The Healing Power of Retreats: How Stepping Away Can Bring You Back to Yourself

In 2021, I found myself craving a reset. I was a stay-at-home mom with two little ones, grateful but completely depleted. The world was slowly reopening after the pandemic, yet something still felt off. I couldn’t quite name it — I just knew I felt disconnected from myself.

One afternoon, in a moment of both hope and desperation, I sent a text to a dear friend: “Would you want to go to this women’s retreat I found online?” The space was called Elohee Retreat Center, nestled in the stunning North Georgia mountains. She graciously said yes — and that simple yes became the start of something that would change my life.

On the drive there, my mindset was simple: I just need some me time. I even remember saying out loud, “I’m not looking to make new relationships — I’m here for me.” That mindset was exactly what my weary soul needed. What I didn’t realize was that I was about to meet women who would forever become part of my story.

When I arrived at Elohee, I walked into the tea room and was greeted by four women I had never met before, yet something in me recognized them. I laughed and said, “It’s almost like I feel like we’ve met before.” One kind woman smiled and said words that I still carry with me:

“Well, we most likely have. I believe life is like a quilt, and the people we meet are all pieces of it — woven together to make the fabric of our lives complete.”

Her words landed softly but deeply. I took a breath and allowed myself to settle in. I didn’t fully understand what was to come, but I knew I was exactly where I was meant to be.

Over the next three days, I reconnected with nature, nourished my body with wholesome meals, and gave my nervous system the rest it had been begging for. I laughed, cried, journaled, and sat in silence. I breathed deeply — maybe for the first time in years. In that sacred space, I met women who became lifelong friends and witnessed healing that was quiet yet profound.

When I returned home, life looked the same, but I didn’t. I felt awake again — steady, grounded, and alive in a way I hadn’t felt in so long. That retreat reminded me that healing doesn’t happen from doing more. It happens when we slow down enough to listen.

That experience planted a seed in me — one that has grown into a deep calling to share this kind of space with other women. Today, I have the honor of co-facilitating women’s retreats alongside Tori Tatum, founder of Counseling Reimagined. Together, we hold space for women to rest, release, and rediscover themselves.

The New Year’s Women’s Retreat at Elohee

This winter, we’ll return to Elohee for something truly special — our New Year’s Women’s Retreat, held from December 31 through January 3. It’s a sacred way to step into the new year with clarity, calm, and connection.

As the world rushes into resolutions and busyness, we’ll begin 2026 differently — with quiet mornings, mindful movement, nourishing meals, and intentional reflection. It is time set apart to honor where you’ve been, release what you no longer need, and create space for what’s next.

Throughout the retreat, we’ll blend yoga, breathwork, sound baths, and guided reflection — practices that calm the body and awaken the soul. You’ll also explore your Human Design, a beautiful tool for understanding your unique energy and purpose, helping you move into the new year aligned and clear.

And because creativity is such a powerful form of integration, we’ll close the weekend by creating soul-aligned 2026 calendars — personalized visual reminders of your values, rhythms, and intentions for the year ahead. Each one becomes a daily touchstone, connecting you back to the energy and insights you uncovered during your time at Elohee.

This retreat is the perfect blend of rest, creativity, and somatic healing — a space to breathe deeply, reconnect with yourself, and be surrounded by like-minded women who understand what it means to carry so much and finally set it down.

It’s time to begin the new year not with another list of things to do, but with a renewed sense of who you are.

Because sometimes, the most powerful way forward is to simply pause.

Join us this December 31–January 3rd for our New Year’s Women’s Retreat at Elohee. Give yourself the gift of space, rest, and a fresh beginning.

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