a place to pause
Welcome to the Retreat, a service that aims to provide a safe and welcoming environment during the times you are struggling to cope with life. You can attend whether you would like to try to avoid a crisis or feel that you have already reached crisis point.
It is up to you how you define this and you don’t need to be referred.
what we do
what is the Retreat?
The Retreat is a place to pause, to be heard, take stock and reflect. It is staffed by Mental Health Practitioners and Peer Specialists (people with their own experience of mental health issues). The Retreat focuses on how you can support your own recovery and provides a complementary approach to other clinical services in partnership with Dorset HealthCare and Dorset Mental Health Forum.
our aims
- Offer a service to people in distress or crisis without the need for referral, in addition to Dorset Healthcare’s existing services.
- Prevent a crisis escalating to the level where someone may need to access emergency and acute mental health services.
- Build resilience within individuals and communities through facilitating peer support and networking.
what to expect
When you come to the Retreat you will be welcomed by a staff member who will show you around. We will offer you a hot drink and give you some time to settle in.
Click here for a virtual tour of The Retreat.
we’re listening
We will listen to you in a respectful and non-judgemental way. Rather than taking the traditional approach of focusing on diagnosing illness, we focus on what is important to you.
We will ask you what is happening for you, talk to you about your strengths, what resources and sources of support you can call on, and encourage you to share with us anything you have found helpful in the past.
why visit the Retreat?
The Retreat offers a comfortable place to talk to someone who could help you feel more in control and support you to identify tools and strategies that you may find helpful for managing your distress.
Your options include talking to a Peer Specialist in a café style area, taking some time out in a relaxing low stimulus environment, and/or accessing support with a Peer Specialist or Mental Health Practitioner. The Retreat does not offer medication or structured therapy.
who can attend?
The Retreat is open to anyone aged 18 or over who self-defines as in crisis, or who wants to avoid a crisis occurring. It is also open to carers and supporters. For everyone’s safety we will have to refuse access if:
- You require medical attention beyond basic first aid/wound care.
- You are intoxicated by alcohol or substances.
- You display threatening or physically aggressive behaviour.
- You are under the age of 18.
visiting the Retreat
The Retreat is open daily 4:30pm to midnight at two locations in Dorset: Hahnemann House in Bournemouth and Maiden Castle Road in Dorchester.
If possible, try and arrive before 11.00pm to get the most out of your visit.
There’s no need to make an appointment or phone ahead, you can just turn up. Come to the front door within opening hours and ring our doorbell.
The Retreat, Bournemouth
Hahneman Road, Bournemouth BH2 5JW, UK
The Retreat, Dorchester
30 Maiden Castle Road, Dorchester, DT1 2ER, UK
how to get here
Locations
Hahnemann House, Hahnemann Road
Bournemouth, BH2 5JW
30 Maiden Castle Road,
Dorchester, DT1 2ER
Parking
Car park spaces are limited but a long stay car park
is nearby in Hahnemann Road
Bus Links
Yellow Bus: No.7 / Breezer No. 5
Stop: West Hill Road, West Cliff
More Bus: No.50
Stop: Admirals Walk, West Cliff
1, 3, 16, 18,20,M1,M2, Unibus U4, Night buses N1, N2
Stop: Poole Hill Road
For more bus information visit:
morebus.co.uk or call 01202 338420 for M1, M2, N1, N2, 16, 50
yellowbuses.co.uk or call 01202 636110 for 1, 3, 7, 16, 18, 20, 36
next steps
In some circumstances our staff may feel the Retreat is not the most appropriate level of support for you at this time.
If this is the case, we may offer you an assessment which could lead to support from other NHS services.
Our priority at all times is your safety and the safety of everyone who uses and works at the Retreat.
contact us
The Retreat is an initiative of the Dorset Wellbeing and Recovery Partnership,
the partnership between Dorset HealthCare and Dorset Mental Health Forum.