structured as a multi-level process. Each level builds on the previous one and expands your knowledge, practical experience, and ability to guide people safely and responsibly through a dark retreat.
You decide for yourself how far you want to go down this path. Even the basic training provides you with a solid foundation for professional coaching. With each subsequent level of training, you deepen your knowledge, gain additional practical experience, and continuously develop your coaching skills.
The Three Levels of Training
Select a level to view the content, requirements, and investment in detail.
Level 1: Basic Training
The Foundation of Professional Dark Retreat Facilitation
The basic training program is the first step on the path to becoming a professional dark retreat facilitator. It combines in-depth expertise with intensive self-exploration, personal guidance, and hands-on experience.
Over the course of 12 months, I’ll guide you step by step on your training journey. This isn’t just about imparting knowledge; it’s also about helping you develop the inner confidence, experience, and mindset needed to responsibly guide people through a dark retreat.
My goal is not only to share knowledge, but also to train facilitators who, with mindfulness, competence, and a sense of responsibility, can create a safe space for others to have profound experiences.
At a Glance
- Duration
- 12 months
- Live Training Modules
- 12 (online)
- Personal Support
- Throughout the entire training period
- Internship
- At least 72 hours at the Spiritbalance Dark Retreat Center
- Graduation
- Certificate of Basic Training as a Professional Dark Retreat Facilitator
- Investment
- €4,550 plus your own dark retreat
Here's what to expect during basic training
During the training program, you'll receive a balanced combination of theoretical knowledge, personal guidance, and hands-on experience.
Training Content
- Intensive training weekend on-site in Sasbachwalden
- 14 Live Training Modules (online)
- Personal guidance throughout the entire training period
- Training lessons, as well as reflection and practical assignments
- History and Background of the Dark Retreat
- Scientific Findings on Darkness and Consciousness
- Physical and Biochemical Processes During a Dark Retreat
- Professional Communication Skills
- Support for Emotional, Mental, and Spiritual Processes
- Dealing with Unusual States of Consciousness
- Kundalini Experiences
- Holistic Nutrition During a Dark Retreat
- Special Course on Smoothies, Detox, and the Importance of Nutrition in Relation to Consciousness Processes
- Preparing the Dark Retreat Rooms
- Orientation meetings, as well as wrap-up and integration meetings
- Organization and Structure of Professionally Guided Dark Retreats
- At least 72 hours of internship at the Spiritbalance Dark Retreat Center
- Personal Closing Meeting
- Certificate of Basic Training
Your Degree
Upon successful completion, you will receive your personalized certificate of completion for the basic training program to become a professional dark retreat facilitator.
This lays the foundation for the second level of training and paves the way for the next step in your training journey.
I look forward to personally guiding you over the course of these twelve months and working with you to lay the groundwork for responsible and professional facilitation of dark retreats.
Level 2: Advanced Training
Advanced Training for Professional Dark Retreat Facilitators
For all graduates of the basic training program who wish to further deepen their coaching skills and guide people even more effectively through intensive awareness processes.
This training level builds on the foundations laid in the first training level and provides you with a much deeper understanding of the physical, emotional, and spiritual processes that can arise during a dark retreat.
You'll learn how to safely guide people even during the more intense phases of a retreat, help them make sense of their experiences, and support them with calmness, clarity, and confidence.
In addition to gaining in-depth expertise, you’ll continue to develop your intuition, your awareness, and your personal presence as a facilitator. Through numerous practical examples, supervision, and group discussions, you’ll gain confidence and learn to professionally facilitate even the most challenging processes.
Training Content
- Deepening the Guidance for Darkness Retreats
- Gaining a Better Understanding of Consciousness and Transformation Processes
- The Nervous System and Regulatory Processes
- Trauma-Informed Support
- Dealing with Fears, Resistance, and Emotional Crises
- Lucid dreams and guiding lucid dreaming
- Gaining a Better Understanding of Energy Processes
- Chakras and the Development of Consciousness
- In-Depth Conversations
- Practical Examples and Supervision
- Personal and Spiritual Growth
Here's what you can expect
- 14 Live Zooms
- 12 months of personalized support
- An intensive on-site training weekend featuring practical exercises, sharing of experiences, and collaborative process work
- Access to an extensive video library offering in-depth knowledge
- Exchange Group
- Practical Exercises
- Supervision and Case Discussions
- Level 2 Training Certificate
Video Library: Topics
In the video library, you'll find, among other things, in-depth information on:
- Lucid Dreaming
- Astral Travel and Expanded States of Consciousness
- Meditation and the Development of Consciousness
- The Nervous System, Nutrition, and Detoxification in Relation to Processes of Consciousness
- Other specialized topics drawn from my many years of experience
Level 3: Intensive Training
Intensive Training for Professional Dark Retreat Facilitators
For experienced facilitators who wish to further deepen their skills and guide people through intensive awareness processes with competence, clarity, and trust.
With every coaching session, it’s not just your experience that grows. Your awareness, your intuition, and your ability to safely guide people through profound processes of change also continue to develop.
The third training level marks the completion of the training program and is designed for anyone who wishes to develop their coaching skills to a professional level.
You’ll continue to develop your intuitive perception, learn the art of mindful presence, and recognize when guidance is necessary and when it’s healing to let the natural process unfold without intervention. It is precisely this subtle intuition that makes the difference between good guidance and exceptional guidance.
In the spotlight
The focus is no longer solely on imparting knowledge, but on your personal development as a guide. You’ll learn to remain present even during challenging physical, emotional, and spiritual processes, to instill a sense of security, and to guide people through intense experiences with calmness, clarity, and empathy.
A particular focus of this training level is on deepening your skills as a facilitator. You will learn to better understand extraordinary states of consciousness, to confidently facilitate profound transformational processes, and, at the same time, to give people enough space for their own development.
After all, the greatest skill of an experienced dark retreat facilitator is not to constantly offer solutions, but to create a safe space where people can find their own answers and unlock their inner potential.
Training Content
- Professional guidance, even for particularly intensive and extended dark retreats
- Accompanying extraordinary states of consciousness with calm, clarity, and security
- Deeper integration of physical, emotional, and spiritual transformation processes
- Working with the Nervous System, Co-Regulation, and Long-Term Stabilization
- Promoting intuitive perception and developing authentic support skills
- The Art of Presence: Creating a Safe Space Where Profound Processes Can Unfold Naturally
- The Art of Conscious Non-Intervention: Recognizing When Support Is Necessary and When It Is Beneficial to Give the Process Space
- Guiding people through extraordinary spiritual experiences without hastily judging or interpreting them
- Helping participants regain trust in their own inner guidance and intuition
- In-Depth Conversational Skills in Complex Counseling Situations
- Working with existential questions, crises of meaning, and profound processes of change
- Extensive supervision of one's own counseling sessions, as well as joint analysis of real-life case studies
- Personal growth through in-depth self-awareness and reflection
- Ethics, Responsibility, and Professional Conduct in Supporting People
- Sustainable integration of these experiences into the participants' daily lives
Here's what you can expect
- 12 Live Zooms
- 12 months of intensive, personalized support
- An exclusive on-site training weekend featuring practical exercises, self-awareness activities, supervision, and in-depth discussions
- Unrestricted access to an extensive video library featuring in-depth courses and future additions
- Personal Mentoring
- Individual Case Discussions and Supervision
- Small training group for in-depth discussion
- Level 3 Training Certificate
Video Library: Topics
These include, among other things:
- Lucid Dreaming
- Astral Travel and Expanded States of Consciousness
- Meditation and the Development of Consciousness
- The Nervous System, Nutrition, and Detoxification in Relation to Processes of Consciousness
- Other specialized topics drawn from my more than 25 years of experience
Everything You Need to Know About Basic Training
The training program is intentionally designed to last 12 months. Facilitating a dark retreat is not something that can be learned in a single weekend. There is ample time between the individual training modules to reflect on what has been learned, integrate it into one’s own practice, and deepen that understanding through personal experience.
Responsible guides are not made solely through theoretical knowledge. Only the combination of self-awareness, ongoing guidance, practical application, and personal development creates the foundation needed to guide people safely and competently through a dark retreat.
Who is the basic training program intended for?
The basic training is designed for people who wish to responsibly facilitate dark retreats and engage deeply with consciousness, personal development, and self-awareness.
It is suitable both for people who wish to guide others professionally and for those who want to deepen their own inner growth and gain a deeper understanding of the processes involved in a dark retreat.
If you are already working as a coach, consultant, seminar leader, or alternative practitioner, you can effectively integrate the course content into your work. We also welcome people who wish to embark on this path and are willing to take on responsibility, continue learning, and grow as individuals.
That's why you should have already completed your own dark retreat of at least 10 days at Spiritbalance.
In addition, we hope you have an interest in meditation, developing awareness, and personal growth, as well as a willingness to openly engage in intensive processes of self-discovery.
Between training modules, you’ll put what you’ve learned into practice, deepen your own experiences, and reflect on them together with us. This way, your understanding grows step by step—based on your own experiences.
No, prior formal experience is not required.
More importantly, you have already participated in one of our dark retreats and have a sincere desire to guide people mindfully and responsibly through their self-discovery processes.
If you’re already working in a helping or counseling profession, you can, of course, draw on your previous experience. We also welcome people who want to grow personally and are willing to learn, develop, and take on responsibility over the long term.
Yes, flexible installment payments are available.
After you submit your application, we'll discuss the payment options together and find a solution that fits your personal situation.
It’s important to us that your decision to pursue this training program comes from a genuine desire—and isn’t hindered by financial concerns. Together, we’ll find a fair and suitable solution so that you can focus fully on your training with peace of mind.
What Graduates Have to Say
"I had worked with meditation before, but the darkness was uncharted territory for me. Corinna guided me for twelve months, during which theory gradually gave way to a genuine sense of my body. The internship, in particular, showed me that it’s not about offering quick solutions, but about staying present. Today, I lead retreats myself and feel confident doing so."
Alternative Practitioner · Basic Training
"What convinced me was the combination of a clear structure and genuine personal guidance. I was able to ask any question, even the ones I was embarrassed to ask at first. In Level 2, the supervision was especially helpful in allowing me to approach challenging situations with greater composure. I would do the training again in a heartbeat."
Yoga Instructor · Level 2 Certification
"I was skeptical about whether one can really learn to be a guide. After my own dark retreat and the first training weekend, it became clear: This isn’t just about imparting knowledge. Corinna lives what she teaches. The third level has once again significantly refined my approach as a guide."
Coach · all three training levels
Excerpts from feedback provided by participants in the training program.
Experience that is incorporated into the training
For many years, I have been deeply involved in meditation, the development of consciousness, and guiding extraordinary processes of consciousness.
My own experiences, numerous stays in India, intensive meditation practice, and many years of practical work with dark retreats have all been incorporated into this training program.
I am convinced that guiding a dark retreat is not something that can be learned solely from books. That is why, in my training program, I combine in-depth knowledge with intensive self-exploration, personal guidance, and practical experience.
Your Next Step
If you’re interested in professionally guiding people through a dark retreat and are ready to embark on this journey with openness, responsibility, and mindfulness, I look forward to receiving your application.