Facilitator

Dr. Annie Brook

Somatic Psychologist, author, &

BMC teacher

Based in Boulder, Colorado, Dr. Annie Brook is the founder of the Brook Institute.

Annie is a movement artist, as well as a psychotherapist with a keen interest in how we heal through applying body-mind tools. Annie has decades of movement experience with contact improvisation, and improvisation and ensemble study, which greatly influences her methods for group health, and personal change and healing. Being relational starts the body, with self, other, space, and when performing, with audience. It is all about attunement, awareness, and connection.

Her embodied clinical work focuses on Applied Neuroplasticity, healing the earliest life imprints, birth trauma, couples attachment, and adoption-related issues.

Her methodology integrates Body-Mind Centering®, neuroscience, play, and movement education, supporting the resolution of deep-seated trauma in infants, children, and adults.

Annie is the author of several influential books, including "Birth's HIdden Legacy," “Attachment, Imprints, and Intimacy”, "Awakening the Creative Mind," "Help for Sensory Challenges", and “Contact Improvisation and Body-Mind Centering”.

Dr. Brook brings over 45 years of clinical and teaching experience and previously served as the Director of the Body Psychotherapy track for the MA in Somatic Psychology at Naropa University.

Assistant Facilitator

Damian Leuthold

Somatic Movement Educator and Counselor

Damian Leuthold, RSME, RSMT, MT, NLC, is a perinatal somatic counsellor, movement educator, manual therapist, event producer, and ritual performance artist.   

 He offers individual psychotherapy, both in person and online, through Be in Touch Therapy. He regularly teaches Contact Improvisation, Healing Birth Trauma, and embodiment practices, and produces events through SomaSanctuary and the Brook Institute.

 

Damian has studied with, assisted, and taught for the Brook Institute for over a decade. He has produced retreats, villages, and workshops regionally in collaboration with numerous festivals.

 

His teaching and movement-based offerings include Healing Birth Trauma, Land and Water Contact Improvisation, the Underscore, Shadow Contact, Giggles and Wiggles, SomaSpeed Dating, and Authentic Movement.

 

His productions include Prismic Vision, Aaaahhhhhh!!!, Contacting the Dark, Sensual Satisfaction, Evolutionary Helix, Desert Contact, BCCCCC, Body Alive, Aquatic Contact, Ecstatic Aquatic, Arise Healer Village, Shamanic Aquatic, Sand Dunes Liquid Flow, CIIC, Somatic Harvest, Deep Desert Play, and bringing the SomaSanctuary Dance tent to events across the region.

 

Damian thrives on cultivating shared movement, play, and curiosity. He believes body awareness is central to self-awareness, and that self-awareness is key to meeting the world with choice and presence. He is here to support you in thriving beyond trauma-driven patterns.

Participants

And You!

Claim your spot for this unique chance to embody your deepest soul self

Andrea Bullard

MA level Dance Movement Therapist

Andrea Bullard is a practicising psychotherapist in Colorado, with a background working with developmental disabilities, as well as standard psychotherapy. Andrea leads authentic movement groups and supports our biweekly somatic online practice group. She is an insightful support to our womb surround events and helps to hold space and provide comfort and support as we work through shock patterns during individual sessions. She has a good way to articulate what she sees and helps participants feel seen and heard. 

Register Soon!

Only accepting a small group; this will be an in-person small group retreat

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Description

The 4-day retreat is non-residential. We meet each day at a private home in Boulder, Colorado. There is access to an outdoor patio and kitchen during lunch.

Overview: Through slow, attuned, and carefully facilitated processes, participants are invited to explore pre-verbal and early layers of experience — the foundational patterns from which nervous system organization emerges. This work helps to heal pre-cognitive shock and overwhelm, layers related to prenatal, birth, or post-birth experiences. This work helps to shift longstanding patterns of adapted behaviors. What develps is a felt-sense of safety, new choice options, and compassion during this time together.

Pricing & Registration

The cost of participation is $750 early bird (available only through March 10th). After March 10th, the full price is $850. Payment secures your place in this small, closed group.

Due to the intimate nature of the retreat and limited number of participants, early registration is recommended.

You may pay in full at registration, or pay deposit only. Remainder is due at retreat (in person ck or cash).

Information

This work supports nervous system regulation, integration, and embodied awareness, allowing participants to meet early imprints with safety, presence, and choice.

The group is intentionally small to ensure depth, intimacy, and individual attention.

No prior experience is required. This retreat is suitable for therapists, practitioners, and individuals with an interest in deep somatic inquiry.

Location & Time Agreements 

You will be sent exact location when you register. There is street parking available. 

Arrival Agreement*

6:00 pm Thursday April 23rd

Please arrive in time to settle in. Doors will open at 6:00pm and retreat starts at 6:30 pm

Departure Agreement*Each evening you return to your lodging. Final Closure is Sunday April 26th, when retreat ends; sometime between 4-5:30pm.

Details of support

Recording: This is for your personal use only! Sessions are not easy to "remember" when you are in the process. That is why Damian will be supporting your memory with the discreet use of video. Your turn is recorded and sent to you only, as an electronic file. This allows for your continued learning and integration. No one else has access to your recorded experience. There is no exposure used for marketing or outside observation at any time. Once your personal video is sent to you, the original will be destroyed.

Group Support: You are an important group member! At times you will also be engaged in supporting each person in an organic manner by witnessing their turn; and in deciding whose turn it is!

As witness, you are sometimes resting, sometimes wide awake and engaged in witnessing a participant's turn. Supportive statements are included at the end of each turn to support individual re-organization and appreciation.

Schedule

Proposed Day Schedule

(working structure, flexible)

Thursday Evening Arrival: 6:00pm — Arrival and settling in. Please bring pillows, blankets, a comfort "stuffed animal or object" that nourishes you. Also bring a journal if you enjoy writing during lunch.

Recording: This is for your personal use only! Sessions are not easy to "remember" when you are in the process. That is why Damian will be supporting your memory with the discreet use of video. Your turn is recorded and sent to you only, as an electronic file. This allows for your continued learning and integration. No one else has access to your recorded experience. There is no exposure used for marketing or outside observation at any time.

Retreat Opening Thursday Evening

6:30pm — Opening circle and gentle orienting practice. Ground rules and opening tools for retreat.

Day Event Experience

9 am arrival and settling in...

9:30 am latest start time:

End time varies, based on the day; somewhere between 6-9 pm each day, until Sunday).

We are together through each day until evening with a lunch break sometime during the day, (Please bring your food so you can stay on site).

This is deliberately an intensive, with a well-held group field. It is fine to rest, sleep, and participate as your experience and needs unfold.

The daily schedule is based on the facilitated group process, We support each participant to have an individual turn. This moment of participation is actually decided by the unfolding of group process, facilitated by Annie Brook with Damian Leuthold assisting.

It occurs in an organic manner, and is almost magic, how the field intelligence of the group unfolds for each person to know when it is "their turn." Turns can take anywhere from 1-2.5 hours.

Lunch & Rest

Please bring your own food each day! This is important so you can stay "in the field" onsite. Refrigerator space and simple kitchen facilities are provided.

Lunchtime is organically decided each day, based on unfolding events of the day. Please bring lunch, as well as snacks you enjoy, so you can stay engaged and comfortable if the morning session is extended later than your usual lunchtime.

Closing each Thursday-Saturday

7:30 ish, depending on the turns occuring that day. Be prepared to rest during the day, as well as participate in the field.

Our goal is you receive nourishment through both contact and rest throughout the retreat.

Final Departure Sunday Afternoon-Early Eve

Integration and departure are important processes. We highlight what occurred throughout the retreat, and finish with a clearly supported ending. You will be supported wtih "next steps" information so you can integrate your process.

Testimonials

Below are thoughts from colleagues and partcipants in Annie's courses

“Annie Brook gives a very clear picture of how to work with and treat earliest origins of shock. Attachment treatment issues are clearly defined with treatment layout for any birth practitioner. This work is easily integrated into ones practice and is easy to follow. Annie Brook spoke at the recent conference of pre and perinatal psychology and health (APPPAH) and her information was well received. Her book is a continuation of her lectures and a great resource for this work.”

Sandra Bardsley, RN

Past APPPAH president

"Annie is a brilliant guide for those of us on the path of healing. She is highly attuned to her clients, dedicated for the long haul, and truly gifted in helping people navigate through the complex terrain of prenatal life, birth, and early developmental related issues. Annie is also able to powerfully assist couples as they repair early attachment dynamics and move into embodied connection and ever expanding intimacy. Annie lives what she teaches. She is an integrated woman, a creative inspiration, and a treasure in our community.

Melissa Michaels

Founder, Golden Bridge

“I am so served by you and your work, Annie. I keep returning to this.. I love that I’ve experienced calm as a result.. created space in myself.. & if I start spinning, I remember to keep coming back here.. to choose helping myself.. get connected within.. thank you.”

Kelly LeValley

Course Participant

“As a somatic psychologist I am at the beginning of my journey and the program has given me powerful support and motivation, a new opportunity has opened up for me. I also see that the somatic approach has permeated all my other areas of work: I lead my water dance classes from this depth, I give massage and water therapy sessions with a different quality, and I weave body living into my artistic work on a new level.

 

I see that this impact on all areas of my life is imminent, because it is first of all a repatterning of the way I live my life, how I stay in my body, get in touch, work and rest, start and finish. It is a change on a fundamental deep level, which, like circles on water, entails a restructuring on all levels. For me it is a real process of rebirth that started from the very beginning of the training..”

Reshetnikova Ekaterina

Course Participant

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