Self, other, world:
A cultural immersion intensive
Edinburgh, Scotland
MAY 17-20, 2027
The Training
“Self, World, Other is a cultural immersive intensive for helping professionals who take multicultural competence seriously.”
Self, Other, World is an innovative training experience combining cultural competency components with real-time immersion in cultures foreign to participating providers. The goal is to close the experiential gap between learning about another culture from afar and being an active agent in a novel cultural exchange.
Join us for a four-day, three-night experiential odyssey to earn multicultural competence continuing education (CE) hours and get to know yourself and this incredible world a little better. Our retreats are small (limited to 12 participants) bespoke affairs with plenty of unscheduled time for exploration, additional immersion experiences, or just relaxing.
The Details
(what we’ll do, how we’ll do it)
Using Sue et al.’s 2009 well-established tenets of multicultural competence as a guide, our three-day training focuses on the following three domains:
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Awareness
Discover Your Cultural Lens
What assumptions am I carrying into the therapy room?
We’ll guide you through a transformative half-day journey of self-discovery using powerful insight-building interventions—CBT techniques, Internal Family Systems work, mindfulness practices, and reflective journaling. Together, we'll uncover the cultural worldview we bring to every session and examine how our personal ideologies and values shape what we see, hear, and feel with each client.
This isn't just intellectual exercise—you'll experience real-time awareness of how your cultural lens influences your therapeutic presence.
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Knowledge
Step Into Their World
How can I truly understand my clients' lived experiences?
Learning about culture from textbooks only takes you so far. That's why we've designed an immersive afternoon "field trip" that places you directly in the heart of your host culture. You'll witness firsthand how this community views mental health, what they expect from helping professionals, and how historical and political contexts have shaped their relationship with healing.
Experience becomes your teacher as you develop a deeper, more nuanced understanding of the worldviews your multicultural clients navigate daily.
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Skills
Bridge Worlds Through Practice
How do I translate cultural understanding into effective therapeutic interventions?
In our experiential processing groups, we'll work alongside you to develop the practical skills that make all the difference. You'll learn to think flexibly about mental health across cultures, discover how to communicate authentically with diverse populations, and master culturally relevant therapeutic interventions that truly resonate with your clients' experiences.
This isn't theoretical—you'll practice, process, and refine these skills in a supportive environment designed to build your confidence and competence.
your hosts
“We have built a truly unique training experience to help broaden your personal and professional horizons. We can’t wait to enjoy this experience with you!”
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As a therapist, Dr. Durbin provides compassionate and inclusive counseling services to those in need. Ashley has worked with severe and persistent mental illness, substance abuse, trauma, homelessness, and has trained in a variety of therapeutic styles. Whether the client needs more structured services or an accountability partner to get through to reach their goals, clients can expect to feel supported, listened to, and cared for. Feeling heard and understood is vital and the goal is to help individuals feel safe to explore their current barriers in order to progress past them and move forward to a better tomorrow.
As a consultant and trainer, Dr. Durbin has taught courses in cultural awareness and competency, mindfulness, brain injury, and leadership development. She has coached executive leaders, managers, and front-line employees, while providing opportunities for individuals to grow in the areas of organizational development, team building, executive development, and training. She looks forward to continuing to train and teach others.Item description
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Dr. Ashley durbin, Ph.D., CSW-S
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Dr. Vanburg is a Licensed Psychologist with specialization in general mental health and trauma related disorders. She earned two B.A.s at The University of Texas at Austin and a Masters in Counseling at St. Edwards University. She received her doctorate at Our Lady of the Lake University in San Antonio, Texas and completed internship and residency in trauma psychology at the South Texas Veteran's Health Care System (Audie L. Murphy VA). Dr. Vanburg works from a strengths-based, solution-focused orientation that celebrates collaboration, the inherent role of clients as the expert on their experience, and the importance of cultural humility. She is a practitioner and clinical researcher of mindfulness-based interventions and has authored protocols and presentations on the integration of interoceptive and cognitive-based interventions. Dr. Vanburg also currently holds certification in gold-standard trauma treatments Cognitive Processing Therapy and Prolonged Exposure.
In her therapeutic work, Dr. Vanburg uses evidence-based interventions to build personalized, brief, solution-focused programs that encourage, empower, and embolden clients to make value-driven changes and live skillfully. She is honored to work with individuals who are curiously and courageously pursuing big changes and grateful for the opportunity to help them make it happen.
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Dr. Regina Vanburg, Psy D, L.P.
your experience
(what’s included)
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Enjoy 3 nights in Edinburgh, right in the center of the city, looking up at Arthur’s Seat!
We guarantee a private room with a King-sized bed, and an en-suite bathroom with a shower. -
We have a sumptuous welcome feast planned for our first evening together. Think multi-course, with wine pairings, and a storyteller to talk about our locale. As well, breakfast is served daily, and a finger foods buffet is served for lunch each day. Our excursion (and CE hours!) also include dinner. This leaves one dinner that we don’t cover, allowing you to try out the fare of Edinburgh - of which you’ll find amazing options!
The menu each day will consist of deliciously authentic local cuisine with consideration to the dietary preferences of attendees.
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A special guest will join us on our first evening. In true Mexican culture we will be taken on a journey through storytelling. Learn about traditions, legends, and lore about healing, illness, grief, and mental health all in this captivating featured lecture.
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You will receive 20 credit hours through APA sponsorship (and, if approved, through ASWB. The organization offering CE credit, Apela Supervision, is owned by The Crane & The Bull) available for participants with licenses in Social Work, Counseling, and Psychology.
Bonus! We will also provide you with a spreadsheet to track deductible expenses. Flights, food, registration, and accommodations are deductible. This itemized spreadsheet will include options for you to enter any additional expenses you wish to track.
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Transportation to and from the cultural immersion field trip on Day 2 is covered!
Our field trip has us exploring the magical city of Edinburgh - and we’ll end the evening with a meal together - somewhere delicious. -
We know that rest is revolutionary, so we are pleased to offer you an experience that is part education and part vacation. We'll keep the training fun and engaging while leaving plenty of time for rest, relaxation, and adventuring.
Resiliency Mental Health is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Resiliency Mental Health maintains responsibility for this program and its content. RMH is the sponsor of The Crane & The Bull’s 20 CE hours of APA credit.
The Crane & the Bull, Corp, 2374, is approved as an ACE provider to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE provider approval period: 7/8/2026-7/8/2027. Social workers completing this course receive 20 cultural competency continuing education credits.
Download the Full Agenda here
We are beside ourselves to announce that our home away from home this year will be none other than The Scott Hotel.
The Scott sits within the Pollock Estate, on the quieter edge of the city where Holyrood Park begins. Open green space starts at the door, walking routes, the climb to Arthur's Seat, and the kind of air that Edinburgh doesn't always offer.
The building has its own quiet character: light falling through tall windows, grounds that change with the seasons, rooms that feel lived-in rather than assembled.
The Scott sits just far enough from the city to feel like an escape and close enough that nothing is out of reach. The Old Town is closer than it feels. Walk in and the city opens up, the closes, the landmarks, the hidden lanes.
Before booking please review Terms and Conditions
Book your Trip
Want to join our Scotland cultural immersion trip, but coming alone? This option is for you - and how most participants join. We are dedicated to helping you have the time of your life, learning about Scotland in a city full of history, culture, and art.
Want to join our Scotland cultural immersion trip, but have a fellow mental health colleague, friend, or partner? This option is for you. Two participants will take part in our immersion while sharing a room. Cheaper for ya’ll and a whole lot of fun for us. We are dedicated to helping you have the time of your life, learning about Scotland in a city full of culture, art, and history.
Want to join our Scotland cultural immersion trip, but coming with a partner, friend, spouse, or other adult human who wants to see the world? This option is for you, participant, and a non-participating guest. This is designed for those who are bringing someone, but that someone does not want or need to join the training. They are invited and welcome at the welcome feast, breakfast, and our immersive activity in the city. Then they get to play in town while we train. Some of our favorite adventurers have brought a partner, and it’s a blast! We are dedicated to helping you have the time of your life, learning about the Scots in a city full of history, culture, and art.
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Welcome dinner, dinner the night of the immersion, and locally sourced breakfast for all three days,
20 CE hours,
The cultural immersion field trip with transportation to and from, and
Local expert lecture.
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Your flight,
Transportation to and from the airport,
Dinner on nights two and three,
Lunches and snacks, and
Any add-ons you might be interested in
Before booking please review Terms and Conditions