FAQs

The Encounter is for anyone who wants more out of life – anyone who is ready to discover who they are, transform the way they think, feel, and live and create the life they want. People come to The Encounter in all stages of life and for many different reasons. Whether there’s a part of your life that is breaking down, whether you feel stuck or off track, or whether you just want to grow and become better, The Encounter gives you individualized outcomes and what you need to take the next step in life. 

Using a faith-based, therapeutic, proven framework of experiential exercises, The Encounter will help you understand how your story has shaped you, uncover what is holding you back, and discover the tools and action steps you need to reach your fullest potential. You will walk away with a greater understanding of yourself, a transformed perspective, and the direction you need to move forward in life. Our graduates report greater clarity and passion in their lives along with an empowered approach to everyday relationships and life events. 

Experiential work is simply the process of learning by doing. Your life experiences up until now have shaped the way you think, feel, and live, and it’s through experience that you transform those areas. At The Encounter, we will guide you through a series of exercises designed to uncover and transform parts of yourself that you might not be aware of. These are very powerful and will help you achieve real change in your life (instead of just head knowledge or awareness)! 

Not at all. You get out of the experience what you put in, and we encourage everyone to show up with a willingness to be vulnerable, but you will never be called out or forced to share. The experience consists of both large group and small group exercises, so those who might not feel comfortable sharing in front of the larger group will have the opportunity to open up in smaller groups. If anything, we hear the most from attendees who wished they had shared more because it’s so instrumental in transformation. This is your experience, and you make it what you need it to be. 

Yes, The Encounter is based on Christian principles, but we welcome people of all faiths and backgrounds. The principles taught at The Encounter are universal, and the exercises don’t require a religious affiliation to participate. This is about encountering who you really are through both a therapeutic and spiritual lens. Though you will hear some of the ideas presented in Christian language or through Christian texts, we regularly have attendees who are not Christian tell us they got just as much out of the experience as attendees who are Christian. We promise you will be free to express your life experience without judgment. 

We have been doing this work for more than 20 years and each trainer goes through an apprenticeship, where he or she learns the proven experiential model in and out. Apprentices practice facilitating dozens of trainings before leading on their own, and we promise your guide will be highly qualified and experienced. We are advised by a group of therapists and often have a therapist on site for the training who can help us navigate any challenging situations that arise. 

Each training is capped at 50 participants. We keep the group small enough to feel safe and comfortable but large enough where you won’t feel like you are put on the spot or are the center of attention. 

You are welcome to attend the training with your spouse, and we find that for many couples, it can be a powerful shared experience. It’s important to recognize that The Encounter is not a relationship or marriage workshop but rather a workshop where you will dive deep into yourself as an individual. Some people feel more supported having their spouse there while they do their work while others feel more comfortable opening up without their spouse with them. Each couple is different, and we encourage you to do what is best for you.

Age 18 or after you have completed high school. 

The price of The Encounter includes the full four-day program, led by expert instructors and designed to get you accelerated transformation in life. Meals and lodging are not included in the cost. 

At this time, the full payment is due upon registration. If you have a specific request regarding your payment, please email us admin@encountertraining.com, and we would be glad to speak with you. 

We offer need-based scholarships for those who do not have the financial means for enrollment costs. If you would like to be considered for a scholarship, please fill out the Encounter Training Enrollment Questionnaire and you will be contacted by a member of our scholarship committee. 

We currently do not offer refunds for The Encounter; however, you are welcome to transfer your registration to a future date if for any reason you cannot make the date you registered for. If we have to cancel or postpone a training date, you will be given the option to receive a refund or use your funds for a future date. 

In addition to going out into the world ready to live your best life, you will be part of The Encounter community and gain life-long connections! We are a community of people who have all shared a similar, life-changing experience and are here to encourage and support each other on our continued journeys. Through Facebook groups, in-person get-togethers, and alumni retreats, we facilitate opportunities for you to connect with other graduates and regularly check in with The Encounter principles, so the experience stays with you long after the four days is over.