HUNGRY FOR WHOLENESS: An Embodied IFS Retreat

BRINGING COMPASSION TO
BODY IMAGE & EATING CONCERNS
Tuesday 6 October (2pm) - Friday 9 October (12pm) 2026
Florence House, Seaford, East Sussex
Plus post-retreat online integration call: Friday 30 October 6.30–8.30pm

Maximum 12 places - early booking recommended!

Join Ruth Culver for this 4-day experiential retreat at the lovely Florence House on the Sussex coast.

Within this small, safe group you will be guided to bring compassionate curiosity to your relationship with body image and eating, connecting with all the various parts involved through Embodied Internal Family Systems.  

• Body image - such as weight, size, dysmorphia or life-stage effects
• Eating struggles - including anorexia, bulimia, restrictions or bingeing
• Digestive distress - eg conditions such as IBS, coeliac or gut surgery
• Shame - so often present when we have these challenges
  

Whatever your individual situation, this retreat offers a chance to connect with, understand and gently support your inner system with curiosity, compassion and care. 

"I had life changing and transformative 
shifts around food at the retreat"

"The facilitation was remarkable :
real, authentic, honest, and compassionate.
Ruth's experience, knowledge, and humanity shine through.
She really has a gift to hold the un-holdable."

"I'm noticing an absence of the anxiety that habitually
arose in me before & during eating"

IS THIS RETREAT FOR YOU?

During the retreat you will be guided to explore experientially, both individually and as part of a group, using Internal Family Systems and Ruth's unique Drawing into Self method for IFS. (If you can scribble you can do this - it has nothing to do with 'making art'!) . This very accessible yet profound method is a wonderful way to deepen connection and develop trust in the wisdom of the body. The marks made flow directly from the energy of parts within us, helping them feel heard, seen and understood. It's also a wonderful method for working with your parts alone, so you will take home a skill for continued connection and growth after the retreat is over.

"Thank you SO much for this way of expressing on paper! Its like IFS on the go - I can pick it up whenever I want AND have a record of what I've learned, which my parts love!"

• Participants are asked to have some familiarity with IFS, eg through personal therapy, IFS courses, books or podcasts.
• If you haven't worked with Ruth before, she will schedule a short Zoom conversation with you in order to meet in advance and answer questions.
• This retreat is not suitable for people who are in acute situations or undergoing psychiatric treatment. In joining you are making your own personal assessment that you can take emotional care of yourself.
• You are advised to schedule 1-2 gentle days after the retreat ends to digest and integrate your experience. You might also want to schedule an integration session with a therapist or bodyworker during the following week.
• Please note this is an experiential retreat, not a training.

INCLUSIVE PRICES (retreat & accommodation)

EARLY BIRD OFFER: £100 reduction on all prices below if booked by 25 June

• PRIVATE ENSUITE room: £1225 (£1125 Early Bird)
• PRIVATE SEMI-ENSUITE room (shower only - toilet nearby): £1075 (£975 Early Bird)
• PRIVATE room (shared bathroom): £1025 (£925 Early Bird)
• Bring your own CAMPERVAN / NON RESIDENTIAL: £750 (£650 Early Bird)

Prices include all activities plus home-cooked vegetarian meals, refreshments and three nights accommodation.
Option to add meat/fish at a cost of £5 per main meal.
Vegan/gluten-free available at no extra cost.
Unusual diets can also be catered for and are charged at £5 per main meal (ie total £30 for 6 main meals).

BIPOC BURSARIES
As part of my commitment to being a better ally, I extend a warm welcome to people from the global majority, and aim for my workshops to be inclusive and diverse. There are two scholarships available for People of Colour at this retreat, offering a £200 welcome discount on your ticket price. To apply, simply tick the box at checkout. 

Ruth aims to actively work from a place of anti-oppression, cultural/neural/gender-diversity affirmation, and to uphold inclusivity, confidentiality and safety within her workshops.

PAYMENT SCHEDULE:

• £150 non refundable deposit payable on booking
  
• 2nd payment due 10 July, final balance due 25 August
• Early Bird and/or BIPOC reduction are deducted from the balance payment.

Please get in touch if you need to request an alternative payment schedule.

ABOUT RUTH CULVER

Ruth Culver is Certified and Level 3 trained in IFS, and specialises in somatic and creative integrations. She offers experiential workshops and trainings both online and in-person, and also works individually with adolescents and adults in Brighton (UK).

Her interest in trauma, attachment and resilience led to the creation of the The Survive/Thrive Spiral infographic, which maps together IFS and Polyvagal Theory. It is used by mental health professionals and individuals across the globe, and can be downloaded free from her website in a wide range of languages.

Ruth has also devised two other IFS integrations: Drawing into Self: a method for doing IFS though guided intuitive drawing, and IFS Constellations: a method for doing IFS through the somatic group resonance process of constellations.

Ruth has been a guest on a number of podcasts including IFS Talks and The One Inside, and has been published in The International Journal of Trauma. She is currently creating a certified training course for Drawing into Self. 

“Ruth is an amazing IFS practitioner and human being. She is so skilled at what she does and brings love, kindness, patience, clarity and humour to her workshops. More than highly recommended."

"Ruth cultivated a heart opening, safe bubble where magical healing ensued. I highly recommend her workshops to anyone who is looking for a transformative experience."

"Gentle, compassionate, subtle & attuned facilitation"

"I have just attended one of Ruth Culver's residential courses. It was a profound, intensely moving and healing experience. Ruth's compassion and professionalism was truly awesome to observe as she held a safe space for the group to work."

"Having just attended one of Ruth’s residential courses, all I can say is WOW. Not only is Ruth professional, but she is so incredibly insightful and knowledgeable bringing such warmth, kindness and an almost magical knowing."

THE VENUE

Florence House is a gorgeous retreat venue that we will have to ourselves for the week, with lovely calm interior, 6 acres of gardens, just 5 minutes walk from the sea.

It sits at the top of Seaford Head, within an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty on the edge of the South Downs National Park in East Sussex.  The iconic Seven Sisters and Cuckmere Haven (backdrop to many Hollywood movies including Atonement) are within easy walking distance along a scenic coastal path.

Tasty and nourishing home-cooked vegetarian meals are prepared by the in-house chef, indluing home-grown produce from the kitchen garden. Vegan and gluten free can also be catered for, and meat or fish can be added as an optional extra.

TRAVEL

TRAIN: The nearest mainline station is Seaford (10 minute walk).

CAR: We will be in touch about ride shares when possible, in order to respect the environment.

PLANE: The nearest airport is Gatwick, from where the train takes about 1 hour to Seaford (one easy change at Lewes).

LOCAL ACCOMMODATION for before/after course dates: https://www.wingrovehousealfriston.com/ is recommended, in the picturesque nearby village of Alfriston.

DRAFT SCHEDULE

Tuesday
1.30pm - arrivals
2.00pm - opening circle
6.00pm - supper
7.00pm - workshop
8.30pm - end

Wednesday
7.30am - optional yoga
8.30am - breakfast
9.30am - workshop
1.00pm - lunch
2.00pm - optional walk (may move to another day/time, depending on weather)
4.00pm - workshop
6.00pm - supper
7.00pm - workshop
8.30pm - end

Thursday
7.30am - optional yoga
8.30am - breakfast
9.30am - workshop
1.00pm - lunch
2.00pm - free time
4.00pm - workshop
6.00pm - supper
7.00pm - fire, play, & sharing (weather permitting)

Friday
7.30am - morning movement
8.30am - breakfast
9.30am - workshop
1.00pm - lunch
2.00pm - departures

CANCELLATIONS & REFUNDS

If the event has to be cancelled by us you are entitled to a full refund.
Please allow 7 days for admin and bank transfer.

If you need to cancel:

• UNTIL 45 DAYS BEFORE:  A refund is available, less £150 non-refundable deposit.
• LESS THAN 45 DAYS BEFORE: If the event is sold out, we can put your ticket back on sale and will issue a refund if it sells (less £150 non-refundable deposit).

We highly recommend you take out your own travel insurance in case you are unwell and unable to attend, or to cover booked travel in case the event has to be cancelled.