Soul Care Intensives
Maybe you’ve had this experience – the weekly spiritual direction, counseling, or pastoral care appointments are good, but aren’t enough. You sense that deeper work is needed. You’re just not sure where to go or what that looks like.
We’d like to discern with you whether or not a Soul Care Intensive is right for you.
An early church father called soul care “the art of arts.” It’s the gentle art of tending to you - wherever you are.
Today, we bring the skill of contemporary therapeutic approaches together with this ancient art of tending gently to the soul to offer you a truly unique, safe, and redemptive space to heal.
We are experienced, licensed practitioners in trauma care - tending to wounds of soul + body.
And we are also attuned listeners, longing to be guides for you on a journey to wholeness.
(FOR SMALL GROUP INTENSIVES, SEE THE ABOUT PAGE)
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CHUCK DEGROAT, PhD, LPC
I’m a follower of Jesus, a husband to Sara for 30 years, and father to two amazing daughters. I serve as Professor of Counseling and Christian Spirituality and Executive Director of the Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program at Western Theological Seminary Holland MI. I’m also a faculty member for the Soul Care Institute.
I’m a licensed therapist, a spiritual director, author of six books, and retreat leader/speaker. As a therapist, I’ve specialized in pastoral (and leadership) health, abuse and trauma, and navigating spiritual and emotional obstacles on the faith journey. I work not just with pastors, but with anyone longing for flourishing and wholeness in their lives.
I’m a Minister of Word and Sacrament in the Reformed Church in America. I pastored in Orlando and San Francisco before transitioning to training and forming pastors. I have 20+ years experience in training clergy in issues of abuse and trauma, conducting pastor and planter assessments, and facilitating church consultations and inquiries of abuse among pastors and within congregations.
You can learn more about my books at the link above. My newest book is coming in early October and available for pre-order now. It’s called Healing What’s Within: Coming Home to Yourself and to God When You’re Weary, Wounded, and Wandering.
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RACHEL BLACKSTON, LMHC
Rachel considers the counseling room a sacred space where deep heart change occurs. She specializes in working with women with a history of trauma and abuse as well as those struggling with infertility and sexual betrayal. Rachel is trained in EMDR, an evidenced-based therapy in the treatment of trauma. She is also a Florida Qualified Supervisor for registered mental health counseling interns.
Outside of the counseling room, Rachel serves as an Adjunct Faculty member at Reformed Theological Seminary and writes regularly for the blog Red Tent Living. She speaks frequently on topics around story, attachment styles in marriage, and the Enneagram. Rachel’s deepest joy is being with her husband and their three daughters, who are priceless gifts after several years of infertility. Rachel loves connecting with friends over a cup of dark roast, beating her husband in miniature golf, and exploring the beauty of the North Carolina mountains.
Here’s a sampling of some of Rachel’s writings:
https://redtentliving.com/2018/08/15/the-civil-wars/
https://redtentliving.com/2024/07/09/yes-and/
https://redtentliving.com/2023/11/07/all-parts-welcome/
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MICHAEL BLACKSTON, LMHC
Michael is a trauma-informed therapist who helps individuals heal from early attachment wounds, navigate the complexities of present-day relationships, and move toward deeper emotional and spiritual wholeness. His work is grounded in the belief that healing happens within the context of safe, attuned relationships—and that our stories of harm can become pathways to restoration.
Drawing from attachment theory, neuroscience, and spiritually integrated practices, Michael specializes in working with adults impacted by childhood trauma, burdened by unwanted addictions, and shaped by persistent, maladaptive patterns in thinking, feeling, and behavior. These unresolved experiences often disrupt their ability to feel safe, connected, and fully present—in both their relationships and their everyday lives. He creates a compassionate space where clients can explore their stories, reconnect with their true selves, and discover deeper courage and purpose.
Michael is trained in EMDR and has completed a trauma-focused narrative therapy certificate under Dr. Dan Allender. A graduate of Reformed Theological Seminary with 20 years of clinical experience, he brings a thoughtful presence to the counseling room, offering both practical tools and a sacred space for growth.
He and his wife, Rachel, are the co-founders of Redeemer Counseling, a multi-site counseling practice serving communities throughout Central Florida.
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We call this work “soul care” echoing the language of an ancient Christian tradition in which deep rest and restoration was a priority. The approach is relationally-oriented and trauma-informed, meaning we’ll engage this work intentionally with the best wisdom contemporary therapeutic approaches have to offer, yet within the context of a slow-paced, five-day therapeutic retreat for your soul.
Intensives are offered by Dr. Chuck DeGroat LPC in Holland, MI, or by Rachel Blackston LPC or Michael Blackston, LPC, in Orlando, FL. We often book these weeks or months in advance, and availability is limited. Contact us to learn more.
Intensive work is a proven, transformational process. Focused, intentional engagement over five days can bring about significant change that months or even years of spiritual direction, pastoral care, or therapy doesn’t accomplish.
We do this work for individuals and for married couples. Pricing is the same for each.
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We create a 5-day experience together that engages the rhythms of challenging inner work, significant rest for your soul, and enjoyable, rejuvenating activities.
It begins with your intention to take this time, set it apart, and commit to the rhythms of deep inner work, rest, reading, play, creativity, or whatever else your soul needs.
Individuals/couples find a quiet place to stay for this time apart from home and normal rhythms.
Intensives are 3 hours a day over 5 days. Consult with the therapist to inquire about start times and dates.
With each day, the work builds, but we find a good rhythm of soul work, rest and play along the way for you. On our last day, we collaborate on a plan for your further work and care, and we provide you with resources to engage beyond our work together. In some cases, we engage in periodic follow-up appointments.
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Soul Care was called “the art of arts” by early Christians who engaged matters of the heart with depth and sensitivity.
The pursuit of self-knowledge was key to unlocking the sufferings and disorders of the heart.
Today, we have the opportunity to connect the wisdom and practices of ancient soul care to new insights in psychology and neuroscience which engage relationships, story, and trauma deeply, all for the sake of your healing journey.
Soul care isn’t merely psychotherapy (which is often too enslaved to insurance companies and tends to pathologize people) nor is it a substitute word for biblical counseling (which tends to shun contemporary psychological wisdom and best practices). No, soul care offers a new paradigm for your healing anchored in both ancient wisdom and contemporary science.
Soul care makes relationship central. It takes your story seriously. It treats trauma deeply.
Ancient wisdom.
Contemporary insights.
All for your journey to wholeheartedness.
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The focus of the intensive is discerned based on your specific needs. Here are some possibilities:
The 5 day ministry leader sabbatical reboot - An assessment and exploration of personal, relational, and vocational satisfaction, with a special attunement to the particular season of your developmental and spiritual journey, and the significant tasks for growth now and into the future.
The 5 day marital reconnect - A couple’s intensive designed for retreat and reconnection.
The 5 day “Healing What’s Within” Intensive - a deep, therapeutic exploration of your inner world based on the work Chuck details in his book Healing What’s Within (Oct 2024). This includes your attachment history, your unique experience of trauma (an assessment of your autonomic nervous system), and an approach to healing through parts work (IFS).
The 5 day spiritual abuse assessment and recovery - A thorough assessment of your experience of spiritual abuse and its impact on you, with an eye both toward addressing your own trauma and charting a course for any relational or vocational intersections that need to be engaged.
The 5 day leader impact assessment - If you’re a leader who has harmed others and wants to begin the healing journey personally and relationally, here you can take a deep dive into your understanding of yourself and how others experience you.
People often ask: "What if I want a mix of 2-3 of these?" It's often the case that some of this work is combined. We'll help discern what's best for you.
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Chuck’s intensives are offered either via Zoom or at his seminary office in Holland MI, a destination small city with lovely hotels, Air B&B’s, and unique dining experiences, consistently ranked highly as a top beach town. It’s shopping district is the best small town experience in the region. (NOTE: For Chuck, priority is given to virtual, Zoom intensives December - February due to Michigan weather and its impact on travel).
Rachel and Michael offer intensives in Central Florida, where clients often stay at a lovely lake house just a short walk from the office, or in a variety of unique locations.
This intensive location is less than an hour from beautiful ocean beaches, and within minutes of lovely walking trails, restaurants, and other amenities.
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A 5-day intensive is $5500, whether in person or over Zoom.
There is a 10% discount for those in ministry.
Most ministry leaders find that some or all of the cost is covered by their churches and organizations.
You are responsible for travel and lodging.
We invoice you for one-half of your payment to lock in your dates, and one-half when the intensive ends.
All payments are invoiced by Chuck DeGroat PC.
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To be considered for an intensive, email us confidentially at chuckdegroatsoulcare@gmail.com with:
Preference to work with Chuck, Rachel, or Michael. Availability differs. We also have other partners in the work who we can pair you with.
Name, Spouse’s Name (if applicable), Date of Birth
Location and Vocation
A detailed, 1-2 page description of what you believe you need
A brief summary of past (or present) care (therapy, spiritual direction, etc.) and its effectiveness.
A short window into your story and why this kind of care would be helpful now.
Your desired outcome (what would flourishing look like for you…or for your marriage?)
4-6 dates of weeks during the year that could work for your intensive.
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Do you recommend things to do or resources to read beforehand? Often, this is dependent on what you need. Please do ask if you’d like to engage resources in advance.
Can I do this via Zoom? Yes, Chuck did all intensives via Zoom during Covid-19, and we do several a year still. We do ask that you find a quiet, retreat-like space with good WiFi wherever you’ll be. (NOTE: For Chuck, priority is given to virtual, Zoom intensives December - February due to Michigan weather and its impact on travel).
Is the deposit refundable? Because most of these are scheduled well in advance, we do not refund intensive deposits if they are cancelled within 60 days of the first day of the scheduled intensive.
Is it the same price for all therapists? Yes. We are all veteran therapists with advanced trauma training and exceptional experience and credentials.
Is it the same price for individuals or couples? Yes.
Do you do longer or shorter intensives? Yes, we do intensives, on occasion, as short as 3 days/3 hours day ($3300) and as long as 7 days/3 hours a day ($7700), after assessing what you need.
