Beneath the Surface:
An Evening of Nature-Based Group Psychotherapy & Guided Bioluminescence Kayaking
Sechelt Inlet - Sunshine Coast, BC | Aug 14th Experience the magic of bioluminescence.
Reconnect with what matters most.
August 14th - 5pm-12am (7 hrs)
Limited to 8 adult participants (19+)
Step away from the noise of everyday life and reconnect with yourself through an unforgettable evening of therapist-led group psychotherapy, mindfulness, and guided nighttime kayaking. Together, we'll slow down, reflect, and create space to reconnect with what matters most. As darkness falls and the water comes alive with bioluminescence, experience the healing power of nature, meaningful connection, and moments of awe that have the potential to stay with you long after the evening ends.
The Experience
Below, you’ll find a fuller picture of the experience, including what’s offered, who this space is for, and how it all unfolds.
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Throughout the Evening You'll Experience
A shared dinner overlooking the water
4 hours of experiential group psychotherapy
A guided nighttime paddle beneath the stars (in tandem kayaks)
The wonder of bioluminescence
Campfire reflection and integration
A small, intimate group of just 8 participants
✨ Together We'll Explore
Coming back to yourself
Tuning into your nervous system
Living in alignment with your values
Slowing down enough to notice what matters
Using the experience of bioluminescence as a catalyst for reflection and self-discovery
Bringing what you discover back into everyday life.
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This experience may be a good fit if you:
Are craving an opportunity to slow down and come back to yourself.
Feel overwhelmed, burned out, or disconnected from what matters most.
Want to reconnect with your values and tune into your nervous system.
Feel drawn to the healing qualities of nature and being on the water.
Feel curious about experiencing the wonder of bioluminescence as part of a therapeutic journey.
Learn through reflection, movement, and shared experience.
Appreciate honest conversation and meaningful connection in a small group.
Are open to exploring what becomes visible when you create enough space to truly notice.
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Investment
$550 Total - 7 hour experience
Your investment includes:
💬 Group Psychotherapy ($400)
$400 — 4 billable hours of group psychotherapy (circle discussion, group reflection exercises, psychoeducation + experiential kayak therapy).
RCC/CCC receipt provided.
A detailed receipt for $400 will be provided and may be eligible for reimbursement through your extended health benefits (please check with your provider).
✨ Experience Fee ($150 + GST)
Guided nighttime kayak experience w/ bioluminescence
Certified kayak guide
Kayak, paddle, PFD, and all safety equipment
A simple shared dinner + snacks & non-alcoholic drinks
Therapeutic materials
The Team
Sonia Stewart - CCC, RCC
Clinical Director & Lead Facilitator
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I’m Sonia, a Registered Clinical Counsellor and the human behind Seeking Sunrise Therapy & Counselling. I’ll be one of the folks guiding you out on the water, likely laughing, crying, and maybe swearing alongside you as we move through whatever shows up.
I didn’t come to this work in a straight line. My path has been shaped by lived experience and formal training, including navigating anxiety, depression, significant grief, and a late ADHD diagnosis that brought a lot into focus. I know what it’s like to wonder if someone will actually get it, which is why I don’t sit on the sidelines. I’m warm, direct, and willing to get down in the weeds with you while also helping you find a way forward.
My background is rooted in land-based and community work, where I spent years designing and leading programs grounded in connection to land, culture, and community, often alongside Indigenous ways of knowing and approaches like Two-Eyed Seeing.
My practice blends traditional therapeutic approaches with nature-based work, including walk and talk sessions, individual kayak therapy, and animal-assisted therapy with Parker, my very dedicated (and very into cuddles) therapy dog.
This retreat is rooted in reconnecting with our bodies, our lived experiences, and the land through movement, nature, and real, human connection.
You can show up exactly as you are. I’m really looking forward to being out on the water with you.
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I am a certified sea kayak guide with Level 1 and AOG certifications through the Sea Kayak Guides Alliance of British Columbia. I’m passionate about creating opportunities for groups of all ages and abilities to connect with the outdoors in ways that feel grounding, fun, and meaningful.
Alongside guiding, I coordinate traditional wellness and land-based healing initiatives, and I try to bring those values into the way I work on the water — encouraging connection, confidence, and respect for the places we paddle. Whether it’s helping someone feel comfortable in a kayak for the first time or sharing time outdoors with a group, I love creating experiences that bring people together and help them reconnect with nature and themselves.
Kayak Guide & Experience Facilitator
Lara Jensen
Ready to Join? Here’s How:
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Book Beneath the Surface through Jane
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Complete Your Registration
Please complete and return your registration form within 24 hours. Once I've had the opportunity to review your registration and ensure this experience is a good fit, I'll send you an invoice for the 50% non-refundable deposit ($275). Your registration will be confirmed once your deposit has been received.
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Final Payment
The remaining 50% is due one week before the event (Aug 7th). You'll receive a reminder before the balance is due.
FAQs
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The group counselling component is designed to encourage guided self-reflection, mindfulness, and meaningful connection in a supportive environment. Throughout the evening, you'll be invited to engage in therapeutic activities, reflective exercises, and gentle discussions that help you slow down and reconnect with yourself.
There will be opportunities to share your reflections with the group or in pairs, but sharing is always optional. You're welcome to participate in whatever way feels most comfortable and supportive for you.
This is not a traditional process group or trauma-processing group. Rather than focusing on processing deeply personal experiences together, the emphasis is on personal reflection, learning through shared experiences, and connecting with nature and others in a way that feels safe, intentional, and restorative.
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Potentially! Friends, partners, family members, and members of the same community are welcome to apply together. Because Beneath the Surface is an individual group psychotherapy experience, each participant is reviewed individually. I first need to determine that attending together is clinically and ethically appropriate for both the individuals involved and the group as a whole.
If approved, you'll likely be paired with different participants during partner reflections and will typically paddle in a tandem kayak with someone you didn't arrive with. This is an intentional part of the therapeutic design and supports each person's individual growth and reflection.
Please note that Beneath the Surface is not couples or family therapy. While many people find that investing in their own wellbeing naturally benefits their relationships, the evening is not intended to facilitate relationship counselling or conflict resolution.
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Every participant completes a registration and informed consent form, which I thoughtfully review before confirming participation and sending an invoice for the deposit. Depending on your responses, a brief phone consultation may also be recommended to better understand your goals, answer any questions, and ensure the experience is a good fit.
Because Beneath the Surface is a small psychotherapy group, Sonia has a professional and ethical responsibility to support both each participant and the group as a whole. This means considering factors such as your readiness for a reflective group experience, your current supports, and how your participation may contribute to a safe, supportive, and therapeutic environment for everyone.
Beneath the Surface is designed for personal growth, reflection, and connection. It is not intended to provide crisis support or intensive mental health care. If Sonia believes another type of support would better meet your current needs, she'll discuss this with you and, where appropriate, help guide you toward more appropriate resources.
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Nope! This experience is beginner-friendly. You'll be guided by a certified kayak guide, and we'll paddle at a pace that feels comfortable and manageable for everyone.
Participants will be paired in tandem (double) kayaks, which provides extra stability and support, especially as we'll be kayaking after dark. Lara, our certified kayak guide, and Sonia, your therapist, will each be in single kayaks so they can move throughout the group, provide support, and help ensure everyone's safety throughout the experience.
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That’s completely normal. You won’t be pushed beyond your comfort zone, and support will be close by at all times.
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Yes, you’re very welcome here, even if you’re coming from off the Coast! Many participants choose to travel in for the retreat from Vancouver or further away. Just keep in mind that ferry travel and transportation costs are not included.
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We’ll be keeping a close eye on conditions and will adjust plans if needed. Safety always comes first. If we need to cancel due to unsafe weather, you’ll receive a full refund. Otherwise, we’ll be out there rain or shine.
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Invoices will be itemized for counselling hours. Depending on your provider, a portion may be eligible under RCC coverage.
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Receipts for the psychotherapy portion of Beneath the Surface will be issued after the event has concluded, as psychotherapy receipts can only be provided for services that have already been delivered.
The psychotherapy fees will be itemized separately to support insurance reimbursement. Please note that reimbursement is subject to your individual extended health benefits plan.
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That's a great question.
Beneath the Surface is more than a guided kayak tour. It's a thoughtfully designed therapeutic experience that combines professional mental health care with the unforgettable experience of witnessing bioluminescence on the Sechelt Inlet.
Your registration includes:
4 hours of therapist-led group psychotherapy ($100/hour group counselling rate, eligible for possible insurance reimbursement where applicable)
Guided therapeutic activities, mindfulness, and reflection
A certified kayak guide
Kayak rental and all required safety equipment
Dinner and refreshments
Therapeutic materials and resources
Liability insurance, permits, and event coordination
Psychotherapy fees will be itemized separately on your invoice to support potential insurance reimbursement.
We recognize this is a meaningful investment and are committed to creating an intimate, professionally facilitated experience that prioritizes safety, connection, and meaningful personal growth.
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Totally fair. You can email me at hello@seekingsunrisetherapy.ca. I’m happy to connect and answer any questions before you fill out the interest form. You are also welcome to book a consult through Jane - just please indicate in the booking notes it is to discuss Beneath the Surface.
