The Nature of Mindfulness and Self-Compassion
May 18-24, 2026
with
Dr. Ronald Siegel, Dr. Larry Cammarata, & Linda Cammarata, RYT
Ponte de Lima, Portugal
Learn and explore within a friendly, supportive small group setting.
Click the play button below for a video overview of the retreat location and surrounding area.
Ponte de Lima is the oldest town in Portugal, and predates the establishment of the country. Of all the towns in Europe we have ever visited, we have spent the most time in Ponte de Lima—a place of exquisite natural scenery, beautiful gardens, a charming village, culture, and warm-hearted people. Complementing its relaxed ambience, Ponte de Lima is a health and wellness destination where you often see kayakers, runners, hikers, walkers, bicyclists, and enchanted nature lovers enjoying the activities along the Lima River. An iconic medieval/Roman pedestrian bridge in the center of town connects to the Caminho Português de Santiago and a trail system along the Lima River known as the Ecovia. A popular travel destination, Ponte de Lima is in close proximity to the world-class cities of Braga and Porto, in the north of Portugal.
Our retreat setting is the elegantly beautiful Paço de Vitorino, a former palace (pictured above) that offers a variety of cultural and leisure activities due to the proximity of the Lima River with its extensive trails, the Atlantic Ocean, the surrounding mountains, and the Caminhos de Santiago. The Paço de Vitorino originated in the 16th century, and was completely reconstructed in the 18th century. During 2015, it was fully modernized with WIFI and a saltwater swimming pool. The first owners of this mansion were the Portuguese explorer Captain António Ramos and the Incan princess Catarina Capac Yupanqui.
EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS
For complete CE information for licensed mental health professionals, physicians, and nurses, please click on Educational Programs prior to registering.
Learning from Non-Ordinary States: Mindfulness, Compassion, & Psychedelic-Assisted Psychotherapy with Dr. Ron Siegel
This program is educational in nature and does not involve the administration of psychedelic medicine.
In this interactive workshop, you’ll learn practical tools and techniques derived from mindfulness and compassion-oriented treatment and psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy to help clients with a wide-array of disorders. We’ll explore ways to help clients integrate split-off traumatic memories, open their hearts, embrace vulnerability, surrender to the flow of ever-changing experience, move from isolation to deep connection with people and nature, appreciate the unreliable fluidity of thought, and find meaning in everyday moments. You’ll learn how to use mindfulness and self-compassion practices along with other techniques to harness these healing mechanisms, while also gaining the knowledge necessary to help clients who might be experimenting with psychedelics to integrate and grow from their experiences.
For a brief video introduction to Dr. Siegel’s latest book, please click on the play icon below:
Mindfulness, Psychological Flexibility, and the Art of Improvisation with Dr. Larry Cammarata
This educational program explores the intersection of mindfulness, psychological flexibility, and improvisation as effective approaches for enhancing clinical efficacy and cultivating cognitive, emotional, and relational health. Drawing upon key concepts such as present-moment awareness, acceptance, cognitive defusion, and embodiment, the program reveals how principles and practices from improvisational arts—particularly the foundational “Yes, And” framework—can foster creativity, empathy, compassion, and therapeutic connection. These practices and perspectives can be successfully applied in the treatment of individuals and couples suffering from psychological disorders and relationship dysfunction. The ethics, limitations, and boundaries of using these practices will also be reviewed.
RETREAT OVERVIEW
Educational Programs
Learning from Non-Ordinary States: Mindfulness, Compassion, & Psychedelic-Assisted Psychotherapy with Dr. Ron Siegel
Mindfulness, Psychological Flexibility, and the Art of Improvisation with Dr. Larry Cammarata
For complete CE information for licensed mental health professionals, physicians, and nurses, please click on Educational Programs prior to registering.
Also included at the retreat
Beautiful accommodations with WIFI
All meals included
Scheduled excursions to places of historical, cultural, and/or scenic interest
Yoga classes with Linda Cammarata, RYT
Retreat Fee, Registration, and Contact Information
$ 3450: Double occupancy (USD credit card, per person, double occupancy; airfare not included)
$ 3850: Single occupancy (USD credit card, per person, space is limited for single occupancy; airfare not included)
Register now to reserve your place. Space is limited.
Registration and Payment: Please email Linda Cammarata to register or to inquire about private room availability prior to submitting your payment. After registering, you may pay by credit card through an online invoice that will be emailed to you.
Questions? Email Linda Cammarata
Please see Instructor Bios and additional photos and videos below.
MEET OUR TEAM
Ronald D. Siegel, Psy.D. is Assistant Professor of Psychology, Part Time, at Harvard Medical School. He is a long-time student of mindfulness meditation and serves on the Board of Directors and faculty of the Institute for Meditation and Psychotherapy. He teaches internationally about the application of mindfulness practice in psychotherapy and other fields, and maintains a private clinical practice in Lincoln, Massachusetts. He is author of The Mindfulness Solution: Everyday Practices for Everyday Problems, coeditor of Mindfulness and Psychotherapy and Wisdom and Compassion in Psychotherapy: Deepening Mindfulness in Clinical Practice, coauthor of Back Sense: A Revolutionary Approach to Halting the Cycle of Chronic Back Pain and Sitting Together: Essential Skills for Mindfulness-Based Psychotherapy, and author of the new book, The Extraordinary Gift of Being Ordinary: Finding Happiness Right Where You Are.
Larry Cammarata, Ph.D. is a clinical psychologist who specializes in mindfulness-based therapy and education, including the science and practice of mindful movement. He is the Director of Education of Mindfulness Travels and is also the Director of Training for East Bay Mindfulness Center. Larry is an instructor of Taijiquan (Tai Chi) and Qiogong who has received advanced training in China and in the US. He was designated as an "Author-Expert" by IDEA for his writing, teaching, and service in the fields of mind-body health, fitness, and wellness. His mindful movement work was presented at the 11th Annual International Scientific Conference of the Center for Mindfulness at the University of Massachusetts School of Medicine. Along with renowned mindfulness teachers Jack Kornfield, Daniel Siegel, Tara Brach, Sharon Salzberg, Sylvia Boorstein and others, Larry made a contribution to the book A Year of Living Mindfully: 52 Quotes & Weekly Mindfulness Practices (edited by Richard Fields, Ph.D.).
Linda Cammarata, RYT is a Registered Yoga Teacher and retired Registered Nurse who specializes in applying mind-body practices of self-regulation to stress, mood, and sleep health. She is the Founder and Director of Mindfulness Travels. Linda has designed and presented wellness programs at world renowned spas in the US and internationally. She integrates mindfulness, gentle yoga, qigong, and contemporary science into her teachings. Her professional experience spans over 30 years in tradtional and complementary healthcare and wellness settings.
More photos and videos
The gentle and scenic Ecovia trail along the Lima River is within walking distance from our accommodation, and provides access to the old town of Ponte de Lima, with places for contemplation and meditation along the way.
The town of Ponte de Lima offers many historical and cultural remembrances in the forms of statues, stories, and poems. You will surely be charmed by what you discover here
Click the play icon below for an overview of our accommodations.
Click the play icon below for a brief overview of Ponte de Lima.
Considered the birthplace of Portugal, Guimarães was named the European Capital of Culture in 2012. The historic town center is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Click the play button below for an introduction to the nearby city of Guimarães.