Soul Care Institute

Program Overview

The Soul Care Institute is a two-year journey of a group of peers. Over the course of two years, students will come away from their ministries, work, and family life in order to engage in true retreat that is designed to replenish their souls. Each of the 6 retreats will be filled with wisdom from experienced teachers, opportunity to engage in life-giving spiritual practices, time to recover the stillness the soul seeks, and encouragement from spiritual directors and peers.

  • Embark on a journey with a group of peers gathering for six retreats over two years
  • Currently offered at three beautiful locations across the country
Currently accepting applications for Cohorts 14, 15, and 16.
"The rhythms we were introduced to quieted my spirit. At the end of each retreat, I didn't want to leave and go back to my life. It wasn't until the last retreat that I finally felt I would be okay. I needed every minute of those two years."

Niecy LoCricchio

What to expect beyond the retreats

Between Retreats

Students are invited, along with their Listening Groups to read and engage in reflection to help facilitate continued growth. We offer students the information and experience that leads to transformation. What we teach is not new. People have been engaging in these practices for ages. Our students will learn to walk these ancient paths themselves, just as the mothers and fathers of our faith have done.

Going deeper

By the end of the two years, students will be prepared to care for their own souls, as well the souls of others. They will be the ones in their communities who influence and inspire others to go deeper, encouraging people to join them on the journey. They will have learned how to build below the water line in their own lives.

Western Theological Seminary Graduate Certificate

After completing the full two-year SCI experience (all six retreats, required reading and assigned papers), SCI students are eligible to apply for and earn a Graduate Certificate in Pastoral Ministry (GCPM) from Western Theological Seminary with a concentration in Soul Care. You will get a head start on earning this 24 credit hour certificate by receiving 9 credit hours for your work at SCI.  Soul Care credits can also be utilized as elective credits within the M.Div. or M.A. degree program.

What you will learn

Dig deeper into each retreat

The Soul Care Institute curriculum is taught through six themes, generally in the order given below.

Retreat 1

ARCHITECTURE OF THE SOUL

This is the first week of the two-year cohort experience. We take the time to gather everyone who's come from their different places and establish a safe space. In this week we provide a foundational overview of caring for the soul and introducing sacred practices.

Retreat 2

A CATALYST FOR TRANSFORMATION

Chuck DeGroat begins this retreat with three questions that meet us right where we are at. We are taught that ancient tradition can very easily meet contemporary ways of understanding growth, change, how we become more ourselves and, more like Jesus.

Retreat 3

SOUL IDENTITY THROUGH THE ENNEAGRAM

In this retreat week, we will look closely at the journey of transformation and make some new discoveries through the tool of the Enneagram. Students will see themselves through the eyes of God who created them in a particular way.

Retreat 4

RETURNING HOME TO YOUR TRUE SELF

No pursuit in life is more critical since when we discover and return home to our true selves, we find God, and if we find God, we find our most authentic selves. Fil invites each student to embrace who God has created them to be through sharing his own story and creating space for them to tell theirs.

Retreat 5

CRITICAL ISSUES IN THE CARE OF THE SOUL

In our second to last retreat, Tara carefully leads students as they delve into the soul's profound experiences and challenges in our earthly journey, addressing its encounters with pain, brokenness, and the quest for genuine soul care. With this focus on tender topics, students are invited to love more deeply.

Retreat 6

INTEGRATING THE CARE OF YOUR SOUL INTO DAILY LIFE

In this final retreat, we get really practical about incorporating the care of your soul into your present moments and hours and days. Shanthini creatively leads students through the exploration and hands-on creation of practicing spiritual rhythms in our most ordinary times.

Important Dates & Times

All retreats begin on Monday afternoon with registration at 4:00 pm, and end on Thursday evening at 9 pm. Provisions are made for an overnight stay for all students on Thursday.

Retreat 1- Sept. 22-25, 2025
Retreat 2 -
Jan. 19-22, 2026
Retreat 3 - May 11 -14, 2026

Retreat 4 - Sept. 21-24, 2026
Retreat 5 - Jan. 18-21, 2027
Retreat 6 - May 17-20, 2027

Retreat 1- Mar. 17-20, 2025  
Retreat 2 -
July 7-10, 2025
Retreat 3 - Nov. 10-13, 2025

Retreat 4 - Mar. 9-12, 2026
Retreat 5 - July 13-16, 2026
Retreat 6 - Nov. 9-12, 2026

Retreat 1- Feb. 10-13, 2025  
Retreat 2 -
June 9-12, 2025
Retreat 3 - Oct. 13-16, 2025

Retreat 4 - Feb. 9-12, 2026
Retreat 5 - June 8-11, 2026
Retreat 6 - Oct. 12-15, 2026

Retreat 1- Sept. 25-28, 2023  
Retreat 2 -
Jan. 22-25, 2024
Retreat 3 - May 13-16, 2024

Retreat 4 - Sept. 23-26, 2024
Retreat 5 - Jan. 20-23, 2025
Retreat 6 - May 19-22, 2025

Retreat 1 - March 27-30, 2023
Retreat 2 - July 10-13, 2023
Retreat 3 - Nov. 6-9, 2023

Retreat 4 - March 4-7, 2024
Retreat 5 - July 8-11, 2024
Retreat 6 - Nov. 18-21, 2024

Retreat 1 - Feb. 6-9, 2023
Retreat 2 - June 12-15, 2023
Retreat 3 - Oct. 9-12, 2023

Retreat 4 - Feb. 5-8, 2024
Retreat 5 - June 3-6, 2024
Retreat 6 - Oct. 14-17, 2024

Investing in Your Journey

2-Year Program Tuition

Our comprehensive program is designed to provide you with a holistic experience. The Institute tuition covers meals, lodging, retreat materials, speakers, and personalized spiritual direction for each retreat.
Application Fee:
A one-time fee of $150 to process your application.  
Tuition:
$3,900 per year. Payment options available. The cost of books and travel is not included.
(After attendance at the first retreat, the commitment to the Institute is the commitment to pay all of the total cost of $7,800 whether in lump sum, monthly or the six partial payments; whether attending or absent from a particular retreat.)

Retreat Locations

Setting the table for Soul Care

Discover the serene beauty of our three distinct locations, each meticulously chosen to nurture and amplify your soul care journey.

Apply to the Soul Care Institute

Now accepting applications for Cohorts 14, 15, and 16.

Soul Care Immersion

Frequently Asked Questions

We've addressed the most common questions about the Soul Care Institute's 2 year program.

How much does it cost to attend?

Upon acceptance, a $150 application fee is required to hold your spot. This fee is due once you receive your acceptance email. The tuition for the Soul Care Institute is $3,900 per year.  Payment options are available.

The tuition includes meals and lodging, materials and speakers for each retreat. The cost of books and travel is not included and the application fee is separate.

We do have limited funds to offer scholarships. If you are interested in applying for a scholarship, you must first be accepted into the program.  Please email us at info@soulcareinstitute.com.

Are there payment options for the 2-year program?

Yes. We understand that everyone's financial situation is unique, so we offer several flexible payment options to accommodate your needs:

Full Tuition Upfront: If you decide to pay the entire tuition upfront, you'll receive a 5% discount as a token of our appreciation for your commitment.
Per Retreat Payments: If you prefer, you can pay $1,300 for each retreat.
Monthly: You can choose to pay approximately $325 per month.

We aim to make the payment process as seamless as possible, allowing you to focus on your transformative journey with us.

I'm interested. What's the next step?

Great! We look forward to hearing more from you! If you are ready to fill out our online application, we encourage you to do that now.

If you need help deciding whether the program is right for you, feel free to email us at info@soulcareinstitute.com.

Is tuition payment tax deductible?

No. While the Soul Care Institute is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and donations to the Impact Fund are tax-deductible, all other transactions, such as tuition, in which goods or services are exchanged are not tax-deductible.

Can my spouse participate with me?

Absolutely! We love to see spouses attend and learn together. We have heard amazing feedback from spouses who have gone through the Institute together. We will even offer a 10% discount to your spouse. *Only one discount may be applied towards tuition.

Who are the primary teachers?

We have built our model around multiple voices, trained and gifted leaders, who are authorities in their own fields of work. Noted authors, seasoned veterans and well-respected teachers will lead each session.

Visit our faculty page to learn more.

Can I attend only a few retreats?

Attending only a few retreats is not an option. Once your place is reserved, our costs remain the same whether you are there or not, as we make lodging arrangements well in advance. Therefore, a decision to join the two-year Soul Care Institute is a commitment to attend and participate in each of the six retreats. We understand that emergencies arise and it may be unavoidable to miss a particular retreat. However, after attendance at the first retreat, the commitment to the Institute is the commitment to pay all of the total cost of $7,800 whether in lump sum, monthly or the six partial payments; whether attending or absent from a particular retreat.

Still have questions?

Don't hesitate to reach out to our team. We will be happy to connect.

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