Deborah Edwards
Deborah Edwards, founder of Deborah Edwards Coaching, is a UK-based
reflective life coach who combines counselling skills, coaching, journaling
and NLP to support both adults and young people. With this multi-faceted
approach, combined with her warmth and compassion, she creates a safe,
non-judgemental space to explore challenges, unlock resilience, and navigate
Change with clarity and confidence.
Beyond Coaching: An Integrated Approach to Your Well-Being.
- Your retreat takes place in the beautiful Valencian region of Spain. What drew you
to this location, and how do you feel it shapes the overall retreat experience?
This area, known as the garden of Spain, is a place that feels like a gentle exhale. The serene Spanish countryside, with its sun-drenched orange groves and golden light, instantly grounds you and makes it easy to step away from the everyday.
What drew me to this location is the way it naturally embodies the themes of our retreat. The Spanish countryside provides an immediate sense of calm that makes it easy to leave the every day behind.
This peaceful setting is what makes “Relax, Nourish, Reflect” so powerful here. The stillness of the landscape allows you to truly relax and quiet your mind. The abundance of fresh, local Ingredients naturally support our focus on nourishing meals. And the expansive, open views and mountain backdrop are perfect for the quiet contemplation and deep reflection that are so central to the coaching. The location itself is an integral part of your personal journey.
- The retreat is all about “Relax, Nourish, Reflect.” Can you walk us through how these themes come to life each day?
The “Relax, Nourish, Reflect” retreat is a holistic journey to well-being and includes a variety of activities. Guests are encouraged to Relax, de-stress, and restore energy through guided relaxation, yoga, and sound baths. Daily dedicated personal time allows for quiet moments by the pool or a walk to the beach. Nourish goes beyond physical meals influenced by Ayurvedic and Raw Food philosophies include meaningful connections with others and mindful creative activities. Finally, the Reflect theme, encourages self-discovery and a deeper understanding of self through group sessions, guided activities and optional one-on-one coaching.
- For someone who’s never been on a retreat before, what does a typical stay look Like from the moment they arrive to the day they leave?
From the moment guests arrive they are encouraged to check in with themselves and begin grounding themselves in the here and now. The days follow a rhythm of structured sessions – from yoga to sound baths – balanced with free time for personal reflection, guided journaling and exploration of the local area. Every day includes at least one group coaching workshop.
Meals are communal, fostering connection. The final day is focused on integration of the understanding and tools gained into guests’ daily life with time around the fire pit for closing reflections.
- You offer both group sessions and optional one-on-one coaching. How do these different formats work together, and what unique benefits does each provide?
Group sessions are the foundation of the retreat. They create an inclusive and supportive environment where everyone feels seen and heard. They foster the sharing of experiences in dealing with stress and emotional ups and downs, exposing different viewpoints and ways of thinking.
One-on-one coaching is the deep dive. It’s an optional, personalized session that compliments the group work by focusing entirely on individual needs in a completely private and confidential space helping guests to work through an issue swiftly.
The two formats work together seamlessly. The group sessions provide a broad, supportive learning environment, while one-on-one coaching offers the personalized attention needed for accelerated individual transformation.
- Activities like yoga, sound therapy, and mindfulness are part of the retreat. How do these practices contribute to a participant’s overall well-being?
These activities work by calming both the body and mind. Yoga and massage release physical tension and improve body awareness. Sound therapy uses vibrations to reduce stress hormones shifting the nervous system into a relaxed state. Mindfulness helps to anchor guests in the present, reducing anxiety about the past or future. Together, they form part of a comprehensive toolkit for emotional regulation and sustained well-being long after the retreat ends.
- What previous experiences with coaching clients have influenced this retreat?
The retreat’s core themes are built on the same principles that have created profound
Transformation for my one-on-one coaching clients. For example, I recently worked with a client who was stressed and emotionally all over the place, reacting to every situation.
She learnt to identify triggers and process emotions with compassion instead of reacting.
The result was a remarkable shift: she is now calmer, more centred, and capable of recognising and navigating her emotions as they arise.
This journey from emotional chaos to quiet confidence is the very transformation I’ve
designed our retreat to facilitate. The tools we will use are the foundation of that work, and It’s my mission to help you build the same emotional resilience.
- Your approach blends life coaching with therapeutic techniques. How does this combination shape the atmosphere and structure of your retreats?
My approach blends life coaching with therapeutic techniques to create a more
compassionate and profound retreat atmosphere. While traditional coaching focuses on future goals, by using my counselling skills, I can guide guests to the core of why they might be stuck. This means my retreats are not just about setting future goals, but also about providing a safe space for deep, self-compassionate reflection. The structure is shaped to help you develop insight and emotional awareness, ensuring that the changes you make are meaningful and lasting, rather than simply superficial.
- Self-awareness and self-care seem central to your work. How do you practice these in your own daily life?
I believe in the tangible link between our mental and physical states. When we face emotional or psychological distress, our bodies respond with real, physiological changes. I’ve personally experienced how chronic stress and emotional struggle can manifest as physical symptoms, which is why I’m so passionate about helping others understand this connection. I personally use journaling (which I often use therapeutically with clients) and also music to influence my mood and offer an emotional release. By listening to what our bodies are telling us, we can respond proactively, fostering a more resilient and integrated sense of well-being.
- After a retreat, what do you hope participants carry with them both immediately
and long-term?
Immediately after the retreat, I hope guests carry with them a profound sense of calm and clarity. They should feel completely rejuvenated, unplugged from their daily stressors, and fully present in their bodies. I hope they leave with a tangible toolkit of awareness and techniques they can use the moment they feel overwhelmed.
Long-term, my greatest hope is that they carry the confidence and self-awareness into their everyday lives. I want them to have the ability to recognize their emotional state as it arises and respond with compassion, not reaction. The ultimate goal is for the feeling of peace they found at the retreat to become a sustainable part of their life, ensuring they feel equipped to Navigate future challenges with resilience and a deep sense of self-trust.
- Looking to the future, do you have plans to expand your retreats to new locations or
introduce different themes to deepen the experience?
I’ve been overwhelmed by the wonderful response to this retreat, and I’m thrilled to announce that more are on the horizon. I’ve already begun planning future retreats with new themes, as My mission is to provide nurturing spaces for every stage of your journey.
If you’re interested in being the first to know about other upcoming retreats, please register your interest in my website. Your support means the world to me, and I can’t wait to guide you on these next steps.
Deborah Edwards
https://www.deborahedwardscoaching.co.uk/retreats
ST
October 1, 2025 at 10:03 amSounds Fabulous! Love that there are lots of different activities rather than only one.
Deborah Edwards
October 8, 2025 at 3:31 pmThank you so much! I hope that people will be able to explore something new to support them on their journey.