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Healing Grief Retreat For Widows

Widows Grief Retreat

You Are Invited To:

  • A 4-day intimate grief healing experience with 3 other hurting widows.
  • Experience a safe place to go deep into your broken heart to start to release some of the pain and hold on to more of the love.
  • Learn how to rediscover who you are and create a good, yet different life, while still remembering your husband well.
  • Get away from the noise and busyness of life and come to a safe place to deal with all emotions in an environment that encourages refreshment and restoration.

Why This Widow Retreat is Unique

 

In counseling with widows and being a widow and widower, we have seen the same pattern happening over and over again:

  • You hurt more than you ever thought possible, and you’re not sure how to go on from here.
  • You wonder what your life will look like and who you will be.
  • You may feel overwhelmed, fearful and stuck.
  • You don’t want to stay in this place but you have no idea what to do.

You have experienced a broken heart over the loss of your husband.  You hurt more than you ever thought possible, and you’re not sure how to go on from here, what your life will look like, who you will be now and can feel overwhelmed, fearful and stuck. You don’t want to stay in this place but have no idea what to do.

So we designed retreats for widows especially to deal with two areas – healing from the emotional pain and trauma of grief and preparing you for how to create a good, yet different life in the aftermath.

Our widows’ retreats are intimate – only 4 women! They are intensive and all-inclusive. Everything is covered.  You just need to get yourself there. We personalize this experience for each of the 4 women to achieve the best results possible. This program is powerful and transformational and sets the foundation for living fully and forward while remembering your husband.

This is the time and space of safety, acceptance and community. As sharing the tears, laughter and love that are shared by women who are in the same experience is healing in itself. It is a place for you to belong. It is a place for hope and for healing.

Won’t you join us?

What People Are Saying

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Ashley Kowarsch

 “I attended The Haven for a widow’s retreat in 2023 after losing my husband unexpectedly. After a year a half of working through my grief in various ways, I was looking to push through some significant areas where I was stuck and found this retreat. The exercises and one-on-one time with Anne-Marie and Ron helped me “turn a corner” in my grief journey and gave me so much hope and permission to find joy in life again. The space at The Haven is peaceful and beautiful and us widows felt loved and catered to throughout the entire time we were there. I wish every widow could have the opportunity to work on their grief and heartbreak in this incredible way. It was the most impactful four days I could have ever imagined.

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Laurie

 “Thank you so much for a really encouraging, beautiful experience. I can’t tell you how much every aspect of this retreat helped my heart and soul. I really appreciate your hospitality and this beautiful place”

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Tracie Goodridge

 “My life changed forever on January 16, 2021 when I lost my husband. It has been a tremendously difficult time since his passing and I felt like I was drowning in sorrow. My sorrow turned into hope after the time I spent at the Widow Grief Retreat with Ron and Anne-Marie. This entire time I have been searching for anything that I could do to make my situation better. I’m actively involved in my church, I attend a widow group and I have spoken to a couple therapists. After all my attempts at seeking help I felt that something was still missing. That was until I took a huge leap of faith and put myself out there to attend this Grief Retreat. My time at the retreat was amazing. The tools that were shared with me on how to navigate through this life without my husband have been extremely helpful. The exercises that I worked on while at the Retreat and after being home have allowed me to release the pain, frustration and anger I have been holding onto during this time. I met three beautiful ladies at the Retreat that I knew understood what it’s like to go through this type of tragedy. I’m so happy to now call them my friends. Ron and Anne-Marie are incredible individuals that know the pain of losing a spouse, and they are well equipped to help others. I would recommend anyone that has suffered a loss of their loved one to attend this retreat.”

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Cheryl

 “Anne-Marie and Ron, if I had never been put on this journey, I never would have met you, and for that, I am so thankful. You are both doing God’s work in such a healing, sensitive, tender way. You truly have been given gifts and talents, and are using them well. Thank you for this beautiful experience. There just are no words to truly tell you how wonderful it has been. You are the most gracious hosts and everything was superb! I am ready and excited to tackle my next chapter and to see where God leads me. Thank you for this most precious gift”

I was honored to be part of such a loving and amazing space, even just for a few days.  I am so touched by your kindness and thoughtfulness and am deeply grateful for you both and this life-giving time. I have never felt so safe and cared for. With much love, respect and admiration!

Gail

Dearest Ron and Anne-Marie, I don’t how to express my gratitude for how much you helped me in so many ways. I know this is the beginning of a whole new chapter in my life. It has been an incredible 4 days. I will never forget your kindness and generosity in making me feel at home. I look forward to the new journey that you helped me begin.

Shirley

I attended a widows retreat this past weekend with Ron and Anne-Marie. I arrived feeling weary, broken hearted, anxious, raw and hopeless. This retreat exceeded all of my expectations and I felt so loved and cared for by both of you. I met 3 other widows who are now my sisters for life. You provided us with exercises and life changing tools to move on to the next chapter of our lives. Words alone cannot express my gratitude to both of you. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Mary McAllen

I feel so lucky to have found you and decided to take this journey with you and Ron.You two are such special people. I am sitting here and feeling so much gratitude to you both. Thank you.

Ellen

One month out from the retreat and I am in awe of the depth of healing I experienced. There seem to be no words to accurately describe the transformation in myself and the other women. The curriculum is powerful and explains why each step is necessary to complete for real understanding and healing can take place. But as good as the curriculum may be, it was the safe environment you created which allowed such a deep healing to happen. From the moment I arrived, I was like I was wrapped in a blanket of pampering, love and acceptance acknowledgment and safety. No stone unturned. You nourished our minds, our hearts and our souls. There is no stopping this train. There are so many who will benefit from a retreat like this

Marci Savage

Thank you Ron and Anne-Marie. I trust you completely and thank you for helping me feel more sane and grounded. I hear your words in my head and I hang onto them.

Louise

Just made it home! Thank you and Ron so very much for this weekend. It was just what I needed and I’m forever grateful for this experience.

Ashley

Schedule a clarity call with Anne-Marie or email help@griefandtraumahealing.com to find out more.

Anne-Marie Lockmyer

Anne-Marie Lockmyer is a grief specialist, certified in critical incident stress debriefing, a certified trauma-integrative practitioner, 8-time award-winning author on grief, and founder of The Grief & Trauma Healing Network. As a widow herself, Anne-Marie knows the pain and devastation that grief and loss cause and is living proof that you can go from surviving to thriving.

Anne-Marie offers life-changing healing retreats for widows, individuals and families and works with people worldwide. She leads grief healing support groups, offers crisis grief support for businesses, grief training for therapists and counselors, and speaks on grief wherever she can. She is passionate about advocating for and loving grievers and being an educational catalyst to society on grief and loss.

Ron Gray

Ron Gray is a licensed marriage and family therapist specializing in grief and trauma, and founder of OC Christian Counseling and Christian Grief and Trauma. Ron’s developed a passion for helping people heal from loss and related trauma following the loss of his wife to a prolonged fight with cancer.

Ron facilitates grief recovery groups, offers life-changing retreats for widows, individuals and families, and trains therapists on grief and loss.  Ron is a public speaker focused on grief and loss topics, and helps clients heal from lingering trauma symptoms associated with their deeply personal losses. Ron is also the owner and co-founder of The Haven Spiritual Retreat Center in Orange, California.

Retreat Details

  California Widow’s Retreat

February 24-27, 2023 (no spots available)

March 31 – April 3, 2023 (no spots available)

April 21 – April 24, 2023 (no spots available)

August 4– August 7, 2023

November 3 – November 6, 2023

Sign Up Below To Be Notified When We Schedule More Retreat Dates

 

Location: The Haven Retreat Center, Orange, California (Closest airport SNA – Orange County) 

Starts:  Friday 3 pm

Ends: Monday 10:30 am

Limited to 4 spots

Your Experience Includes:

              • Pre-retreat session and exercises
              • Group and private sessions during the retreat
              • 2 aftercare group Zoom sessions
              • 1 private equine coaching session
              • 1 group equine coaching session
              • 1 private 60-minute full-body massage
              • All materials
              • 3 nights lodging with private room and private bath
              • All meals and activities

Pricing:

(Credit Cards, Debit, Zelle):

$2995

includes everything except transportation

Contact Us

FAQ

Please read below for any questions you may have. If you have further questions please feel free to reach out to us

HOW WOULD I KNOW IF THIS RETREAT IS A GOOD FIT FOR ME?

If you are a recent widow or even if it’s been years, if you are still hurting, this is for you as we are going to be specifically working on healing your heart. It is common, that even 5 years later, we are still not healed. Not because we don’t want to be, but because we haven’t had the tools. We will give them to you and personally walk you through the healing journey.

If you feel stuck and just don’t know how to move forward and create a beautiful life for yourself, then this retreat is for you.  Maybe you are surviving, but you want to thrive.  Maybe you thought you would be further along than this. 

If you would like to have a new community of friends who understand you, that you can relate to and have fun with – then this is for you.  You are going to feel so loved.

WHY DOES IT COST THIS MUCH?

We had to really think about how to design this.  We could have created something for 50-100 women at a hotel somewhere and given them some tools and inspiration – but that would not give us the results we wanted for them. But it would cost a lot less.

We wanted a life-changing transformation! And to get that, it must be small and intimate, and it must be personalized and tailored to each woman, where she is at and what her needs are. 

WHAT DOES THE PRICE INCLUDE?

Absolutely everything except your travel to the event.  We take care of everything the moment you arrive.

WHAT IF I AM SCARED OR UNCOMFORTABLE?

We would tell you that you are absolutely normal and that is what the other ladies feel as well. As much as we want to improve, and take these steps, it is also scary when we go out of our comfort zone and make ourselves vulnerable. We will do everything we can to put you at ease before you even arrive. That is part of the pre-care. Don’t let fear hold you back. It takes courage to heal and live again!

WHAT IS THE NEXT STEP IF I AM INTERESTED?

You can’t register online as we want to talk to you to make sure this is the right fit and answer any questions you have.  If it isn’t, we will tell you.  So please don’t hesitate to reach out to us via email, phone or on the form on this page and we will set up a time to chat.

Grief 101: An Introduction to Grief and Loss

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