Therapeutic Fly-Fishing EMDR Retreats

TF-EMDR

Launching Summer 2026 | Clinton County, Pennsylvania

Trauma work for people who don’t belong on a couch.

Built for people who think clearer in motion and settle faster outside four walls.

In development. Built slow. Built right.

🎣 EMDR in Motion • 🌿 Nature-Based, Trauma-Focused
💻 Led by a Licensed Therapist • 🗓️ Planned for Summer 2026

Therapist standing in a forested stream holding a fly-fishing rod, illustrating the outdoor, movement-based setting of TF-EMDR therapy retreats.

What is Therapeutic Fly-Fishing EMDR (TF-EMDR)?

TF-EMDR blends structured EMDR with movement, rhythm, and time outdoors.

No office.

No staring at the clock.

No pretending one approach works for everyone.

This work is designed for adults who feel more at ease outside than in an office and want trauma work that’s grounded, steady, and real — not clinical or boxed in.

You don’t need to love the outdoors.

You don’t need fishing experience.

You just need to be open to a different way of doing this work.

Why TF-EMDR Works

This approach is built around structure and rhythm — not pressure.

Therapist fly-fishing in a clear mountain stream, highlighting the active, nature-based approach used in TF-EMDR therapy retreats.

• Water provides a steady, calming environment

• Movement helps maintain focus and engagement

• Rhythmic casting supports bilateral processing

• Natural settings reduce intensity without avoiding the work

Many people — including Veterans, First Responders, Caregivers, and those raised in high-expectation or “be strong” environments — find it easier to settle, focus, and engage in this setting.

It’s not therapy stripped down.

It’s therapy reimagined for people who don’t thrive in traditional formats.

Who This Is For

TF-EMDR may be a good fit if you:

• Grew up with “suck it up” or “keep going” messaging

• Learned early to push through instead of slow down

• Are used to holding it together for everyone else

• Prefer structure, rhythm, and quiet over constant talking

• Are curious about EMDR but unsure office-based therapy is the right fit

You don’t need to know how to fly fish.

Instruction is included, and we meet you where you are.

What This Is Not

This is not a vacation, a getaway, or a wellness retreat.

It’s not a fishing trip with therapy sprinkled on top.

It’s not group sharing around a campfire.

And it’s not about escaping your life for a few days and hoping things feel better when you get back.

This is also not:

• A replacement for emergency or crisis care

• A casual introduction to trauma work without structure

• A fit for someone looking to avoid doing real work

• A one-size-fits-all solution

And it’s not about “finding your inner peace,”

“healing your inner child,”

or talking in circles until you’re exhausted.

This is focused, intentional trauma work — done differently, not lightly.

If you’re looking for something soft, vague, or purely experiential, this won’t be the right fit.

If you want serious work without a clinical therapy feel, it might be.

Important Considerations & Contraindications

TF-EMDR is not appropriate for everyone.

This retreat may not be a good fit if you are:

• In active crisis or experiencing severe instability

• Currently struggling with unmanaged substance use

• Experiencing active psychosis or severe dissociation

• In need of immediate or ongoing psychiatric care

Because this work happens outside of a traditional office setting, participants must be able to engage safely in movement-based activities, including light hiking and fishing, and tolerate time outdoors.

Participants will need to be medically cleared for light hiking and fishing activities prior to participation.

All participants will complete a thorough screening and consultation process to determine fit.

This isn’t about exclusion — it’s about doing trauma work responsibly.

What’s Included in a TF-EMDR Intensive

(Details will continue to evolve as the program develops)

Planned components include:

• Pre-intensive consultation

• EMDR preparation and orientation

• Fly-fishing basics (if needed)

• EMDR woven into guided movement

• Breaks built into the day

• Integration planning and next steps

• Optional follow-up support

This is deeper work in a different setting — combining focused trauma processing with the steady rhythm of nature.

Why I’m Creating TF-EMDR

Strength meant silence. Crying wasn’t an option.

I grew up with seven brothers and a lifetime of “suck it up” messaging.

Fishing became one of the few places things felt quieter and clearer.

TF-EMDR grows out of that experience — and more than 21 years of trauma-informed clinical work.

It’s for people who don’t want to talk everything to death, but do want things to change.

TF-EMDR is for people who are tired of pushing through and ready to try something different.

Retreat Location & Planned Formats

📍 Clinton County, Pennsylvania and surrounding areas

Hyner View State Park Hanglider Overlook, Clinton County, PA

Retreats will take place on some of the best trout fishing waters in the country.

I’m building TF-EMDR with the long game in mind.

I plan to partner with local businesses for meals and lodging so the experience stays rooted in the community it lives in — not outsourced or impersonal.

Bald Eagle Creek, Centre County, PA

Final locations will be determined during the consultation process and are dependent on weather, water levels, and creek conditions to ensure safety and quality of experience.