🌴 Why Therapists Learn Best in Paradise: The Neuroscience Behind Deep, Restorative Learning

Background: Lush Ubud jungle or misty sunrise over rice terraces (soft pink-gold ARTI overlay at 35 % opacity). Foreground text: White rounded box or transparent gradient with copy text centred: 🌴 Why Therapists Learn Best in Paradise The Neuroscience Behind Deep, Restorative Learning Bali 2026 · Evidence-Informed CPD · 60 Hours resourcetherapy.com.au

By Philipa Thornton, BA Psych (Hons), President – Resource Therapy International

Therapists learn best when their nervous systems feel safe. This evidence-informed approach to training blends neuroscience, psychology, and paradise. Discover why Resource Therapy’s 2026 Bali Hybrid Program offers the ideal balance of learning, restoration, and community.

When therapists learn in a calm, sensory-rich environment, something extraordinary happens.

Our brains — and our hearts — open.

As trauma-informed practitioners, we know regulation is the foundation for transformation. Yet many CPD programs are delivered in cold rooms under fluorescent lights, with little time to breathe. The result? Cognitive overload instead of embodied learning.

🌿 The Science Behind Learning in Safety

Neuroscience shows that a regulated nervous system enhances neuroplasticity.
When we feel safe, the prefrontal cortex re-engages, memory consolidates, and creativity rises. Perfect for parts work!

In other words, we don’t just hear new information – we wire it in.

That’s why the 2026 Bali Clinical Resource Therapy Hybrid Training was designed as an immersive retreat rather than a standard classroom course.
It blends online foundations for cognitive understanding with in-person experiential mastery in the lush, grounding landscape of Ubud.

Therapist takeaway: The calmer your own nervous system, the deeper your client’s work becomes.

🧠 Clinical Precision Meets Human Connection

This program restores therapists while they learn. It’s both evidence-informed and neuropsychological, grounded in trauma, memory, and state theory research — yet deeply human and relational. Discover the power of parts work for yourself.

Evidence-informed & strength-based: rooted in decades of psychological science.
Hybrid design: two online blocks (Feb & Mar 2026) plus a 10-day Bali intensive (June 2026).
60 CPD hours: accredited professional development that feels like self-care.

You’ll learn to diagnose and treat Conflicted, Retro, and Vaded States, apply memory reconsolidation principles, and see how RT fits into many other models despite being a stand alone therapy. Perfectly suited for EMDR, Clinical Hypnotherapists, professionally certified Coaches, DBR, IFS, and somatic mental health clinicians — all while reconnecting with your own calm centre.

🌴 Reserve My Spot for Bali 2026 :

🌴 Why Bali Works

Environment matters.

Ubud’s rhythm naturally supports reflection and restoration. Therapists consistently tell us they return home clearer, calmer, and more clinically confident. With the bonus of the Yoga Barn and beautiful restaurants and cafes only minutes away. Bali Bliss!
The tropical environment isn’t a luxury — it’s an essential part of the learning process.

“It was the most nourishing CPD I’ve ever done.” — Social Worker, Perth

At the Evitel Resort, Ubud, your nervous system gets to exhale while your professional skills expand. This immersion for professional development and tax break offers a genuine reset.

Therapist takeaway: When you feel restored, your clients feel safer with you.

🧭 Your 2026 Training Calendar at a Glance

Online Foundations: 22–23 February 2026
Bali Intensive: 10–12 June & 15–17 June 2026
Advanced Clinical Training (Australia): TBA November 2026
Sydney Clinical Program: 22-24 February,22, 23, & 24 March,26 & 27 April, 10 & 11 May 2026

All programs are delivered through the Australian Resource Therapy Institute (ARTI) and count toward full Clinical Certification as the internationally recognised qualification from Resource Therapy International.

Presented by:
Philipa Thornton BA Psych (Hons) – President, Resource Therapy International
Chris Paulin, MA Psychology UNSW – Co-Director, Australia Resource Therapy Institute, with Professor Gordon Emmerson, PhD – Founder of Resource Therapy (special guest appearance, if available).

💛 Final Thought

Therapists give so much of themselves.
This year, gift yourself an experience that gives back.

Reignite your passion, deepen your mastery, and remember what drew you to this work in the first place.

📄 Clinical Resource Therapy Online Training →

📄 Foundation Resource Therapy Online Training →

📄 Master Class Programs Online and In-person Training →

❓ Therapist FAQs

Q: Can I attend the Clinical training online?
A: Yes. Resource Therapy’s 2026 Clinical Program offers both a fully online and a Bali hybrid retreat option. Both pathways are accredited and lead to Clinical Certification.

Q: How many CPD hours will I earn?
A: Up to 60 accredited CPD hours, recognised by PACFA, ACA, APS, AASW, and AAPI.

Q: Who is this training for?
A: Therapists, counsellors, and psychologists seeking a structured, trauma-informed, and evidence-based parts therapy model that transforms both therapist and client.

October 3, 2025October 2, 2025

✨ Love That Lasts: A World-Renowned Couples Workshop Comes to Sydney

Philipa Thornton certification badge as Imago Workshop Presenter

Most relationships don’t end because of a lack of love.

They drift apart because they lose the language of connection.

After 1.5 years of advanced training and mentorship (and yes, more than a few late nights and chocolate fixes along the way), I am honoured to share that I am now a certified Imago workshop presenter, accredited to deliver the internationally acclaimed Getting the Love You Want couple’s workshop.

The first in-person Sydney event will be held on 7–8 March 2026. For couples who can’t travel or are balancing parenting and busy lives, we’ll also be offering an online evening option — like a live class you can join from your sofa once the kids are in bed.

💙 Why Couples Choose This Experience

This isn’t ordinary couples counselling, and it’s not relationship therapy. It’s an immersive, experiential weekend that helps partners:

Break the cycle of conflict and rediscover safety
Reignite intimacy not just sex, but affection, laughter and joy
Feel seen and understood in a way that softens defences and opens hearts
Move from autopilot to intentional connection, learning a new language of love

And it’s not just for couples in crisis.

Many attend because things are good, but they want to go even deeper.

Think of it as relationship coaching at its highest level: a chance to take a good relationship to extraordinary depth.

We live in an age where love is tested by work demands, endless screens, and family pressures. Couples often find themselves “fine” but not fulfilled. Others slip into what I call the silent divorce, living side by side, yet emotionally worlds apart.

This workshop offers an antidote.

It’s where couples pause, breathe, and rediscover the spark that first drew them together.

It’s about love that not only endures but stays passionately alive.

Chris often jokes that when we met through dancing, we weren’t just learning steps we were learning how to lean in, listen and move together. That’s exactly the spirit of this workshop: finding your rhythm again.

Philipa Thornton certification badge as Imago advanced Clinical Therapist in Sydney and on line

Proven worldwide – delivered in over 30 countries for more than 40 years
Grounded in science – built on neuroscience, attachment theory, and empathy-based tools
Safe and private – all core work happens between you and your partner
Transformational – many couples describe it as “months of therapy in two days”

And it’s delivered by a partnership, too. Alongside me will be my husband, Chris Paulin, consultant psychologist, co-founder of the Australian Resource Therapy Institute, and co-director of Marriage Works.

Chris has been my steady support throughout this journey (he likes to say he’s my “number one fan and loudest cheer squad”, and he’s right). Together, we bring decades of clinical experience and a shared passion for helping couples heal and thrive.

Do we share personal issues in public?

No. All core work is private with your partner. Demonstrations are sometimes offered so couples can see how the dialogue unfolds. Some choose to volunteer because it helps everyone learn — but it is always optional.

Can I join if I can’t attend in person?

Yes. For those balancing parenting, long work hours, or who live outside Sydney, we offer an online evening format. The same tools and practices are delivered live across several evenings, designed to fit into everyday life.

When is the next workshop?

The first in-person Sydney workshop will be held on 7–8 March 2026. Online evening options will also be available. Early-bird pricing and dates will be released first to the waitlist.

Whether you’re seeking repair after disconnection or wanting to elevate a strong relationship to the next level, this is your invitation to invest in love that lasts.

👉 Join the Sydney launch waitlist now for priority access to the 7–8 March 2026 workshop and early registration for the online evening program. Join the Waitlist Here

This certification is more than a credential; it is a mission. I believe every couple deserves the chance not just to survive together. But to thrive, to experience love that is safe, vibrant, and alive with possibility.

I am deeply grateful to Chris, my husband, co-founder, and constant support, for walking this path with me. Together at Marriage Works and the Australia Resource Therapy Institute, we are committed to helping couples and therapists globally.

Love is the greatest investment you can make.

And in March 2026 in Sydney, we look forward to welcoming couples ready to begin that journey.

September 23, 2025September 23, 2025

Resource Therapy Now Insured: AON & Fenton Green Recognition

Australian Resource Therapy Institute ship graphic celebrating insurance recognition by AON and Fenton Green for professional indemnity and public liability cover.

Great news for every Resource Therapist: AON and Fenton Green now officially recognise Resource Therapy (RT) for Professional Indemnity and Public Liability insurance.

This recognition confirms that RT is both clinically sound and professionally validated. Strengthening every helping practitioner’s credibility and protection.

A Collective Win

This success belongs to all of us.
Special thanks to Gina, Amandah and the many mental health practitioners who updated their insurers and reported back. Your action and feedback helped pave the way for this achievement and demonstrate the power of a connected professional community.

“It took a few hoops and a quick update with my insurer, and Resource Therapy is now on my policy—so easy!” – Amandah, RT Clinician and Psychotherapist.

Why This Matters

Stronger professional presence – Listing RT on your policy elevates your practice profile and sets you apart.
Trust and reassurance – Clients and referrers see that your modality meets established industry standards.
Simple next steps – New graduates of our Foundation, Clinical, and Advanced programs can now secure cover without extra red tape.

Help Expand the List

Have you found other insurers now recognising Resource Therapy or Advanced Ego State Therapy?
Comment below with your updates so we can keep the community informed and build even more recognition.

Next Steps

Check your policy – Make sure “Resource Therapy” appears in your Professional Indemnity and Public Liability cover with AON or Fenton Green.
Share your findings – Add a comment below if you know of other insurers covering RT.
Stay protected – Keep your insurance current to meet ethical and legal standards for counselling and psychology practice.

🟡 FAQ

Q1. Is Resource Therapy covered by AON and Fenton Green?
Yes. Both AON and Fenton Green now list Resource Therapy for Professional Indemnity and Public Liability insurance in Australia.

Q2. How do I list Resource Therapy on my insurance policy?
Include “Resource Therapy” under the modalities or therapies section when applying or renewing. If your insurer doesn’t yet list RT, add it in the “other modality” field and advise them that AON and Fenton Green recognise it. Reach out to us for any support.

Together we’re making Resource Therapy impossible to overlook—one insurer at a time.
© Philipa Thornton | Australia Resource Therapy Institute – www.resourcetherapy.com.au

Author: Philipa Thornton