The Encounter Training
Get unstuck and transform the way you think, feel, and live every day.
The Encounter is an experiential personal growth workshop that will transform the way you think, feel, and live every day. 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.
The Encounter is for you if you are ready to:
Discover who you really are…beyond the roles you play, the way others see you, and the expectations placed on you
Uncover what you really want out of life and how to get there
Take ownership of your life and break free from the cycles that hold you back
Reconnect with your passion and discover your purpose and potential
Shift your perspective and learn how to navigate everyday challenges
Get the tools you need to become successful in your job, your relationships, and your calling
Transform your life…fast!
What People Are Saying…
“I cannot say enough about the significance this training has had on my life. The power I received to affect lasting change in my relationships, as well as my personal journey to wholeness, has been of enormous proportion. I learned to love and how to be free to receive love from others. Bondages from years of limiting belief systems were broken as I opened myself to hear and even experience truth in ways I’d never heard or experienced before. This training is life-changing if you are ready for change.”
“I showed up to the Encounter Training feeling pretty good about myself. It wasn’t until I was deep into the weekend when I realized that I had put that ‘self’ made image to rest and I’d let my real self emerge. If you’re fine with who you are, don’t show up. If you’re looking for visceral change...look no further. You get out of it as much as you’re willing to put in.”
“ “It’s been nearly three years since I went through the Encounter Training, and I continue to be randomly and pleasantly surprised by just how much it’s impacted my life and changed me for the better – and continues to! In short, it’s given me ‘life tools’ to know how to love others better. I’m a kinder, more loving, more others focused person….The wonderful thing is, because you literally experience the Encounter, it simply can’t help but cause the kind of profound impact in your life that moves you closer to the person you want to be.”
“The impact the Encounter had on my life at the exact time I needed it couldn’t have been more powerful. In explaining the Encounter to others, I often say it feels like the emotional and spiritual reset button that you’ve been hoping to find is discovered, and surprisingly enough it’s in the midst of new-found friends - eager to help you find the strength to push it.”
What to Expect
We understand that it can be vulnerable to walk into a room of strangers and spend four days working on yourself. Though The Encounter is designed to challenge you and you might feel some discomfort or other emotions as you uncover new parts of yourself, we work to create an environment of love, safety, and respect. Every moment at The Encounter has a purpose, and when you bravely show up even though you might feel nervous or uncertain, transformation happens!
Each participant at The Encounter decides how much he or she wants to put into the training, and you will never be put on the spot or forced to share. We encourage you to stretch yourself because that is where you grow, but we understand that every person is at a different point in their journey and growth looks different for everyone. We keep the group size small enough to where to it feels intimate and safe but large enough that you won’t feel like the spotlight is on you.
What to Expect When you Arrive
When you arrive at The Encounter, you will be greeted by our team and introduced to your fellow participants. We spend the first morning setting up what the training is all about and what to expect from it. We will also leave plenty of time for the group to get comfortable through open dialogue and setting expectations for how we will treat each other during the training.
The Encounter is designed to be a journey, with each moment planned to help you transform and take the next step in your life. If we told you everything that happens after that, it would take away from the experience. But we can promise that you will never be alone here! We have a large team at each training who can help support you and encourage you along the way. Each team member has been through the experience themselves and knows the freedom awaiting you on the other side.
You will also have a one-on-one support call with a team member before you attend the training, so no one arrives a stranger and you will have plenty of opportunities to ask any questions you might have before you get here.
Why an Experiential Format
At The Encounter, you will participate in a series of exercises designed to help you discover more about yourself and transform what is holding you back. 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.
Each exercise will be guided and will help you work with:
How you perceive yourself and others
Freeing yourself from secrets and regrets holding you back
The choices you make and where you put your time and energy in life
How you give and receive in relationships
Your life story and how it shaped you
Letting go of negativity and building self-worth
How to move forward in life
We all learn by doing, and these exercises are designed to help you move from an idea you affirm in your head to a change that happens in your being. They give you a chance to pause and reflect on behaviors, tendencies, or reactions that you might normally overlook and give you an opportunity to dig deeper into these parts of yourself. When we say transformation happens quickly here, this is why!
Training Schedule
The Encounter is made up of a mix of teaching, experiential exercises, and open sharing.
We start each day at 9 a.m. and we wrap up around 10:30 p.m. We will take breaks for lunch and dinner (which you can eat on site or off site), but the timing is flexible, so nothing feels rushed. When doing experiential work, you cannot always predict what will come to the surface, and it’s important that we create space for the sharing and exercises that are instrumental in the transformation process.
Though there might be moments at The Encounter that feel spontaneous and free flowing, the experience is very structured, and our model is intentionally designed to take you on a journey of self-discovery and healing. The experiences are like dominoes that happen in a certain order and work together to create real transformation. Though you will be immersed in what is happening at the moment, our support team will be making sure you get where you need to go.
On Sunday, we will end with an afternoon of celebration where we reflect and thank God for the change we’ve experienced. We will wrap up by 6 p.m. Sunday evening.
Have questions? Fill out the form below and someone will be in touch to share more about The Encounter.
FAQS
Who is The Encounter For?
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.
What will I get out of The Encounter?
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.
What is experiential work?
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)!
Will I be put on the spot or forced to share?
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.
Is The Encounter faith based?
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.
What background and qualifications do The Encounter’s facilitators have?
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.
How big is each workshop?
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.
Can I attend with my family or spouse?
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.
Is there a minimum age to attend?
Age 18 or after you have completed high school.
What is included in the cost of The Encounter?
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.
What types of payment plans are available?
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.
Are scholarships available?
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.
What is the refund or cancellation policy?
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.
What happens after I complete the training?
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.