Next workshops

An intensive weekend in a small group. You learn about paruresis and the mechanisms behind it, build your personal training hierarchy and train step by step in real situations, at your own pace and with a buddy by your side.The structure follows the approach international paruresis self-help organizations have used for decades: step-by-step training in clearly graded situations, combined with knowledge and exchange among people with paruresis.The workshop is a training offering. It is not psychotherapy and not medical treatment.

The workshop runs from Friday evening to Sunday afternoon. Friday doors open at 6:45 pm and we start at 7:00 pm, Saturday 9:00 am to 5:30 pm, Sunday 9:00 am to 2:30 pm.The content includes:Getting to know each other and exchange in the groupBasics of paruresis, the bladder and the anxiety mechanism behind itYour personal training hierarchySeveral structured training sessions with a buddyReflection and your concrete training plan for afterwardsFriday evening is deliberately kept calm. There's no practical training yet. First you get to know the group and have time to arrive.

Training is the core of the weekend, but every single exercise is voluntary. You decide which situation to try next, how far you go and when you take a break. Nobody gets pushed.It's not about every attempt working. A training attempt that doesn't work out is not a failure. What matters is that you find a next step you can actually train.

No more than ten participants. Small enough that everyone gets a say and a trusting setting develops, large enough for different training combinations.

Bernd Fuchs leads the workshops personally. He knows paruresis from his own experience and has worked intensively with paruresis and practical training for many years.Depending on the date, he's supported by experienced members of the Austrian Paruresis Association who have paruresis and by psychology professionals from the Phobius team. Even when professionals take part, there's no diagnosis and no treatment.

Yes, absolutely. The workshop fits wherever you are: whether you only get blocked in certain situations or can't go at all outside your own home. You don't need prior experience.Training starts where it's doable for you.

Yes, the workshops are open to everyone.For organizational reasons, we make sure at least two women take part so that buddy training works well. You can also come together with another woman with paruresis whom you know. If you have questions or concerns about this, just get in touch beforehand.

You don't have to share anything you don't want to share. Not in front of the group either.Many people are very nervous beforehand. The experience is usually surprisingly unspectacular: suddenly you're sitting in a room with people you don't have to explain to why a completely normal restroom situation can be hard. If you'd rather discuss something one-on-one, that's always possible.

These three questions help you decide:Does paruresis limit my everyday life?Do I want to train in practice with others, not just read about it?Do I want to learn from people who know paruresis firsthand?If you say yes three times, the workshop is probably a good fit. If you're unsure, book a free intro call and we'll sort it out in thirty minutes.

Confidentiality is the foundation, not an extra. In concrete terms:There is no participant list that anyone receivesYour contact details are only shared with other participants if you explicitly agreeBy registering, everyone commits to confidentiality, including after the workshopPhoto, video and audio recordings are not allowed during the workshopWhat you choose to share in conversations or exercises is not documented or storedAnyone who breaks confidentiality is excluded from the workshopWe only pass on your data as far as needed for booking, payment or accounting, or where there is a legal obligation. The details are in the Privacy Policy.

The location is listed on the workshop page. What you only get by email after booking is the exact door number and the details on getting there and access, to keep it as discreet as possible.

A preliminary video callParticipation in the entire weekendTwo follow-up group calls after the workshopAll workshop and training materialsCoffee, tea, water and salty snacksNot included are meals, travel and accommodation. Everyone organizes their own meals.

You book your accommodation yourself. Look for two things: no more than a 15-minute walk to the location and a free cancellation option.Being close matters because, depending on your training plan, restroom situations in your own accommodation can be part of the training. At the same time, it gives you a private place to retreat to at any time. You'll find three recommendations within walking distance on the registration page.

The workshop takes place once the minimum number of participants is reached. Either way, you'll know no later than 21 days before it starts.If the minimum isn't reached, we cancel. You get a full refund and are invited to the next date. We can't cover travel or accommodation costs in that case, so we recommend booking refundable options.

Free of charge up to 21 days before the start; you get the full amount back20 to 8 days before the start, we refund 50 percentFrom 7 days before the start or if you don't show up, no refund is possibleAn informal email is enough. For the deadline, what counts is when your message reaches us, counted from the first workshop day.If you get sick at short notice or can't come for another unforeseeable reason, let us know. We will then try to transfer the amount once to a future workshop, valid for 12 months and subject to availability. There is no entitlement to this.Under § 18 (1) no. 10 FAGG (Austrian Distance and Off-Premises Contracts Act), there is no statutory 14-day right of withdrawal for leisure events on a fixed date. That applies to concerts and trips just as it does to our workshops.Instead, we have voluntarily set the cancellation terms above. You'll find the full Terms of Participation atparuresistraining.com/agb

The workshop is an intensive in-person weekend in a group. In a short time you gain many concrete training experiences and meet people who go through the same thing.The 1:1 training is an ongoing online program with regular individual sessions. It helps you keep at it over weeks and months and apply the method in everyday life.The workshop fits if you want a strong start, are looking for concrete experiences or have been stuck for a long time. The 1:1 training fits if you want to practice regularly in everyday life, need a fixed appointment to keep at it, or can't attend a workshop right now.You can also combine both. First the workshop as a start, then the 1:1 training to anchor what you learned in everyday life. It works the other way around too: some people prepare for a workshop in 1:1 training.