I’ve lived in London and Sheffield, deep in the countryside in west Wales and Dorset, by the sea in north Norfolk and Yorkshire, and in two intentional communities. I’ve been a psychotherapist and counsellor for 15 years, working with individuals, couples and groups, and I have many years experience of facilitating alternative holidays, meditation and other workshops and retreats around the UK. I’m also a bodywork therapist.

Although spirituality is an important and everyday part of my life, I tend not to use the word too often - I prefer to simply think of it as being human. I don’t follow a well-trodden path and have learned, and continue to learn, from many teachers and masters; if pushed I’d say that I’m influenced most of all by Osho, Zen and Taoism. My day to day meditation practice is more likely to be chopping onions, watching a sunset or losing myself in dance as it is sitting cross legged on the floor: mindfulness and awareness of the present moment are my keys.

I’ll be your ‘accompaniment’ and facilitator through your retreat here. I don't set out to be any kind of expert or guru; I am and will always be simply a fellow traveller - a companion along the path, here to accompany, witness and perhaps throw some new and different light on your own journey.

I’m a former social worker who spent 25 years living and working in inner city Birmingham, where I worked mainly with children and young people and in family therapy. Outside work I was involved in social action, with Servas (an international hospitality exchange that arose from the peace movement) and in setting up a base community. After a sabbatical year in Norwich training in the person-centred approach I never went back … 

Here at Grillou I’ve come back home to my first love: being in nature, working in the garden and growing things. I’ll take care of the practical side of your stay with us.