Dream Tending Retreat 2025

A Three Day Retreat with Dr. Stephen Aizenstat

The 2025 Dream Tending Retreat is a limited-enrollment intensive experiential event that takes place over three days at Pacifica Graduate Institute in Carpinteria, California. The retreat explores dream theory and methodology through experiential avenues.

Dr. Aizenstat showcases 15 unique examples of the Dream Tending practice through the dream tending work he does with each participant. Dr. Aizenstat creates the learning environment for the Dream Tending practice based on the content from the dreams. He uses all of the skill sets, and more, as noted in his book Dream Tending. Dr. Aizenstat calls on the group to participate, typically, for each dream which is tended. The group participants are encouraged to share their commentary in regard to the dream through association, amplification, animation and more. Clinical perspectives are included when appropriate. After Dr. Aizenstat and the group tend the dream, he creates and gives an assignment to each participant which is unique to their dream. At times the participant will be guided to work independently, or with a dyad partner, or even at times in a group setting, depending on the dream which was tended. The participant is typically required to “do the work” in the landscape of Pacifica Graduate Institute, utilizing the psyche of nature in their work. The participant then reports back in the circle on what has occurred from their “dream practice” session. A group ritual is created by the group and presented at the conclusion of the retreat which is unique to each session.