Coaching Wellbeing Retreat 2026: Connection with Yourself & Others
The Greece Chapter of ICF successfully concluded its 2nd Coaching Wellbeing Retreat, a three-day event dedicated to connection, self-awareness and human interaction, at the welcoming Negroponte Resort in Eretria. Withthis year’s theme, ‘Connection with Yourself & Others’, members of our community from all over Greece came together to experience, through coaching, experiential exercises, creative expression and authentic dialogue, an experience that went far beyond the boundaries of a typical professional event.
From Archetypes and Polarities to the Wisdom of the Circle through traditional Greek dances, and from music as a means of inner expression to open discussions on Longevity and well-being, the Retreat gave participants the space and time to slow down, reflect and see themselves and others with greater presence and empathy.
Beyond the workshops themselves, what really stood out were the human connections: the trust built up in just a few days, the meaningful conversations, the laughter and the emotion that created, even if only temporarily, a real sense of community.
Warm thanks are due to the Board of the Greece chapter of ICF for organising the event, as well as to the facilitators Irini Nikolaidou and Ifigeneia Paraskevopoulou, and the guest facilitators Angelos Derlopa, Evi Papanikolaou and Katerina Hatzaki, who planned and led such a rich programme with sensitivity and professionalism.
What the participants experienced
The three-day event unfolded around three thematic strands: beginning with getting to know one another and the Archetypes on the first day, we moved on toself-exploration through others, with references to the Twelve Gods, the ‘masks’ we wear and the FOMO/JOMO distinction, and we concluded with experiential self-awareness exercises and a Harvesting Circle, where participants shared what they had taken away from the experience.
Testimonials from our members
A special three-day ICF Greece retreat took place at the Negroponte Resort.
The gathering was a journey of self-discovery, connection and exploration of the space between the participants’ certainties and choices.
Through experiential exercises, the balancedistinction between FOMO and JOMO, with an emphasis on the realisation that personal growth is not found at the extremes, but in the awareness of one’s choices. We also examined how the people we choose in our lives act as mirrors or complements.
The Apollonian and Dionysian polarities contributed to a better understanding of temperament and the way we relate to ourselves and others.
A particularly memorable experience was the combining traditional dances with coaching, through the wisdom of the circle, shared values, trust and the power of community. Through the Animal Planet Cards, Archetypes, personas and masks, participants came closer to unconscious.
The Music Imagery process, in which one person narrated and the other drew, highlighted inner polarities and the power of listening, creativity and non-verbal expression.
The discussion on wellbeing was also significant, with an exchange of personal experiences and an exploration of what wellbeing means to each individual, as well as a commitment to integrating it into daily life.
During the retreat, elements such as connection, reflection, movement, laughter, listening and learning through the facilitators and the group of participants.
The experience reinforced the importance of openness to learning, curiosity and human connection in coaching, which is not just about asking questions, but also about fostering greater self-awareness, authenticity and presence.
Warm thanks to the Board of Directors of ICF Greece for organising the Retreat, as well as to the facilitators Angelos Derlopas and Evi Papanikolaou for their contribution to creating a space for learning, connection and growth.
E. G.
A year ago, almost to the day, I made a big decision: to leave Italy, ‘my second home’ as my mum says, and a large company – a ‘family’ in which I lived and grew, both professionally and personally, for a full 20 years – and to return to my ‘proper’ homeland, Greece, and to my real family.
Shortly after I arrived, I decided to put an old idea of mine into practice and enter the field of coaching, but this time from the coach’s perspective. Through aa series of happy coincidences, I came across the ICF Greek Chapter, which made me feel welcome right from the very first session.
So it was only natural for me to sign up straight away for their second summer retreat! I spent three unforgettable days at the wonderful Negroponte Hotel in Eretria, which looked after us in the best possible way, as the entire staff ensured we wanted for nothing. The participants, however, were the biggest surprise, because we had the opportunityto open up and share ideas, thoughts, feelings, worries, hopes and wishful thinking, and to grow, I believe, closer together.
Each Each of us took something different away from the wonderfully clever and original workshops. We laughed, we cried, we hugged and we danced, ate and drank, and though we were hungry, we didn’t sleep, because we were filled with experiences, thoughts and feelings.
I thank you all from the bottom of my heart for your kind invitation and your warm welcome. I hope we’ll meet again next year with love!
N.G.
With vivid and wonderful memories of the 1st ICF Greece Retreat in 2025, I signed up again this year.
Full of anticipation, curiosity and with an open heart, I arrived at thethis welcoming seaside resort near Eretria.
The personalwelcoming note waiting for me in my room perfectly captured the spirit of the central theme of ‘Polarities’, which would be our focus over these three days.
And it was a three-day period that was both packed and relaxed – how did that happen?! – with the exceptional facilitators inviting us on a journey of self-discovery, connection and release.
We discovered aspects of ourselves relating to the Apollonian or Dionysian element; we ‘delved’ within ourselves to see whether we choose our partners as a Mirror or a Complement; we explored the Dimensions of Experience and the polarities that currently preoccupy us. We let the music guide us to our inner voice, expressed ourselves by painting the mask of our persona, allowed others tohow they see us, and danced with gusto to traditional Greek dances after discussing the Wisdom of the Circle and the shared values with coaching! We also discussed longevity and wellbeing, exchanging ideas and views on how we can achieve them.
We shared our concerns but also laughed from the bottom of our hearts; we grew closer to one another, and when the time came to say goodbye, I felt that we had created something meaningful in such a short space of time!
I feel immense gratitude for the new insights, the connection, the fruitful reflections and everything we confided in the group, in an atmosphere of completetrust and safety, which is the essence of coaching.
A big thank you to the facilitators and to everyone who took part and created yet another wonderful experience for our community. Here’s to the next ones!
K.P.
See you at the next Coaching Wellbeing Retreat – we look forward to meeting you again and continuing this journey of connection, learning and professional development.
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