ABOUT SOVEREIGN STATE
The people holding the space.
Each facilitator at Sovereign State has spent years in the work, clinically, somatically, or both. They know what it costs to be the one others lean on.
They know what it takes to rebuild capacity. They know what it means to lead without abandoning yourself. This is not a stage of experts. This is a circle of practitioners.
OUR STORY
Built for the ones who hold space
Sovereign State was born from a simple observation: the people who spend their lives holding space for others rarely have a space held for them. We created this retreat to change that, a place where mental healthcare professionals can exhale, reconnect to their true self, and remember why they chose this profession in the first place.
01
For Professionals Only
Every attendee is a licensed mental health professional. No influencers, no tourists, just peers who understand the weight you carry.
02
Curated Experiences
Handpicked experiences across 7 days, from breathwork and somatic therapy to surfing, horseback riding, and Temazcal experience.
03
Transformative Location
El Salvador’s Pacific coast. Private beachfront property with jungle bungalows, infinity pool, and spaces designed for both solitude and connection.
YOUR FACILITATORS
Handpicked for this experience
Each brings decades of experience and a unique lens, together creating a multi-dimensional container for transformation.
Elham Aref
M.Psy., RP. Founder of Sovereign State & Aref Psychotherapy
Elham Aref, M.Psy., RP, is a Registered Psychotherapist with a master’s degree in clinical psychology. She has more than 25 years of experience across the Middle East, Europe, and North America; known for her deeply human and culturally attuned approach. Having lived in multiple countries and worked closely with individuals navigating trauma, cultural assimilation, and major life shifts, Elham has become recognized for creating spaces where people feel genuinely seen, safe, and understood. Recognizing that clinicians themselves rarely have space held for them, she created Sovereign State, an immersive experience designed exclusively for licensed mental health professionals to rest, recalibrate their nervous systems, and integrate strategic, somatic, and creative experiences in a way that cultivates lasting clarity and capacity.
Naomi Zee
Corporate Consultant, Convergence Coach & Author
Dr. Moire Stevenson
Clinical Psychologist & Founder, Mindfulness Outdoors
Dr. Moire Stevenson (she/her) is a Clinical Psychologist and the founder of Mindfulness Outdoors, a community of over 3,500 members dedicated to the intersection of mental health and the natural world. With a background in Biology and Biochemistry and a PhD in Clinical Psychology, Moire has spent over a decade bridging the gap between scientific evidence and nature-based wisdom. A recognized leader in the field, she has trained hundreds of therapists in ecotherapy techniques and facilitated more than 250 outdoor wellness events ranging from urban “Walk and Talk” sessions to immersive forest retreats. Specialized in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and neurodiversity (ADHD), Moire’s mission is to move therapy beyond the office—helping individuals and professionals alike find groundedness and focus through the restorative power of nature.
Greta Ruljevaite
Certified Breathwork Facilitator & Somatic Practitioner