What Happens on a Retreat: Our Special Sauce for Healing, Connection, and Joy

If you’ve ever wondered what happens on a retreat—especially one designed for therapists and healing professionals, let me take you behind the scenes. Because what we offer isn’t just a weekend getaway. It’s a full-bodied, soul-nourishing experience crafted with intention, creativity, and care.

We call it our special sauce. And it’s what makes our retreats unforgettable.

Mornings That Ground and Awaken

Each day begins in quiet reverence. We gather for yoga, breathwork, meditation, or a hike—gentle movement that invites us to arrive fully in our bodies. These practices aren’t just warm-ups; they help us shed the noise of the outside world and tune into the wisdom within.

Whether it’s the rhythm of your breath or the crunch of trail beneath your feet, morning movement sets the tone for the deep work ahead.

Nourishment That Delights

We’re foodies at heart, and we believe healing is best supported by delicious, hearty, and nutritious meals—because no one should ever have to heal on an empty stomach.  Planning the meals and snacks is one of our favorite indulgences. 

And on the final night? We celebrate with exceptional wine curated by Ashley’s husband, whose expertise in the wine industry brings a touch of elegance and joy to our closing feast.

Ceremonies That Open and Close the Circle

We begin with ceremony—setting intentions, creating sacred space, and inviting each person to be fully seen. And we close with ceremony too, honoring the journey, the transformation, and the connections made.

These moments are tender, powerful, and often unforgettable. They mark the threshold between who we were and who we’re becoming.

Expressive Techniques That Unlock Insight

Throughout the retreat, we weave in expressive modalities that help bypass the analytical mind and tap into deeper truths:

  • Collaging and visual representations of themes that emerge
  • Psychodrama and sociometric techniques inspired by Tian Dayton, including floor checks and spectrogram
  • Guided imagery and therapeutic writing prompts that invite reflection, release, and revelation

These tools aren’t just creative, they’re cathartic. They help participants connect to their inner knowing, intuition, and emotional clarity.

Group Sharing That Builds Connection

We create intentional space for group sharing—not just to process, but to witness and be witnessed. These circles are where the magic happens…where strangers become sisters.

Celebration Around the Fire

Once the work has been done and the connections have deepened, we gather around the fire. There is purging.  There’s drumming. There’s laughter. It’s a celebration of everything we’ve moved through—and everything we’re stepping into.

It’s primal. It’s joyful. It’s sacred.

Pampering That Surprises and Delights

We love surprises. Each guest receives a curated swag bag filled with our favorite things.  Here are some examples of what we’ve gifted.  We try to keep it local to the area where we are hosting or consistent with the theme of the retreat. 

  • Sketch pads and pens for creative flow
  • Luxurious eye patches and essential oils for rest and renewal
  • Crystals to carry the energy of the retreat home
  • Custom journals

Because you deserve to feel pampered. To feel thought of. To feel loved.

Optional Add-Ons: Nourish Your Body, Expand Your Experience

During our retreats, we honor the rhythm of rest and the power of choice. In your free time, you’re invited to simply be—to nap in the sun, journal under a tree, or sip tea in quiet reflection. But for those who feel called to deepen their experience, we offer a curated selection of optional add-ons:

  • Touch Drawing Sessions: Guided one-on-one sessions to explore this intuitive art form more deeply. Perfect for those who want to process emotions through movement and image.
  • Embodied Parts & SE Integrations:  Somatic Experiencing® is woven together with inner parts work to gently explore the stories your nervous system still holds.  Through psychodrama-inspired rolework, expressive art, and embodied movement, you’ll be invited to explore what it needs for resolution, repair, or rest.
  • Dreamweaver Sessions:Step into a sacred space to explore the rich, often overlooked messages of your dreams. Whether you’re arriving with a recent dream, a recurring image, or just a feeling, we’ll work with it intuitively and somatically—using expressive arts, guided imagery, and body-based inquiry to bring your dream to life. 
  • Hypnosis Sessions:  Enter a deeply relaxed state where your subconscious mind becomes more accessible to suggestions, allowing for gentle transformation and insight. No prior experience with hypnosis is needed—just a willingness to surrender to the process and trust your inner wisdom. 
  • Massage Therapy: Melt into the hands of skilled practitioners offering therapeutic massage tailored to your needs—whether it’s tension release, emotional integration, or pure relaxation.
  • Lymphatic Drainage: A gentle, detoxifying treatment that supports your immune system and helps you feel lighter, clearer, and more energized.
  • Horseback Riding: Connect with nature and your own sense of freedom through guided trail rides. No experience necessary, just a willingness to let the wind and the horses carry you.

These offerings are completely optional, and space is limited to preserve the intimacy of the experience. Whether you choose to indulge in these extras or simply rest, your retreat is yours to shape.

The Heart of It All

At its core, our retreats are about remembering. Remembering your wisdom…your creativity…your capacity to heal and be healed. They’re about connection—to self, to others, to something greater.

So if you’re a therapist or healing professional who’s ready to receive, to be held, and to be surprised by joy, we invite you to join us at our upcoming Healers retreat.  Or if you are a woman who is working and juggling it all, we invite you to come to our upcoming retreat called SHE RISES.  We have options! 

Come experience the special sauce. Come home to yourself.

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