Self-reflection unlike anything Thoreau ever conceived of is the purpose of this reality show. A group of individuals travels to a remote location in Costa Rica where they confront their emotional problems with the assistance of a team of alternative healers.
This process might be termed "New Age", for it features non-traditional modalities like reiki, meditation, and the use of sweat lodges. The term "non-traditional" belies the fact that many of these techniques predate Western medicine.
Each visitor has defined the issues he wishes to resolve. By attending the retreat, he has---to some degree---bought into the viability of the process, which itself increases the probability that the retreat will help him.
On the other hand, the practitioners often use terms like "magic", and they discuss astrology and auras like they are established science.
This is not so much entertainment as it is instructive for the viewer who can identify himself in the various neuroses and relationship problems. In attendance, for example, are a mother and daughter who have trouble living their own best lives because they spend so much energy dealing with each other. This is something people can identify with.
The first season has not ended yet, but I expect some attendees to leave the resort happier than when they arrived. Taking oneself out of the familiar environment and focusing on personal issues, uninterrupted, for days at a time can only help.
The best part of the show is the presence of the lead "therapist", Chrissie, who is able to cut through the b.s. and keep everyone on the track to better health. Without her, the show would be rife with division and personal power trips.
When all is said and done, the motto might be "own your own -it." That is easy to say, but not so easy to do, with our subjective views of ourselves and our collections of baggage and habits.
