Healing through Darkness Therapy: Scott Berman – Into Healing S2, Ep.8

Scott Berman is the founder of Sky Cave Retreats—the first darkness retreat center in the United States. Over the past four years, Scott has guided hundreds of individuals through their own darkness retreats and has been at the forefront of the darkness retreat and therapy movement from his center in Southern Oregon. In this episode, he reveals how darkness strips away the outside world, enabling us to confront our rawest truths. From his years spent in solitude in the mountains to leading self-guided retreats in remote wilderness, Scott explores the profound transformation that comes from immersion in total darkness. He dives into the cultural origins of darkness retreats, the distinctions between solitude and darkness, and the ways this practice brings us face-to-face with our deepest fears and vulnerabilities. Scott also highlights the unique benefits it offers different individuals, the importance of somatic support, and the profound impact it has on one’s spiritual journey.⭐️ In this episode, you’ll learn ⭐️00:00 Introduction to Darkness Therapy00:19 Meet Scott Berman: Founder of Sky Cave Retreats01:15 Scott's Journey into Darkness Therapy02:53 Exploring the Origins of Darkness Therapy05:25 The Experience of a Darkness Retreat08:10 Understanding Trauma Responses in Darkness12:55 Personal Reflections on Safety and Fear28:49 The Role of Intuition in Darkness29:11 Intuition in the Dark32:14 Honesty and Societal Expectations33:09 Negative Self-Importance33:55 Empowerment Through Darkness36:59 The Power of Stillness41:07 Gender Differences in Darkness Therapy44:10 Spirituality and Masculine Energy49:02 Healing and Somatic Experiences55:46 Parenting and Fear58:48 Practical Tips for Embodiment01:00:35 Conclusion and Final Thoughts👉 Follow Scott:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skycaveretreats/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/scottfreeiam/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DarkRoomRetreats/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@skycaveretreatsWebsite: https://www.skycaveretreats.com/📚 Episode References:The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk https://rb.gy/xvuaceWhen the Body Says No By Gabor Maté https://rb.gy/j8ul6e✏️ Download Transcript (generated by an AI service):https://www.intohealing.com/s/Into-Healing-Scott-Berman-Transcript.docx👂Listen to the Into Healing Podcast while you're on-the-go!🎧  Apple podcast: https://apple.co/3wmd4sz🎧  Spotify: https://rb.gy/ceqmkt👉 Become a member on our Patreonhttps://www.patreon.com/intohealing👉 Subscribe to the YouTube channelwww.youtube.com/@Into.Healing👉 Follow Into HealingInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/intohealing/Website: https://www.intohealing.com/UpScrolled: @intohealing👉 Follow MiraInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mirakaddoura TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mira.kaddoura Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mirakaddoura/💌 Sign up for the Healing newsletter https://www.intohealing.com/newsletter🖐 Into Healing is produced by Red & Co. https://redandco.com/Disclaimers• As a reminder, Into Healing is for informational and entertainment purposes only, and does not constitute medical or psychological advice.• Into Healing recognizes that for people suffering under traumatic forces beyond their control, beginning a healing journey is often not possible. For these neighbors, both near and far, let us make a better world where all who wish to heal have the time, space, and resources they need.