Psychosis Care and Connection Retreat 2025: A Tapestry of Insight, Humanity, and Hope
- Gould Farm
- Aug 5
- 4 min read
Updated: Aug 7
At Gould Farm, we know that healing happens in community—in the space between people, in moments of deep listening, in relationships grounded in mutual respect. That belief is the heart of our work, and it is what guided the second Psychosis Care and Connection Retreat, hosted this June at Gould Farm in Monterey, Massachusetts, co-organized with our friends at Ellenhorn.
We’re thrilled to now share the recordings of the five powerful, thought-provoking, and profoundly humane presentations from this year’s retreat. These talks are freely available and intended to serve anyone who cares for, supports, or lives with the experience of psychosis.
Please share with colleagues, communities, and loved ones—this is knowledge meant to be shared.
Why This Retreat on Psychosis Matters
Psychosis remains one of the most stigmatized and misunderstood experiences in mental health care. Too often, it is approached primarily through a lens of diagnosis and disorder, rather than with an openness to its human complexity—its emotional roots, relational dimensions, and spiritual or existential questions.
Our retreat was created to gather voices that challenge conventional thinking and offer fresh paths forward—paths that embrace compassion, creativity, curiosity, and connection.
This year's presenters brought a beautiful range of perspectives—from clinical innovation to lived and cultural insight, from psychoanalytic depth to contemplative wisdom. Each talk is an invitation to think differently, to feel more deeply, and to accompany those navigating psychosis with greater courage and humility.
Meet the Presenters & Watch Their Talks
🎤 Ross Ellenhorn, MSW, PhD
Understanding the Dialogue in Open Dialogue: Recognition and the Struggle to be Heard
In this lyrical and wide-ranging talk, Dr. Ellenhorn explores the nature of dialogue itself—what happens when we truly meet one another, and how psychosis may reflect a painful rupture in our relational fabric. Drawing on Open Dialogue practices, he brings us to the edges of healing, language, and play. Watch Ross’s talk →
🎤 Brett Thatcher, MTS, LICSW
A Generative Unease: Thinking Psychosis with Queer Theories
Brett challenges us to “inhabit unease” as clinicians and fellow humans. Drawing from queer and crip theory, this talk invites us to explore the fertile tensions of psychotic experience—between destruction and creativity, abjection and transformation. It’s a brave, intimate meditation on care and complexity. Watch Brett’s talk →
🎤 Phoebe Walker, LMHC
"Crazy" Wisdom: Working with Clinical Challenges through the Lens of Buddhist Psychology
What do we do when we don’t know what to do? In this heartfelt and practical talk, Phoebe offers guidance from Buddhist psychology and contemplative practice to help us stay grounded, open, and genuinely present in the face of uncertainty. A balm for clinicians and caregivers alike. Watch Phoebe’s talk →
🎤 Jeremy Ridenour, PsyD, ABPP
Shame and Stigma in the Psychotherapy for Psychosis
Shame, Jeremy argues, is often the silent force behind suffering—and yet it remains under-discussed in clinical care. This presentation offers tools for working with shame in psychosis, honoring vulnerability, and cultivating therapeutic relationships rooted in metacognition and empathy. Watch Jeremy’s talk →
🎤 Michael Garrett, MD
Relationships Between Early Life Trauma and Psychosis in Adolescents and Young Adults
Dr. Garrett bridges research and clinical wisdom to argue for a trauma-informed view of psychosis—one that sees symptoms not as signs of a disordered brain but as echoes of human pain. He makes the case for a more expansive, nuanced, and hopeful approach to treatment. Watch Dr. Garrett’s talk →
Rooted in a Growing Community of Care
This is the second time we’ve hosted this retreat—and already it feels like something bigger is taking root. Last year’s inaugural gathering laid a strong foundation, and we’re building on it with every new conversation.
Want to revisit last year’s presentations?
Looking ahead, we’re planning to host this retreat again in 2026. Our hope is to continue growing this network of thoughtful, compassionate clinicians, advocates, and allies—people like you—who are creating space for a different kind of mental health care. One where no one is pathologized out of their humanity. One where connection is the first intervention.
Join the Conversation
These talks are not the end—they are a beginning. We encourage you to:
Watch and share the playlist with colleagues, teams, or communities.
Reflect and discuss the ideas that resonate—or challenge—you.
Let us know how these talks impact your thinking or practice. We’d love to hear from you.
And if you believe in this work and want to help us offer future retreats, please consider supporting Gould Farm or sponsoring the event. With your help, we can continue offering these resources freely to all.
Thank you for being part of this community. For listening deeply. For staying curious. And for walking alongside those from whom the world too often turns away.