Safety & Participation
Retreats take place in mountain and outdoor environments. This page sets out what participation involves, what we ask of you, and where the boundaries of the work sit. Please read it before requesting a place.
What the terrain involves
Retreats are physically engaging and never extreme. Expect walking on uneven ground, changeable weather, variable temperatures, and time away from immediate medical facilities. Days are calibrated for reflection rather than performance — nothing is a test, and nothing requires technical skill.
Each retreat page states the specific demands of that location. If you are unsure whether it suits you, ask before booking. We would rather have that conversation early than have you arrive uncertain.
Deciding whether it is right for you
You are the best judge of your own fitness. Please consult your doctor if you have any doubt, particularly regarding cardiovascular health, joint or mobility limitations, or conditions affected by altitude, cold or exertion.
Before the retreat we ask you to disclose anything that could affect your safety or the group's — medical conditions, medications, allergies, dietary requirements, and mobility limitations. This is held confidentially, used only for participant safety, and deleted within three months of the retreat ending. You are never obliged to share more than you are comfortable with, though withholding something safety-critical may mean we cannot accept you on a particular retreat.
Insurance is a condition of participation
You must hold comprehensive travel and medical insurance covering the activities and territory of the retreat, including cancellation, medical treatment and repatriation. We may ask for confirmation before departure.
Weather and changes
Mountain conditions change. Where weather or terrain makes an activity unsafe, we change it. Safety always takes precedence over programme content, and an altered itinerary is a normal part of working outdoors rather than a failure of the retreat.
Confidentiality within the group
Retreats involve confidential peer dialogue. What participants share stays within the group — that is the condition which makes the work possible.
Everything you discuss with Fabrizio in a coaching capacity is separately confidential and is never reported to an employer or sponsor without your agreement. Where an organisation funds your place, only attendance and non-attributable themes may be shared, and only where agreed in advance.
Coaching is not therapy
Nexum Retreats are professional leadership development. They are not therapy, counselling, psychiatric care, medical treatment or crisis support, and they are not a substitute for any of these.
Retreats are not suitable for anyone currently in acute psychological distress, in an active mental-health crisis, or newly bereaved or traumatised. Distance from ordinary support structures can make a difficult period harder rather than easier.
If something surfaces during a retreat that falls outside coaching — as it sometimes does when people finally stop — we will say so plainly and help you find appropriate support. That is treated as good practice, not as a failure.
Nexum holds an International Coaching Federation credential and works to the ICF Code of Ethics.
In an emergency
Each retreat has emergency procedures appropriate to its location, including local emergency contacts, nearest medical facilities, evacuation routes and a communications plan. These are shared with participants before departure. We collect an emergency contact for every participant.
Alcohol, substances and medication
Retreats are alcohol-light by design — the work depends on clear heads and proper sleep. Recreational substances are not permitted. If you take prescribed medication, bring an adequate supply and tell us anything relevant to your safety in the field.
Questions
If anything here raises a question about whether a retreat is right for you, write to info@nexumcoaching.com. It is a better conversation to have now than on a mountain.
See also the Terms & Conditions and the Privacy Policy.