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Falling in Love with Life Again
The Kind Gaze™ Retreat
18 April- 22 April 2026
Algarve Portugal
What Awaits You
This isn’t another retreat.
It’s a 5 day professional and personal immersion designed to help you reconnect with your creative essence, renew your emotional energy, and expand your therapeutic practice.
At the heart of this journey lies The Kind Gaze™
a powerful visual method that uses nature, art, and photography as a language for deep healing and transformation.
You won’t just rest.
You’ll reawaken through guided experiences that integrate body, image, and presence.
This is your invitation to:
Release What’s Heavy
Let go of old patterns, emotional fatigue, and the pressure to always “hold space.”
You’ll feel lighter, clearer, and emotionally rebalanced.
Reignite Your Creativity and Passion
Rediscover your creative pulse and curiosity.
Through mindful visual practice, you’ll awaken inspiration that flows naturally into your life and work.
Rebuild with Confidence and Clarity
You’ll be seen, supported, and empowered,
leaving with a renewed sense of direction and purpose.
Integrate The Kind Gaze™ into Your Practice
You’ll gain practical, creative tools that you can apply immediately in your sessions, workshops, or coaching practice, enriching both your professional impact and personal life.
All of this unfolds through daily rituals: forest walks, mindful movement, silence, and creative expression designed to open the door to lasting transformation.
You will leave not only rested,
but reconnected, inspired, and ready to fall in love with life again.
This isn’t just a retreat - it’s a gentle initiation into a new way of seeing and being
Does This Feel True for You?
You are a therapist, a coach, a facilitator.
You guide others on their journey of growth and transformation.
You hold space, you listen, you serve. It’s your gift.
But…
1. Do you feel you’ve been giving so much that your own joy has dimmed?
2. Are you so busy guiding others that your own renewal has been put on hold?
3. Do you feel a call to release old patterns in your practice?
But you’re not sure how to find new inspiration?
You’re not seeking just another technique,
You’re ready to expand your professional toolkit
through a new way of seeing and being seen.
If you’re nodding (even a little:), you’re not alone.
This is the moment where many who hold space for others pause,
not to retreat from life, but to return to it.
The Power Behind Your Transformation
This retreat is not a random collection of relaxing activities.
It’s a structured, evidence-based immersive experience built on a proven transformational methodology.
At the heart of this journey lies The Kind Gaze™-
a unique visual method I have developed and refined over 25 years of guiding professionals and individuals through creative, emotional, and therapeutic processes.
What is it?
The Kind Gaze™ uses mindful photography, healing art, and visual reflection as a language for awareness and healing.
For professionals like you, who are deeply skilled in guiding others through words and dialogue.
This approach offers a different, more direct path:
it allows you to bypass the analytical “thinking mind” and access deeper, non-verbal layers of truth, emotion, and insight.
Why it Works:
Instead of talking about your patterns, you will see them.
Instead of analyzing your inspiration, you will create it.
This is the essence of The Kind Gaze™.
a “bottom-up” approach that uses nature, art, and the senses to unlock what the conscious mind often keeps hidden.
Who IS IT FOR
This retreat is designed for
professionals who lead others
on their journey of growth and transformation,
including therapists, coaches, trainers,
and facilitators who are ready to go deeper.
It is an advanced retreat: a chance to expand your skills
as a guide while experiencing your own renewal and transformation.
Not a professional? If you feel called to this journey,
you are warmly welcome to join.
What matters most is your openness and curiosity.
Meet Your Facilitator: Efrat Shani
My name is Efrat Shani, a phototherapist, creative mentor, photographer, artist, and visual-culture researcher.
For more than 25 years, my work has bridged art, therapy, and human connection, guiding professionals, therapists, and leaders back to their authentic creative source.
As one of the co-founders and creators of Points of You,
I helped shape not just a brand, but a global movement,
a new visual language that has touched and inspired millions of people worldwide.
(Today I work independently and am no longer part of Points of You.)
From that journey grew The Kind Gaze™ practice and method.
a natural evolution of everything I’ve learned about presence, art, and human connection.
It’s more than a method; it’s a way of seeing, a way of creating,
and a way of living with compassion and truth.
At this retreat, my role is not to teach you,
but to facilitate a process that is clear, precise, and deeply compassionate
to help you meet yourself with presence and authenticity.
This is my devotion,
And I’m here to meet you exactly where you are.
I would be honored to walk this journey with you :)
Be ready for the Unknow :))
Your PRO Takeaways
The conversations, the silences, the walks, the drama, the laughs and everything that allowed that MAGIC PROCESS to happen. I loved to see how EFRAT's work helped us find an answer, and their Soul Name.
Rui Catalão, Portugal, DESIGNER
Your Personal Takeaways
How much?
Your Investment in Yourself and Your Practice
This is a 5-day, all-inclusive, transformative retreat.
a profound investment in your personal growth, your creative renewal, and your professional evolution.
Your investment includes not only the full 5-day retreat in the Algarve,
but also continued guidance before and after - ensuring that your transformation truly lasts.
(Prices are per person for the complete, all-inclusive program.)
Early Bird Prices (until December 30)
Triple Room – €3490 (❌ €3990)
Double Room – €4390 (❌ €4890)
Single Room – €5390 (❌ €5890)
For More Info
“Efrat, you are my most impactful and inspiring encounter of the last 7 years.
I'm immensely grateful for what you've given me: the challenging, caring way you confront me, your sharp, precise, and loving gaze that opens doors to reveal myself, your unique, powerful presence, and your devotion to serving others. I love you big and bluerange 💙🐼🧡🐉💛”
Elodie Palfer-Sollier, France, PHOTOGRAPHER & COACH
Maybe you have some questions...
Core Concept & Purpose
Q: What’s this retreat really about? Is it just another “personal-development” thing?
A: Not at all. This is an advanced, 5-day immersive initiation designed for professionals and seekers who want genuine transformation. You’ll gain practical Kind Gaze™ tools, creative inspiration, and a renewed connection to yourself, growth that flows into both your life and your work.
Target Audience & Suitability
Q: I’m not a therapist or coach… can I still come?
A: Absolutely. If you feel drawn to this, it’s probably meant for you. Curiosity and openness matter more than titles. Let’s talk and see if it’s the right moment in your journey.
Activities & Experience
Q: I’m not an “artist.” Do I need to be good at photography or painting?
A: Not at all. This isn’t about talent, it’s about expression. The process is playful, intuitive, and judgment-free.
Q: Will I have to share personal stories? I’m quite private.
A: Never beyond what feels right. You choose your level of sharing; this is your journey, your boundaries.
Q: How physically demanding is it?
A: Gentle and adaptable for all bodies. Tell us about any needs in advance and we’ll support you.
Logistics & Practicalities
Q: How do I get from Lisbon Airport to the retreat?
A: Easy. Round-trip transfers are included; our team will greet you at the airport and take care of everything.
Q: Will there be time to explore Portugal?
A: The retreat itself is immersive, but you’re welcome to extend your stay before or after.
Q: Meals - do you cater to vegan or other dietary needs?
A: The meals are vegetarian by design, as they support the depth and clarity of the transformative process.
Every dish is lovingly prepared - nourishing, vibrant, and full of inspiration and taste. Vegan and other dietary needs are warmly accommodated.
Q: Who will I share a room with?
A: We thoughtfully pair participants with like-minded roommates to support comfort and connection.
Payment & Policies
Q: Is there a payment plan?
A: Yes, contact our Retreat Coordinator to create a plan that suits you.
Q: What if I have to cancel?
60 + days before → Full refund minus €500 fee.
30–60 days before → 50 % refund.
Less than 30 days → No refund, but almost 100 % credit toward a future retreat.
We recommend travel insurance for peace of mind.
Value for Professionals
Q: As a therapist/coach/professional, will I receive materials for my practice?
A: Yes. You’ll receive your Falling in Love with Life Again Retreat Kit -
a beautifully designed collection of creative and reflective tools
to continue your journey long after the retreat ends.
At a serene resort in Algarve, South Portugal, along with others from 14 countries, I participated in a transformative journey, it was more than just a workshop or retreat. The activities centered around nature, art, and introspection, allowing us to delve into our core and produce art that mirrored our newly discovered selves.
Personally, I discovered my creativity and overcame the fear of others' labels, a liberating insight. Such retreat is crucial for personal transformation, providing clarity amidst chaos, encouraging introspection, and inspiring conviction.
Jason Low, Singapur, HR