Cullinan, Gauteng · a little over an hour from Randburg
Retreats near Randburg and Johannesburg North: stepping out of the noise
Ferndale, Blairgowrie, Fourways, Northcliff: the northern suburbs of Johannesburg run at their own pace and rarely pause. My therapeutic retreats take place on a farm near Cullinan, a little over an hour away, where rest is combined with guided reflection rather than left to chance.
Registered counsellor · English and German · Just over an hour from Randburg
The northern suburbs and the self-employed rhythm
Randburg and the wider northern suburbs hold an unusually high concentration of small businesses, studios, agencies, consultancies and independent practitioners. Ferndale, Blairgowrie, Randpark Ridge, Northcliff, Cresta and the Fourways corridor are full of people who set their own hours, which sounds like freedom and often functions as the opposite.
When the work is yours, switching off carries a cost that is easy to calculate and hard to justify. Weekends absorb admin, evenings absorb the things that did not fit, and the boundary between the business and the person quietly dissolves. Many of my guests from this part of the city describe not being able to remember the last time they were genuinely unreachable.
That is precisely the condition a retreat is built for. Not a holiday, which still requires you to be in charge, but a structured period in which someone else holds the schedule and the only expectation is that you slow down.
Book a free fifteen minute call and we will talk about what an actual break would look like.
When the work is yours, switching off carries a cost that is easy to calculate and hard to justify.
Reaching the farm from the northern suburbs
From Randburg, Fourways or Northcliff the drive to the farm near Cullinan usually takes a little over an hour. The straightforward route runs east and north onto the N1 towards Pretoria, then east on the N4 towards Witbank, and finally onto the R513 towards Cullinan.
Drive time
A little over an hour from Randburg, Fourways or Northcliff.
The route
N1 north → N4 east → R513 towards Cullinan.
Against the flow
Away from the M1 and the William Nicol congestion, not into it.
It is the longest single stretch of any of the northern areas, and it is still shorter than most people expect. It also runs in the right direction: away from the M1, away from the William Nicol congestion and away from everything that normally structures a Friday afternoon.
For weekend retreats, guests from this side of the city often leave in the early afternoon to avoid the peak. For day retreats an early start makes the day comfortable rather than rushed.
Send me your preferred dates and I will confirm the route and timings.
Formats and how long people usually stay
A full day on the farm, practical for people who cannot yet justify a weekend away from the business.
Two to three days, the most commonly chosen format and the point at which most guests genuinely settle.
The overview page describes each format in more detail. If you cannot decide, a short questionnaire helps clarify what would serve you best before we speak.
Tell me realistically how much time you can take and I will suggest the right length.
Retreat themes
For exhaustion, prolonged stress and the state of still delivering while no longer recovering. This is the format most people from the northern suburbs begin with.
For when stress has become physical, showing up as tension, disturbed sleep or digestive complaints. Movement, nutrition and reflection are combined rather than treated separately.
Couples and family retreats
Couples retreats work through reconnecting, understanding each other’s perspective and agreeing concrete habits. Family retreats address the household as a system rather than treating one member as the problem.
Expressive art, silent, and yoga and meditation retreats
Three different routes to the same place. Creativity when words have stopped working, silence when the noise is the obstacle, and breath and movement when a gentler entry point is needed.
Describe your situation briefly and I will point you to the format that fits.
What a retreat is like in practice
Days follow a rhythm rather than a schedule.
Morning
Mornings often begin with movement or a short meditation in the cool.
The middle of the day
The therapeutic work sits around the middle of the day and takes the form of guided sessions, journaling, reflective conversation or creative exercises depending on the retreat.
Afternoon and evening
Afternoons are open on purpose.
Our chef prepares the meals and they are eaten together. There are walks on and around the property, a hot tub, and shaded space to do nothing in. The bird life is exceptional and the night sky is the kind that guests from Johannesburg have often not seen since childhood.
What you bring is comfortable clothing and a willingness to engage with rest. No experience of meditation, yoga or therapy is needed, and no fitness level is assumed. The introductory call covers everything else so nothing is left uncertain.
Book your call and we will go through the practical details together.
Why the therapeutic frame matters
Rest without understanding tends not to last. People return refreshed to precisely the arrangement that exhausted them, and within three weeks the effect has gone. The retreats are structured so that the recovery is paired with an honest look at what produced the depletion.
My approach comes from systemic therapy, which considers how you interact with the people and structures around you, and which works with your strengths and resources rather than only your difficulties. For someone running their own business that is often the more useful lens, because the pattern usually sits in the arrangement rather than in the person.
An honest limit: these retreats are therapeutically grounded but they are not psychotherapy and not medical treatment. For acute concerns the SADAG helpline is free on 0800 567 567. If you are uncertain whether a retreat is right for you at the moment, ask before booking.
Not sure a retreat is the right tool? Ask me and I will tell you plainly.
Follow-up sessions in Sandton or online
For guests from Randburg and the northern suburbs, Sandton is the nearer of my two consulting locations. I see clients there face to face by appointment, and in Menlyn Maine in Pretoria as an alternative. Virtual sessions are available throughout and suit people whose weeks rarely look the same twice.
A single integration session two or three weeks after the retreat is a common choice, used to consolidate whatever shifted. Others continue with individual counselling, couples counselling or coaching. Nothing is sold to you on the farm and there is no expected path.
German speaking guests can work entirely in German, from the first conversation through the retreat to any follow-up. That is rare in South Africa and for many people it changes what becomes speakable.
Book a session in Sandton or online and we will continue the work from there.
About Juliane
I am a therapist, systemic coach and couples counsellor, registered as a counsellor in independent practice in South Africa, holding a Master of Science in psychology and a master’s degree in management. Before this work I was a consultant and led teams in several companies, so the reality of carrying responsibility for other people’s outcomes is not theoretical to me.
I host all retreats myself and collaborate with co-facilitators for specific formats. The environment I try to create is warm, patient and safe, without any requirement to perform or to arrive with a clear idea of what is wrong.
You can reach me on +27 67 161 4603, also on WhatsApp, or at juliane@reflectwithjuliane.com. The introductory call is fifteen minutes, free and without obligation.
Get in touch and we will plan a retreat that works around the way you actually live.
Frequently asked questions about retreats near Randburg and Johannesburg North
How long is the drive from Randburg?
A little over an hour, usually via the N1 north and then the N4 east towards the Cullinan turnoff. The route runs away from the usual northern suburbs congestion.
Can I do this without closing my business for a week?
Yes. Day retreats and weekend retreats exist precisely for that. Many self-employed guests start with a single day and move to a weekend later.
What is included?
Guided sessions, meals prepared by our chef, use of the farm including walking routes and the hot tub, and accommodation for overnight formats. Exact inclusions depend on the retreat and are set out in your quotation.
Do I need to be fit or experienced?
No. Every practice is guided so beginners can take part fully, and nothing depends on fitness, flexibility or a spiritual background.
Can a group of friends book together?
Yes. Customised retreats are often booked by small groups, and the programme is then designed around what the group needs rather than around a fixed template.
What does it cost?
It depends on the format, the length and the number of participants. Tell me what interests you and you will receive a clear quotation with no hidden costs.
Is there a couples format?
Yes. Couples retreats run over a weekend or as a customised programme and work through reconnecting, understanding each other and committing to specific habits afterwards.
Are retreats offered in German?
Yes. I work in German and English, and German speaking guests can have the whole experience in German including planning and follow-up.
Does this replace seeing a psychologist?
No. The retreats are therapeutically grounded but do not replace psychotherapy or medical treatment. For acute concerns the SADAG helpline is free on 0800 567 567.
Where can I see you afterwards?
In Sandton by appointment, which is usually the closest option from the northern suburbs, or in Menlyn Maine in Pretoria, or online.
Take the first step
Book a free 15 minute introduction call to get to know each other
Available on a flexible schedule, including some mornings, evenings and weekend
For anything urgent, you can contact the SADAG helpline on 0800 567 567
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Arrange a free introductory appointment in the virtual consultation room now
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