About us
Behind Partons Ensemble, a lived conviction
Christophe Froeliger, founder of Partons Ensemble. A certified coach, he lived in Thailand for eight years and has returned every year for about a decade.
The founder's conviction
"Travel can help people rebuild their lives, through encounter, nature and the strength of a group."
Thailand from the inside
He lived in Thailand for eight years in the 1990s. For about ten years now he has returned at least once a year, sometimes twice. He has travelled through almost every region of the country and its neighbours, understands its culture, speaks some Thai and knows Thai tourism well.
A life devoted to helping others move forward
He started out as a swimming coach, helping athletes progress. He then worked in the social sector, helping young people commit to training or job-seeking projects. He went on to run skills assessments, became a certified coach and, eight years ago, founded La Parenthèse au Vert.
La Parenthèse au Vert, the first testing ground
La Parenthèse au Vert is a pilot project: he welcomes people going through burnout or a depressive episode into his home. Stays last two to three weeks, in a small group of three to five people, for inner work. The concept is built on practising many restorative activities.
Partons Ensemble extends this experience: the same conviction, a longer four-week stay, groups of six to eight, and Thailand as the setting.
Education
He is a graduate of Sciences Po (Paris Institute of Political Studies) and holds a postgraduate degree (DESS) in international trade.
From the guest book
They stayed at La Parenthèse au Vert
Before Partons Ensemble came La Parenthèse au Vert, the pilot project Christophe Froeliger founded in France: two-to-three-week stays in a small group for people going through burnout or a depressive episode. Here is what some of them wrote (translated from French). The first retreats in Thailand have not yet taken place.
“The first days were tears […], sleep that would not come […] and a mind boiling over all the time. Little by little, with the morning exercises, I came back into my body and I can finally breathe. I can smell the cooking and I am hungry.”
“A thousand thanks, from the heart, for what this stay with you has strengthened and transformed in me.”
“Watch out, it's addictive! Thank you again for your kind and always rich welcome. Always rich in encounters. Take care of yourselves as you take care of others.”
Commitments
What we promise you
- A call with you before any booking, and an honest answer if the retreat is not right for you.
- Groups of no more than eight.
- Only professionals whose qualifications we have checked.
- A clear reminder that our retreats do not replace medical care.
- Respect and fair pay for the Thai communities who host us.