James Dickinson will lead your retreat.

"James is a man of truth. He speaks his truth, whether or not you like it. Herein lies the challenge. Most of the time we do not encounter people who are so open and free in their communication. Most of us hide behind platitudes, niceties, and seek the comfortable rather than the real.

James is a role model for anyone who wants to step into honesty. He helps others to uncover, discover and recover. And it works. It works because all that he does is underpinned with love. He gives the people what they need and not what they want.

Sometimes they need the truth with no ribbons and bows on it. Sometimes they need to be held, carried and loved."

Dean, Head of Treatment, The Kusnacht Practice, Switzerland

Thirty years ago, I founded the Chandos Therapy Centre, Bristol's addiction centre. Chandos became a sanctuary for the world's most difficult to reach and disturbed men; to meet themselves, each other and metamorphosize into the responsible adult world.

I brought my own pain, tears, truth, laughter and love to everything, from leading individual and group sessions to mentoring staff. I continued as Director and Team Leader until 2018 when Chandos was forced to close.

Chandos' closure was a blow that forced me to break down to break through. After five years of self-reflection to examine my own life and self-worth, I have emerged strong, compassionate and passionate to continue evolving new ways of being, teaching, coaching, mentoring and guiding.

I continue to guide and support the ex-residents of Chandos House and campaign for understanding and funding to stem the flow of lives lost in the wake of Chandos' closure.

Earlier in life, I read for an MSc in Management Development and Social Responsibility at Bristol University, and was invited to extend my thesis to a PhD - "Does the leader determine the culture of the organisation? - An analysis of authority and Leadership". More recently I lectured on the BSc Psychology course at the University of the West of England.

Through continued training, education and practice, my skills include supervision, working with teams, cognitive behaviour therapy, mindfulness practice, action learning, cooperative inquiry, transformational speaking, group relations, organisational role analvsis and systemic constellation work.

I have a diploma in outdoor education, hold a black belt in Taekwondo and trained for an Ironman. You will often find me connecting with the living world: walking baretoot, climbing trees and wild water swimming.

Other interests include primal body movement, somatic yoga, meditation, nasal breathing, conscious dance, martial arts, naturopathy, intermittent fasting and restricted time eating, fungi, plant medicine, biodiversity, ecology and the microbiome.

I use these experiences, skills and passions to support projects including:

• Facilitating for 'Outward Challenge Inward Adventure', an organisation specialising in team building events and retreats, including rock climbing, gorge walking, surfing, and meditation.

• Volunteering with Avon and Somerset mountain rescue team.

• International surf lifeguard.

• Working for 'Life Changes' and the Centre for Mentoring on a sessional basis.

• Funding Back on track, a charity focused on alleviating suffering for people with alcohol and drug disorders, mental health, homelessness: deprivation and neglect.

• Director of 'Super Grafters', an ethical light touch building company.

• Supervision for the Criminal Justice Intervention Team.

• Leading a team of amateur conservationists in a voluntary capacity at Old Sneed Park nature reserve in conjunction with the environmental sciences department of UWE.

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I believe that it is through rewilding and exposing ourselves to the natural elements that we are able to renew and heal ourselves.

I have two adult sons. I'm also 'Dad' to Bert the 4th., recently rescued refugee DOG TYPE?, who with patience and guidance is enjoying a contented life.