The Impact of Transformative Retreats on Personal Growth

Posted on July 8th, 2025

As a therapist, I spend a lot of time talking with people about stress, burnout, anxiety, grief, and life transitions. One thing I've noticed is that many people don't realize how much they're carrying until they finally have a chance to stop.

Our nervous systems are incredibly good at helping us keep going. We push through deadlines, family responsibilities, and difficult seasons because we have to. Eventually, though, our bodies usually let us know they've had enough. It might show up as trouble sleeping, feeling anxious all the time, chronic tension, blood pressure, aches, headaches, the one I see most is increased irritability.

When we slow down, we start noticing those things instead of pushing past them.

That awareness isn't about judging trying to immediately fix everything. It's simply the first step toward understanding what we need.

One of the things I love most about retreats is watching that happen naturally. It isn't because someone has a dramatic breakthrough. More often, its a collection of small moments. A conversation over dinner. Sitting outside with a journal. Finishing a yoga class and realizing you feel less tense. Watching a turtle (the retreat center we’ve held retreats at in Mexico has several huge turtles!)

The best, for me, is laughing with people who were strangers just a day before.

I am a fan of the Irish saying “Anam Cara” “We came as strangers; we lave as friends”

What Makes a Retreat Different?

People sometimes ask me what happens on one of our retreats.

The answer is...a little bit of everything.

We practice yoga. We spend time outdoors. We journal. We have meaningful conversations, enjoy incredible meals, and create space to rest. We also have fun. The ice baths are a perfect example. Almost everyone says, "I'm not doing that," and then ends up encouraging everyone else by the end.

There isn't pressure to share more than you're comfortable sharing, and there isn't an expectation that you'll leave as a completely different person.

The goal has never been to create dramatic transformations. The goal is to create an environment where people feel supported enough to reconnect with themselves.

Over the years, I've watched people leave feeling more rested, more grounded, and more connected. Not because the retreat changed their lives in a week or weekend, but because it gave them the time and space to pay attention again, to feel joy, to connect. To try something new.

That kind of change tends to stay with you long after you go home.

At Oak Tree Counseling and Wellness, that's always been my hope for these retreats. To create a space where people feel welcomed, supported, and cared for. A place where you can step away from everyday life for a few days, reconnect with yourself, and return home feeling a little more like yourself again.