The Self-Compassion Retreat with Dr. Chris Irons | Thailand 2026

THAILAND RETREAT

The Self-Compassion Retreat – U Pattaya, Thailand
Location: U Pattaya Hotel, Chonburi, Thailand
Dates: March 1–7, 2026

Overview

Are you a Compassion-Focused Therapist seeking to advance your skills and deepen your self-practice? Join us for an immersive, six-day therapist retreat in tranquil Thailand, hosted at the serene beachfront resort of U Pattaya.

Led by internationally recognised CFT expert Dr. Chris Irons, this retreat offers an enriching combination of cft self-practice workshops, guided self-reflection, and daily mindfulness practices. Designed exclusively for professionals in caring roles (e.g. psychologists, psychiatrists, therapists, nurses, teachers etc), this retreat focuses on integrating mindfulness and compassion into your work and personal life.

Whether you’re seeking clarity, professional development, or space to reconnect with your compassionate mind, this retreat will provide the ideal environment to reset and recharge.

What’s Included

• Boutique Beachfront Accommodation: Enjoy six nights at U Pattaya, a luxury wellness resort nestled between sea and forest.

• CFT Self-Practice Training:  9 sessions with Dr. Chris Irons (28 hours in total), exploring new models, techniques, and applications of Compassion-Focused Therapy.

• Morning Beach Yoga: Begin your day with yoga on the beach—reconnecting breath, body, and balance.

• Nutritious Local Meals: Daily breakfast, 5 lunches, and 3 dinners included, served with Thai hospitality and fresh ingredients.

• Self-Practice Time: Protected space each day for journaling, silence, and personal reflection.

• Connection & Community: Share your journey with like-minded clinicians from around the world.

• Retreat App + WhatsApp Group: Before the retreat begins, you’ll be invited to join our dedicated WhatsApp group and access our retreat app—a central hub for updates, maps, your daily schedule, and connecting with fellow attendees.

What to Expect

This retreat balances intensive learning with restorative wellness, offering a transformative experience that nurtures both personal and professi

Who Should Attend?

This retreat is designed for professionals in the caring roles. This might include therapists, psychologists, psychiatrists, nurses and teachers. Although some knowledge of the ideas, principles and practices of Compassion Focused Therapy will be useful, this is not a requirement.

Retreat Pricing & Accommodation

We’ve made things beautifully simple: one all-inclusive price that covers everything you need for a seamless, restorative, and unforgettable retreat experience.

All-Inclusive Retreat Package: £2,800 (Earlybird Price – ends June 30, 2025) 

This includes:

• 🌅 6 nights accommodation in a Superior Sea View Room at U Pattaya

• 🧠 Daily Compassion-Focused Therapy workshops with Dr. Chris Irons

• 🌴 Morning yoga on the beach (Monday/Wednesday/Friday)

• 🥗 All meals: breakfast, lunch, and dinner ( dinner provided on Sunday/Wednesday/Friday)

• 💬 Full access to our retreat app and WhatsApp group

• 🌸 Special gifts and curated surprises throughout your stay

• 🎭 Optional cultural experiences

• 🍽️ Group dinners and a BBQ on the beach farewell celebration

• 🤝 On-site support throughout the retreat

• 🛬 Help with travel logistics and pre-arrival prep

Room Upgrades Available*

Your retreat includes a Superior Sea View Room, but if you’d like to upgrade to a different room category—from a Garden Villa to a Beachfront Pool Villa—we’re happy to arrange this for you. Just let us know your preference and we’ll confirm availability and the cost difference.

Visit the hotel website to explore room types:
👉 www.uhotelsresorts.com/upattaya

*We recommend all participants stay at U Pattaya to maintain a shared retreat atmosphere, but if you prefer to stay elsewhere, that’s absolutely fine—just let us know, and we’re happy to assist with nearby accommodation suggestions.

Jet Lag & Early Arrival Recommendations

If you’re travelling a long distance to Thailand, we highly recommend arriving one or two days early to allow time to settle, recover from jet lag, and gently transition into retreat mode.

We can help you:

• Book additional nights at U Pattaya

• Suggest alternative local accommodation if you prefer

• Coordinate your pre-retreat travel plans

Simply reach out and we’ll support you in creating a calm, unrushed arrival.

Deposit & Payment Options

To secure your place on this unforgettable retreat, a non-refundable deposit of £500 is required at the time of booking.

We understand that committing to a retreat is a significant investment—not just of money, but of time and intention. That’s why we offer flexible payment options to make things as stress-free as possible.

Payment Plan Options:

• Spread your remaining balance across monthly interest-free instalments.

• Choose a schedule that works best for you—we’ll tailor a plan to suit your needs.

• Final balance must be paid by 28 February 2026 .

Once your deposit is received, you’ll be officially enrolled and will gain access to:

• Our exclusive WhatsApp group, where you can connect with fellow attendees, ask questions, and get real-time updates.

• The retreat app, packed with resources, daily schedules, local tips, maps, and more.

Have a question or need a custom payment plan?
Just reach out—we’re here to help.

Venue

U Pattaya, Chonburi
A secluded luxury resort located 2 hours from Bangkok Airport, U Pattaya offers breathtaking ocean views, elegant accommodation, and a private beach—making it the perfect setting for introspection, learning, and self-kindness.

Terms & Registration

To register, email or WhatsApp us directly. Once registered, you will receive a waiver form, gain access to our WhatsApp group and be invited to download the retreat app.

We understand that life happens—flexible payment plans and cancellation terms are available. Just ask!

Workshop Facilitator

Dr Chris Irons is a clinical psychologist, writer, researcher, and international trainer, best known for his work on Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT) and self-compassion. With over two decades of experience in the field, Chris has dedicated his career to exploring how compassion can transform mental health and emotional well-being—for individuals, teams and organisations.

Chris is co-director of Balanced Minds, the largest provider of Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT) services worldwide. As a specialist psychological consultancy, Balanced Minds pioneers the application of compassion-based approaches in therapeutic practice, organisational culture, and public mental health. The organisation offers psychological interventions, supervision, and training to clinicians and organisations across the UK and internationally, and is widely recognised as a leading hub for CFT innovation, training, and delivery.

For nearly 25 years, Chris has worked closely with Professor Paul Gilbert, the founder of CFT, helping to shape its clinical applications, training models, and research base. He was involved in some of the early publications on CFT (Gilbert & Irons, 2004, 2005), and has since contributed extensively to the literature on compassion, shame, self-criticism, and attachment, co-authoring numerous book chapters and peer-reviewed articles.

An engaging and sought-after teacher, Chris has delivered workshops, lectures, and retreats in more than 20 countries, reaching over 25,000 professionals and members of the general public.

Chris is also the author of five books, including:

• The Compassionate Mind Workbook (with Dr Elaine Beaumont)
• CFT from the Inside Out (with Dr Russell Kolts, Prof James Bennett-Levy, and Dr Tobyn Bell)
• The Compassionate Mind Approach to Difficult Emotions

In 2024, Chris and Dr Elaine Beaumont launched The Self-Compassion App—the first CFT-inspired mobile app, designed to support users in developing self-compassion through evidence-based practices, guided reflections, and psychoeducation.

Booking, Registration and Invoicing:

To register for this retreat please contact us – drop us an email or give us a call/WhatsApp on (+44) 0789 820 8540.  You will have the option of raising an invoice, paying via Bank Transfer, paying over the phone by card or paying online via a secure payment link.

Spread the Cost:

We’re a small company, so we can make the rules.  Really want to attend, but need to spread the cost?  No problem, give us a call and we will work something out!

Terms and Conditions: 

Please note our cancellation policy: There will be a £150 admin fee if you cancel after booking; £400 cancellation fee within 60 days of the retreat date and £850 cancellation fee within 30 days of the retreat.  No refunds can be given to cancellations made less than 14 days prior to the retreat date. 

Please note that information about the event and venue are subject to change and cancellation.

Occasionally, an event may have to be cancelled or postponed. We will inform of you of any changes and cancellations as soon as possible via email and you will receive a full refund.

Unfortunately, we cannot be held responsible for any resulting costs you may incur for travel, accommodation and any other related goods or service or other compensation.

We will confirm the final details of the event, at least 30 days before the start date.

PAY YOUR DEPOSIT:

Click “Register for Event” below to pay your £500 Deposit ans secure your place on our exclusive retreat.

Daily Schedule: 

THAILAND RETREAT

FAQ

Any Questions? Please see FAQ tab below to see if we’ve already answered them for you.

Don’t Take Our Word For It – Hear What Others Are Saying About Our Previous Retreats…

“If you are considering attending I would say just do it! A life changing experience that I will keep and build on forever. I knew it would be good but wow I could never have imagined how good. Perfect from start to finish.” 

Diane Maddison

“This is an excellent workshop and retreat. I would highly recommend it to any therapist who needs to take time out for reflection and healing from both work and personal challenges. It really does help to generate a refreshing and safe space to recalibrate and prioritise your practice and personal life.”

Dr. Gerard Butcher

“Events that enable growth amongst therapists rather than simple training are rare, and as rare opportunities go to work with and bond with colleagues and ultimately new friends, this was exceptional.”

Dr. Michael Appleton

“An amazing opportunity to spend time with other therapists from different countries, cultures and professional backgrounds, and felt part of something very special. Really valued all being in one love in the evening, it provided space for us to be together as a group.”

Emma Blaney

“I thought the whole weekend was very well organised and each workshop built on previous ones in a very helpful way. The facilitation of a safe environment in which to share was very important. I think the fact that the attendees were all in the same accommodation really worked as we had plenty of opportunity to chat and develop friendships.  Thank you Tally and Deborah for a very inspiring few days. You both worked very hard and really looked after everyone. The retreat gave me a lot of food for thought which I will continue to use and I’m grateful for the opportunity to have participated.”

Dr. Gaye Cunnane

“The splendour of the Wild Atlantic Way, the warmth of the Irish folk and the beautiful green rolling hills of Donegal, afforded us the most special experience during the Donegal Retreat. The workshop content covering Compassionate Focus Therapy with Dr Deborah Lee was just that, compassionate yet informative, with a gentle mix of cognitive content, self- reflection and sharing, in a safe and confidential space. Coupled with interesting activities to include morning yoga on the beach, a boat trip, camp fire at night on the beach and an optional walk up to Slieve Liag, there was something to suit everyone. The attention to detail and superior quality of delivery, both from the event organiser Tally, and the lead Clinical Psychologist Dr Deborah Lee, made it special indeed, adding value and enhancing self worth, in a safe, friendly and non- judgemental environment, with like- minded people. I would highly recommend doing this retreat and look forward to going to another workshop!” 

Chantal Sargent

“This was a wonderful, nourishing and inspiring experience. It was beautifully crafted to allow for deep insights and meaningful connection, and provided sustenance both for clinical practice and personal meaning. Deborah is not only an incredible teacher, but held and supported the group, and we were all in turn supported by Tally who felt like an integral part. Highly recommended.

Hannah Gilbert