Friday 22 – Sunday 24 January 2027 · De Holdeurn, the Netherlands

Over two days, Dr Caitlin Walker guides you through the Clean Language way of working with childhood patterns in your clients.

Many of the beliefs, convictions and patterns we carry as adults have their roots in childhood. When you coach or work therapeutically with someone, there's a good chance these patterns surface — which means you need tools to work with them well. This retreat gives you the insight and the handholds for those moments.

Childhood patterns don't have to be traumatic, but working with them well takes real skill. The Inner Child process of David Grove and Cei Davies Linn is exactly that skill, built on Clean Language questions and working with metaphor.

"The Inner Child training made me aware of some important conditions in my childhood and started a series of huge shifts." — Frank, participant 2025

To get a fuller sense of what this work is, what makes it Clean, and what it asks of a facilitator, read our conversation with Caitlin: The Inner Child Process.

Download now our Dutch Flyer / Nederlandse flyer about this event.

What might happen during an Inner Child session

Do you need a lot of prior Clean Language experience?

No. On Friday evening we run a question-led introduction to Clean Language so you have enough of a foundation. We do expect some affinity with more complex personal material. Not sure? Get in touch and we'll happily talk through the options.

Caitlin Walker: "Everyone is welcome, even if you're not qualified to do therapeutic work. If that's the case, you'll gain insight into where your own limits lie when working with this kind of material. For that, it's essential to understand how these things work — when you're operating at a boundary, and when to refer someone on."

A note: this is not a full training to become a therapist or coach. It shows you how to approach this material with Clean Language and adds to your existing toolset. If you're experienced and skilled with this kind of work, it gives you handholds. If you're not, it helps you discover the edges of your own repertoire.

The facilitator: Dr Caitlin Walker

Caitlin is director of Clean Learning and works across a wide diversity of contexts. She wrote From Contempt to Curiosity and is the developer of Systemic Modelling™. She spent years studying the way David Grove approached the inner child of clients — work that shaped her 'Clean Stance' and, with it, the foundational posture for Systemic Modelling: Accept & Extend. During this retreat she shares her rich experience and refined skillset with us.

Michael and Pascal assist Caitlin and run the evening programme, giving you extra practice each night.

The location

We've reserved a beautiful venue: De Holdeurn. Five self-contained apartments, each for four people, plus a sixth converted into a group space. Here Caitlin facilitates a number of participants while we ask her modelling questions, share our insights together, take our communal meals, and — for those who enjoy it — play the odd board game.

The programme

During these days we work with real questions from participants who volunteer. As with (Clean) coaching, we never know exactly what will surface in Inner Child work. At the end of each session there's a debrief, where Caitlin reflects with the group on the process and answers questions — so we stay as close as possible to the needs and varied skills of everyone taking part. Be aware that in practice it's less sequential than the schedule below suggests.

Friday evening — 22 January

Time	Programme
18:30 – 19:30	Arrival at the venue and getting to know each other over coffee or tea. Note: no dinner is provided this evening.
19:30 – 20:30	Ground rules and agreements for the two days.
20:30 – 21:30	Ask me anything: Clean Language & the Clean Questions

Saturday — 23 January

Time	Programme
07:00 – 08:00	Breakfast
08:00 – 12:30	Morning sessions (two or three): client sessions & debrief
12:30 – 13:45	Lunch break
14:00 – 17:00	Afternoon sessions
17:30 – 18:30	Dinner

Evening programme

Time	Programme
19:00 – 21:00	Practising skills: Symbolic Modelling, Skills Drills
21:00 – ??:??	Early night, or a board or card game

Sunday — 24 January

Time	Programme
07:00 – 08:00	Breakfast
08:00 – 12:30	Morning sessions
12:30 – 13:45	Lunch break
14:00 – 16:30	Closing client session(s) and looking ahead to how you'll continue your learning.
18:00 – 19:30	Dinner

Evening programme

Time	Programme
20:00 – ??:??	Early night, or a good conversation or a board game

Monday — 25 January

Time	Programme
07:00 – 09:00	Breakfast and farewell
09:00 – 10:00	The last people leave the venue.

Your investment

The price for this retreat is € 975, made up of:

• € 395 — accommodation, meals and refreshments
• € 580 — training led by Dr Caitlin Walker, Michael and Pascal

This includes:

• four blocks in which Caitlin demonstrates and explains the Inner Child process,
• an evening programme facilitated by Michael and Pascal (twice),
• three nights' accommodation in a shared twin room,
• breakfast, lunch and dinner on Saturday and Sunday,
• coffee, tea and refreshments throughout your stay,
• and breakfast on Monday morning before you leave.

Special options:

• A limited number of single rooms are available at an extra € 300.
• A few reduced-price places for people on a limited budget: € 175 discount.
• Participation without staying at the venue is possible, though we don't recommend it: € 800 per participant.

All prices include 21% Dutch VAT. For any of the special options, please contact Michael or Pascal.

Sign up

If you'd like to join us, click the tickets button to email Pascal with your invoicing details and preferences, and we'll set things in motion. For any of the special options, get in touch with Pascal directly.

BONUS

If you are considering this retreat, come join our Coach your Inner Team with Pronoun Scapes session to meet Caitlin, find out more about yourself, Inner Child work and the retreat.