How We Hold This Space

My intention is to create a thoughtful, respectful, and supportive space for everyone who chooses to participate. The information below is simply here to help you decide whether Returning feels like the right fit for you.

Before enrolling, I'd like to share a few important details about the journey, what you can expect, and the kind of support Returning is — and isn't — designed to provide.

The Nature of Returning

Returning is a four-week educational programme centred around contemplative practice, practical wisdom, and personal reflection.

Throughout the journey we'll explore daily practice, meditation, mantra, journalling, and group discussion as ways of cultivating a deeper relationship with ourselves and with life.

Returning is grounded in contemplative practice, practical wisdom, and personal responsibility. The practices are offered as invitations to explore your own experience with openness, kindness, and discernment.

Returning is designed to support learning, self-reflection, and personal growth. It is not psychotherapy, counselling, psychological or medical treatment, crisis support, or a substitute for the care of qualified health professionals.

I do not diagnose or assess mental health conditions, and participation in Returning should not be understood as an assessment or treatment of any mental health condition.

While many participants experience meaningful insight and positive change, individual experiences will vary and no specific outcomes can be promised or guaranteed.

Your Wellbeing

Contemplative practice can sometimes bring greater awareness to thoughts, emotions, memories, and patterns that may have previously gone unnoticed. For some people, this can be meaningful and supportive; for others, certain practices or forms of self-reflection may feel challenging at particular times.

If you are currently experiencing significant psychological distress, are in crisis, or require clinical or therapeutic support, Returning may not be the appropriate form of support for you at this time. I encourage you to seek appropriate care from a qualified medical or mental health professional.

Returning is not designed to diagnose, treat, or resolve trauma or other mental health conditions. If you are working with trauma, significant psychological distress, or another condition requiring professional care, please continue to work with the appropriately qualified professionals supporting you.

If you are already working with a therapist, psychologist, psychiatrist, or other healthcare provider, Returning may complement that support, but it does not replace it.

If, at any point during the programme, you feel that the practices are becoming overwhelming or are affecting your wellbeing in a way that concerns you, I encourage you to pause, care for yourself, and seek appropriate support where needed.

You are always welcome to adapt, modify, or pause a practice rather than pushing through something that does not feel supportive.

Participation

Returning invites curiosity rather than certainty.

The practices are offered as invitations to explore your own experience with openness, kindness, and discernment. There is no perfect way to participate, and no expectation that you get the practice "right."

You are encouraged to engage with the practices at your own pace, adapting or pausing whenever appropriate for your circumstances.

The purpose of this programme is not to perform practice perfectly, nor to use practice to fix or overcome every difficulty in life. It is to cultivate a meaningful relationship with practice and develop a greater capacity to recognise and meet our experience with awareness and discernment.

Sometimes what we encounter in our lives calls for contemplative practice. At other times, it may call for rest, conversation, practical action, professional support, or other forms of care. Part of developing discernment is learning to recognise what is actually needed.

Community

Our live gatherings are intended to be respectful, compassionate, and confidential spaces.

Participants are asked to speak from their own experience, listen with curiosity, avoid giving unsolicited advice or interpreting another person's experience, and honour the privacy of others.

What is shared within the group should remain within the group. While I ask all participants to respect this agreement, I cannot guarantee the actions of other participants outside the programme.

You are also encouraged to share only what you feel genuinely comfortable sharing. There is never an expectation to disclose personal experiences, memories, or circumstances in order to participate fully.

Live Sessions & Recordings

Weekly Returning Gatherings and the Practice Circle will be recorded and made available privately to programme participants.

By participating in a live session, you acknowledge that your voice and image may appear in the recording if you choose to participate with your camera or microphone on.

If you prefer not to appear in the recording, you are welcome to keep your camera and microphone off.

Please also be mindful of the privacy of other participants when speaking during recorded sessions.

Programme Materials

All recordings, written materials, and resources are provided for your personal use only and may not be reproduced, shared, or distributed without written permission.

Refund Policy

If you enrol in Returning and later discover that you're unable to participate, you're welcome to request a full refund up to seven days before the programme begins.

From seven days before the start date, refunds are no longer available, as your place has been reserved and preparations for the group are underway.

If exceptional circumstances arise after the programme has begun, please get in touch. While I can't guarantee a refund, I'm always happy to have a conversation and will respond with care and fairness.

Before We Begin

If you have any questions after reading this page, please don't hesitate to get in touch. I'm always happy to help you discern whether Returning is the right fit for you.

With love,

Paula