Dome-shaped lodging to enhance therapy retreat near Medicine Hat

Healing Grounds, run by Keys to Hope counselling services, offers several nature and animal-based wellness programs, with the serenity of a country-side setting.

Counselling and therapeutic retreats can take many forms, to provide for all types of needs. The grounds are located minutes outside of the city, providing an escape from everyday life.

Rental domes resemble igloos on the quiet country landscape. Jayk Sterkenburg/CHAT News

Deena West, psychologist with KTH, recognized that more could be done for those who receive their services.

“We bought the property for expansion of counselling services, but saw that there was a need for other services as well to that contribute to the wellness of people,” she said.

“We do have studio space or offices in the main house where we can offer therapy sessions, but mainly outdoors as well, too,” she added.

“With the horses, chickens and goats — we have goat yoga as well in the summers.”

Melisha Franks, psychologist and co-owner of KTH, said that on-site accommodations will contribute to their services.

“We are in the process of developing psychological intensives. So that would sort of look like the retreat component, but really with a strong psychology and therapy perspective,” she said.

“People can come and really immerse themselves into their healing journey,” she added.

“It would include staying on-site and incorporating the equine therapy, the nature therapy, as well as in-studio therapy.”

West said that the domes allow for times of quietness and reflection, an ideal space for meditation.

Domes are furnished and heated, for shelter in any climate. Jayk Sterkenburg/CHAT News.

She said the new accommodations will be available year-round once a trial period is complete.

“Because it’s our first go, we wanted to get them up and going in the fall. It just took a little bit of work to get going. We’re really wanting to test them over the winter,” she said.

“We have someone coming out, one of our associates coming to stay this weekend, to give it a little test to see actually what they can withstand for as far as cold,” she added.

“They are four seasons. So they’re insulated for the winters and we do have some heating opportunity as well to heat up the domes.”

Franks said that it can be quite vulnerable for people to share information with someone they may not know well.

She said that the experience of Healing Grounds is transformational for some who visit.

“People actually get to feel and experience it, and we call it sort of having that ‘felt sense’ in their body where they are,” she said.

“It has resonated not just cognitively but really sort of physiologically, spiritually — everything,” she added.

“It’s really hard to explain until you’re with that person and they look at you, and they say ‘I get it. Wow.'”

With the domes, opportunities for more extensive therapy and support services will be available to those in the city and beyond.

by Jayk Sterkenburg

Dome-shaped lodging to enhance therapy retreat near Medicine Hat

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