Rediscover yourself
Stressed? Anxious? Need time out? The team of experts at Noosa Sanctuary are dedicated to changing your life for the better and helping you find your way back to wellness.
Hushed deep-green rainforest stretches between seaside villages that barely bustle. Blinding white sand trims crystalline blue water. The lush hinterland and chilled beaches surrounding Noosa on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast set just the right scene for finding freedom – and reconnecting with yourself. The bespoke mental health and wellness programs coordinated by Noosa Sanctuary fuse this natural energy with the expertise of specialist doctors and coaches. Treatments range from strategies for managing executive stress and general wellbeing through to therapies for various mental health concerns. Founded by consultant psychiatrist Dr Brenda Graham, this sanctuary is a program rather than a place. You book into whichever self-contained accommodation in the Noosa region suits your style – the in-house travel agent can help you find a luxury seaside Airbnb or a cottage where your pet can stay, too. The experts at Noosa Sanctuary then customise your retreat experience, including a personal meal and nutrition plan. They’ll develop a schedule of therapies for you with specialists around the region, as well as a line-up of wellbeing activities to enjoy. “The program’s approach is kind, gentle and paced to the guest. It is holistic, addressing both psychological and biological needs, and also considers the guest’s relationships with others,” says Dr Graham. “Helping people live their best lives is not one-size-fits-all. The program is completely bespoke, focused on the individual’s goals. All we require from our guest is that they’re in a mind frame to heal.” In complete privacy, you can relax and trust that you’re in experienced hands. Services run the gamut from traditional psychiatry to equine therapy. “We have a GP, dietitian, registered nurse, exercise physiologist, equine therapist, meditation experts, yoga instructors, art and music therapists and health coaches on hand,” she says. “The principle is multimodal and evidence-based. People often have difficulty talking – that’s where art, music and equine therapy are particularly beneficial.” Dr Graham recommends at least two weeks of treatment with Noosa Sanctuary. While pampering massages, beachside walks and wholesome, healing food bring the escapism, this isn’t exactly a holiday. “It’s quite intensive,” says Dr Graham, adding that care continues after the guest goes home. The team provides four weeks of follow-up care for every week of the guest’s program. “It takes a long time for people to seek help so it takes time to unwind, recover and learn the skills to take back into their everyday lives.”