Thrive! A Transformational Retreat by Emma Ruiz.
Casével, Portugal
Quinta Carvalhas
7-day retreat
Thrive! A Transformational Retreat by Emma Ruiz.
Casével, Portugal
Quinta Carvalhas
7-day retreat
WHAT
7-day Luxury Deep Healing Transformational Retreat in
Portugal
Immerse yourself in an exclusive 7-day wellness retreat at the beautiful luxury farm Quinta Carvalhas –
The Green Farm, nestled in Portugal. Join us on a transformative journey of profound wellbeing,
consciousness and bonding. Take a step towards a version of yourself that is whole, healed, and at peace.
Gestalt group sessions
Horse Interactions
Art therapy
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Are you stressed, anxious, overwhelmed?
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Do you lack self-confidence/selfworth?
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Do you have recurrent negative thoughts?
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Are you going through important life transitions?
Whether you got one yes or many, THIS RETREAT IS FOR YOU.
My Mission: Conscious Healing for a Better
World
I’m here to help raise human consciousness and create a
more compassionate world—one person at a time. Through
deep psychological, emotional, energetic, and spiritual
work, I support women in reconnecting with themselves and
living more meaningful, empowered lives.
I specialize in guiding overwhelmed corporate women,
entrepreneurs, and empty nesters back to their joy,
vitality, and inner alignment. If you’ve lost your spark or feel
like you’re constantly running on empty, you’re not alone,
and you don’t have to stay stuck.
I do this work because I believe in you.
You are not broken.
You’ve simply forgotten your brilliance, and I’m here to help
you remember.
Emma Ruiz
THE EXPERIENCE
During your wellness retreat, you will be professionally guided and supported with compassionate care,
enabling you to dive profoundly into your wellbeing. This immersion is designed to help identify the obstacles
that are inhibiting your progress towards good health.
You will:
Identify and learn how to transform your negative inner talk and limiting beliefs so you can get unstuck.
Reconnect to your inner child and shed light on childhood challenges, using Gestalt principles to learn how to
reparent your inner child so you can lovingly meet your needs.
Pinpoint what no longer serves you so you can move forward and be your best self.
Connect to your values and evaluate how aligned your life is to them, establishing the steps you can take to
move towards more integrity.
Have a chance to heal, grow, and learn in a heart-centered community. With world-class health coaching
practitioners guiding the way, we aim to create an environment where you will not only flourish, but also
THRIVE!
WHAT TO EXPECT
Gestalt Group Sessions
Gestalt Therapy is based on three principles: the Here and the Now, Self-
Awareness and Self-Responsibility. It is a person-centered therapy and places
emphasis on the therapist’s unconditional acceptance of the client and the use of
empathy. Gestalt helps the person move from manipulating the environment for
support to self-support. It also helps the person reintegrate all the disowned parts
of his/her personality; all those aspects of oneself which have been projected
onto others because we feel they are not part of who we are. These principles
underscore the essence of what it means to truly define Gestalt: enabling
individuals to acknowledge and accept every part of who they are.
We will be doing activities in pairs or small groups, as well as having individual
sessions in the group. The group is a sacred space where we hold space for each
other and see ourselves reflected in the others. It is a powerful, healing
experience.
There will be a total of 20 hours of Gestalt group sessions.
Horse Interactions
In this horse interaction session, the horse acts as a powerful mirror, reflecting
your energy and giving direct feedback on your intentions in a non-judgmental way.
You will be taken through a series of exercises, allowing you to see yourself through
the lens of the horse, which is incredibly healing and provides a fresh perspective
on any life questions or challenges.
Tuning into energy with Horses
We will join the herd in the field for a free-flowing interactive experience. Connect
with the horses through touch, matching breath and energy and let the sounds of
nature and the peace of these gentle beings take you on a journey. Experience
their energy as they mirror yours. This brings deeper insight into the way we are
with others and ourselves.
Art Therapy
Explore new parts of yourself, tap into your creative source and connect with the
joy of your inner child. To do this, we will be holding an Art Expression workshop
where you will be painting and allowing yourself to flow in the moment, letting your
imagination and creativity run wild.
What’s included in this package
- Luxury individual accommodation in double rooms with their own bathroom. Daily housekeeping. Kettle and tea in room.
- 3 daily delicious and nutritious vegetarian meals made with the organic veggies grown on the farm. Water, tea, coffee station in premises.
- A total of 20 hours of Gestalt therapeutic group sessions and personal, emotional support throughout the week.
- 1 90 min individual horse interaction session.
- 1 “Tuning into Energy with Horses” group session.
- 1 2.5 h Art Expression group session.
- 2 one hour full-body massage per person.
- 1 yoga session.
- Unlimited access to beautiful grounds, meditation garden and pool (pool towel also provided).
- Welcome surprise gift.
- Complimentary 50’ online post-retreat integration session with Emma.
TOTAL INVESTMENT: 4.500€
How to apply:
1. Click the button below, fill in the application form and schedule a call with Emma.
2. You will meet and see if this is a good fit for you.
The stunning grounds
The moment you step into Quinta Carvalhas your energy starts to shift. Calm, peace, nature, beauty, lots of love and care.
What’s included in this package
- Luxury individual accommodation in double rooms with their own bathroom. Daily housekeeping. Kettle and tea in room.
- 3 daily delicious and nutritious vegetarian meals made with the organic veggies grown on the farm. Water, tea, coffee station in premises.
- A total of 20 hours of Gestalt therapeutic group sessions and personal, emotional support throughout the week.
- 1 90 min individual horse interaction session.
- 1 “Tuning into Energy with Horses” group session.
- 1 2.5 h Art Expression group session.
- 2 one hour full-body massage per person.
- 1 yoga session.
- Unlimited access to beautiful grounds, meditation garden and pool (pool towel also provided).
- Welcome surprise gift.
- Complimentary 50’ online post-retreat integration session with Emma.
TOTAL INVESTMENT: 4.500€
How to apply:
1. Click the button below, fill in the application form and schedule a call with Emma.
2. You will meet to see if this is a good fit for you.
Accommodation
You will have your own beautiful en suite. Kettle and coffee maker in the room. Pool towel also provided.
Soulful cooking
Delicious vegetarian/vegan meals made mostly from the produce from the Quinta’s veggie garden.
HOW YOUR LIFE WILL CHANGE AFTER THE RETREAT
You will:
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Escape the stress and overwhelm that’s been holding you back.
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Discover your true self-worth and unlock a newfound confidence.
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Take control of your emotions and understand their root causes.
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Learn effective techniques to transform recurring negative thoughts.
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Learn how to set boundaries.
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Make decisions with clarity and ease, empowering your life choices.
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Achieve inner harmony as your mind, heart, and body align.
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Master the art of having difficult conversations with grace and tact.
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Prioritise self-care and embrace a life of self-nourishment.
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Break free from self-judgment and embrace your own unique journey.
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Experience deep soul rejuvenation and tap into your limitless potential.
What’s not included in this package?
- Airport transfer from Lisbon. (Can be arranged at an extra cost)
- Travel insurance
- Flight costs
Is this retreat for me?
How can I sign up?
To ensure participants get the most out of this intimate retreat, all applications will be carefully reviewed and is therefore by invitation only. To be considered, fill in the quick application form and Emma will be in touch.
What’s Not included In this package?
- Airport transfer from Lisbon. (Can be arrange for an extra cost)
- Travel insurance
- Flight costs
Is this retreat for me?
How can I sign up?
To ensure participants get the most out of this intimate retreat, all applications will be carefully reviewed and is therefore by invitation only. To be considered, fill in the quick application form and Emma will be in touch.
FAQ
What time do I have to arrive?
Rooms will be available for check in at 15:00. Please arrive between 15:00 and 17:00 to settle in. We will have a welcoming circle before our group dinner.
What time does the retreat finish?
We will finish after our closure session on Sunday. Check out is at 11:00 am. There will be a place to leave our luggage safely until we leave.
I want to come but have some work commitments I still have to attend to. Can I join nonetheless?
We understand some work commitments cannot be deferred, however, we encourage you to have as much free time as possible to get the most out of the retreat. Part of the healing process is to disconnect from day to day commitments.
Will there be wifi?
There will be complimentary wifi. However, we encourage everyone to disconnect from mobile devices. A social media detox will benefit both mind and body alike.
Can I come with a friend or my partner? Are there special rates for that?
We would be delighted to welcome you and your friend or your partner subject to space. Rates sharing a room have a discount. Please contact us for more information and availability.
What do I need to bring?
There is a pool, so don’t forget your swimming suit, suncream, flip-flops and a hat! Bring comfortable clothes and a jumper or something warmer for the evenings and early mornings. If you cannot get by without your special tea, remember to pack it too, there is a kettle in every room! You can also bring your own refillable water bottle.
I am Emma Ruiz and I am thrilled to be your host!
Helping women return to themselves
My work is devoted to helping women move beyond survival mode and return to a life that feels more true, peaceful, and fulfilling.
I blend the emotional depth of Gestalt therapy with the clarity of mindset coaching, supporting women in healing unresolved wounds and trauma while also transforming the limiting beliefs that shape their choices, relationships, and sense of self. Because I see the body and mind as deeply interconnected, my approach honours both the emotional and embodied dimensions of healing.
This creates space not only for healing, but for a deeper return to self, one rooted in stronger boundaries, greater self-worth, and more joy.
How I work
I support women who are ready to let go of what no longer serves them, understand themselves more deeply, and create lasting change from the inside out.
My work is not about quick fixes or surface-level solutions. It is about going to the root — exploring the patterns, emotional wounds, beliefs, and relational dynamics that have shaped your inner world, while also helping you move forward with greater clarity, self-trust, and alignment.
Through this work, my clients begin to feel more connected to themselves, more grounded in their truth, and more able to create lives that reflect their values
Why this work is so personal to me
This path is deeply personal to me because it began with my own healing journey.
I first came to therapy at a pivotal moment in my life, when I was uncertain whether to end my marriage. What I expected to be a few sessions became a profound process of self-discovery and inner work. Just a few months in, I felt called to train as a Gestalt therapist myself. I went back to school, committed deeply to my own healing, and that decision changed the course of my life.
Because I have done this work myself, I bring not only professional expertise, but real depth, compassion, and understanding to the women I support. I know how much courage it takes to look inward, heal old wounds, and choose a different way of living.
The experience I bring
For the past decade, I have had the privilege of supporting clients through meaningful inner work and lasting change.
I also bring more than 25 years of experience in education, which allows me to guide clients with clarity, structure, and a deep understanding of how people grow and change. Before becoming a therapist, I spent many years teaching children, teenagers, and adults, co-founded a bilingual Montessori nursery in Barcelona, and later specialised in teaching adults in multinational companies in Spain.
Long before I formally entered this field, I was already creating spaces where people felt safe, seen, and able to speak honestly about what was happening in their lives. Looking back, it is clear that this work was already calling me.
What I believe
I believe healing is possible when we are willing to meet ourselves honestly.
I believe lasting change happens when we do more than understand our patterns intellectually — when we also feel, process, and transform what is happening underneath them.
I believe women deserve to live with stronger self-worth, healthier boundaries, deeper peace, and a greater sense of freedom in the way they love, work, choose, and live.
And I believe that when a woman returns to herself, everything begins to change.
A few things that matter deeply to me
I lead my life and work through values such as integrity, truth, alignment, joy, love, healing, respect, growth, family, spirituality, generosity, and meaningful connection.
I am also a proud mother, and outside my work, I love dancing, long walks, reading, travelling, films, good food, and rich conversations with people I care about.
A final note
It is a privilege to walk alongside my clients as they heal, reconnect with themselves, and build lives with more peace, truth, freedom, and joy.
If you feel drawn to this work, I would love to invite you to explore the next step.
Want to join us?
Tell me about you.
Reviews
Client Reviews
I can’t recommend Emma highly enough. I came to therapy to work on some serious trauma I was facing. I had had bad experiences with mental health professionals before, so I was skeptical. Emma far surpassed my expectations.”
Before working with Emma I had seen therapists for brief stints several times across the last 10 or so years, but after some initial steps forward I always ended up back in the same place. At a particularly low point I decided to give therapy one more try and found Emma. I can’t express enough how positive my experience with Emma has been, and how much her skills and gentle approach have helped me grow into a much happier and self-aware person.
Emma helped me to become more conscious about myself, to listen to my body and find a balance that I felt I lacked when I started the sessions. I also feel I gained a better awareness of how to deal with certain moments and be caring for the present, focusing on the positive rather than the negative.
Changes must come first from yourself to be able to change things around you.
I recommend the good energy that Emma transmits.» .
7-day transformational retreat in a magnificent luxury farm in Portugal
Gestalt group sessions , horse interactions and art therapy.
Terms and Conditions:
Cancellations Policy: Guest Cancellations
No one books with the intention of cancelling or postponing their retreat, but things don’t always go as planned. We highly recommend you take out an insurance to prevent any loss in case you are unable to attend the retreat.
Cancellations and changes are costly to us and our ability to provide high quality service — especially last-minute changes / cancellations. Cancellation requests must be received in writing for a refund to be issued. Requests should be sent to emma@emmaruiztherapy.com
If you need to cancel your retreat with Emma Ruiz, please refer to the following for a breakdown of applicable cancellation fees:
If you cancel 90 days or more before your start date, you will be refunded the full amount paid up to that date for your retreat. This excludes the 1800€ deposit per person which is non- refundable.
If you cancel between 60 – 90 days before your start date, you will be refunded 50% of any amount paid. This excludes the 1800€ deposit per person which is non-refundable.
Cancellations less than 60 days before the start date of your retreat are non-refundable and will result in a forfeit of any and all sums paid.
Due to our need to commit to accommodation and other arrangements in advance, exceptions to our policy cannot be made for any reason.*
*We highly recommend you take out insurance to prevent any loss in case you are unable to attend the retreat.
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Cancellations Policy: Cancellations made by the Organiser
In the unlikely event that Emma Ruiz has to cancel or change the start date of any Retreat, you may reallocate any funds paid towards another Emma Ruiz retreat (either scheduled or at some future time within the next two (2) years) to be used as credit.
Alternatively, you may request a full refund of payments made by you to Emma Ruiz.