The Beat the Odds Residential Retreat, held at the Mary & Joseph Retreat Center in Rancho Palos Verdes, is a condensed version (five days instead of ten weeks) of the Beat the Odds program.

Participants will spend five days amid eight acres of idyllic gardens, which invite quietness and peaceful contemplation. With immediate access to therapy staff, interaction with peers, and many informal therapy sessions, participants will benefit from a broader and deeper acquisition of the concepts and techniques taught in the Beat the Odds program.

To make for an even more profound healing experience, additional classes such as drumming, qi gong, and guided imagery are offered during the retreat.

We strongly encourage that the family members and/or primary support people participate in the retreat with the patient so the skills can be shared and reinforced. Also, we have a special session on being an effective support person and on healthy communication. In addition, all the skills and techniques taught at the retreat are enriching to any person in any life circumstances.

• Faculty members and staff are available to help all day, every day.
• The beauty and tranquility of the surrounding nature is an ideal environment for healing.
• There are minimal distractions from the healing work, allowing for participants to process the material and apply the presented concepts in practice.
• Each participant receives a lot of individualized attention.
• Plenty of time each day to delve deeper into issues and practicing new skills.
• Through group work, each participant offers their own perspective, allowing for an enriched understanding of
• the presented concepts.
• A unique bond is forged among participants that results in an invigorating and inspiring healing experience.

Each faculty member was a close co-worker of the late Dr. Simonton for many years.

Mariusz Wirga, M.D., Medical Director of Psychosocial Oncology at Long Beach Memorial Medical Center who has over 25 years of experience working with cancer patients and their families. In 2004, he and his wife Aleksandra Wirga introduced the successful Beat the Odds program at Long Beach Memorial Medical Center.

Aleksandra Wirga, M.D., Board Certified psychiatrist and expert in cognitive-behavior therapy with over 20-year experience in psycho-oncology and mind-body medicine.

Erin Sommerville, Mind-Body Oncology Coach at Todd Cancer Institute, Long Beach Memorial Medical Center and a cancer survivor with over two decades of experience in mind-body medicine.

Schedule: Therapeutic program starts Sunday 4:30 pm and concludes on Friday at 11:45 am. We recommend that you arrive at least an hour early to allow yourself plenty of time for check-in and registration. The training program for therapists starts at 2:45 pm on Sunday and ends at noon on Friday.

Location: Our retreats are usually hosted at Mary & Joseph Retreat Center, 5300 Crest Road, Rancho Palos Verdes, California 90275, phone: (310) 377-4867, fax: (310) 541-1176. While the Mary & Joseph Retreat Center is rooted in Catholic faith, they invite people of all religions and traditions. Conscious effort is made to make everybody feel welcome. Upon arrival, please let us know what we can do to make you feel more comfortable.

A 6-day intensive survivorship retreat program focusing on healing, well-being, stress reduction, strengthening support system, and improving communication with loved ones.

You may pay by a credit card at the end of registration here or by check payable to Wellness Psychiatry, address: 3505 Long Beach Blvd, Suite  2D, Long Beach, CA 90807. To make sure you have a spot you will need to pay here the minimum $150 deposit by a credit card at checkout.  If you encounter any difficulties, please contact our office manager Lorena at 562 427 3897.

Room  and  Board:
Per  Person/Shared  for  5  nights  with  14  meals:              $599.00  (2  or  more  people  per  room)
Per  Person/Single  for  5  nights  with  14  meals:                  $784.00  (1  person  per  room)
Commuter  rate:  $475  Per  Person  (includes breakfast,  lunch,  dinner,  snacks  &  refreshments).

All sessions (classes, group/couple/individual & elective):  $1250.00* (Early Bird until September 10, 2018), after September 10, 2018 fee: $1495.00* plus room and board.
Support person $275.00 (Early Bird until September 10, 2018), after September 10, 2018: $350.00 plus room and board.

*Prices are discounted from the regular fee: $2395.00.

We recommend that all participants stay on the premises. However, if want to attend the program while commuting please add the commuter fee of $475.00 to the therapy fees. These prices are for the whole week and per person.

You will, however, have an option to check for other participants who want to carpool – please check the appropriate box when asked about it on the following registration page.

Participant staying at the retreat please pay $450 deposit.
Support person staying at the retreat please pay $150 deposit.
All commuting participants please pay $275 deposit.
Full payment for Early Bird is due September 10, 2018, and for regular registration is due October 15, 2018.
In the case of a cancellation, we will refund your full payment if someone can take your place. When cancellation is communicated less than four weeks before the start of the program and your place cannot be taken by someone else, the initial deposit will unfortunately not be refunded.