May 9-13, 2023
Write to Heal Retreat
Civana Wellness Resort & Spa
Carefree, Arizona
Embrace self-care and
reframe difficult memories through
expressive writing
—A Writing & Wellness Retreat—
Designed for HealinG
Backed by Science
Writers of ALL levels & genres welcome
Experience the transformative, healing power of evidence-based expressive writing
Break the creative blocks holding you back
Rest. Renew. Rediscover your authentic voice.
What Happens at a Write-To-Heal Retreat?
Testimonials
Schedule Team Resort Lodging Dining Getting There Cost FAQs Contact Disclaimer Civana Live Q&A Sessions Donate to Our Mission Request Info
Register
Registration Closed April 7, 2023
During your Write to Heal Retreat at Civana,
you will…
• …enjoy a 5 day/4 night writing retreat from May 9-13 nestled in the Sonoran Desert, just outside Scottsdale, Arizona at Civana Wellness Resort & Spa. A discounted room rate is also offered for up to 3 days before and after the retreat
• …receive a welcome bag including a handmade journal, local treats, and a stainless steel Civana water bottle
• …discover the science behind expressive writing’s power to heal, multiple tools for resilience, and the healing power of meditation
• …spend time immersed in a beautiful, inspired, supportive environment, engaged in the power of writing
• …participate in your choice of 2 daily wellness activities from a list of 100+ weekly options
• …connect with a community of women embracing their individual wellness journeys
• …immerse yourself in a succulent-studded desert setting that fosters creative thinking and optimism
• …eat delicious, healthy meals, including 3 group dinners at — and a $300 resort food & beverage credit for — two signature restaurants focused on regionally-inspired, seasonally-resonant, wellness-focused menus
• …enjoy Civana’s unparalleled service and accommodations
• …rest your body and renew your spirit
• …rediscover, embrace, and celebrate your inner voice
• …access 5000 sq ft of fitness, yoga, meditation spaces, athletic courts, and nearby hiking/biking
• …nurture your sense of self-trust
• …explore Civana’s Four Pillars of Wellness: Movement, Spa, Nourishment, and Discovery
• …learn how to imbue writing into your daily routine to help process difficult events and find inner peace
Screenshot courtesy Civana Wellness Resort & Spa
The Write To Heal Mission
Compassionate support offered through
multi-dimensional approaches to
writing and wellness, in the warmth of community.
Schedule
Getting There
Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) is 34 miles from the property.
Scottsdale Airport (SDL/SCF) is 17 miles from the property.
The local private airport SkyRanch at Carefree (18AZ) is .9 miles from the property.
If you rent a car at the airport, parking is free at the resort.
If not, you can also take a service like Lyft/Uber (we recommend sharing one with another Write to Heal Retreat attendee to save money). Finally, Civana Wellness Resort & Spa can help with Airport Transfers.
Civana Wellness Resort & Spa
Nestled in the Sonoran Desert, Civana is 35 miles from the Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX)
Meet the Team
Christine Wolf
Award-Winning Writer, Founder & Host of Write To Heal Retreats
Your host, Christine Wolf is an award-winning writer, memoir coach, and founder of Write To Heal Retreats. Passionate about community-building and science-based, therapeutic writing techniques, Wolf believes we’re better able to navigate life’s challenges through the powers of human connection and writing.
Christine began journaling at the age of seven. After college, she spent a decade in marketing, then earned a Master’s degree in teaching before launching her professional writing career from her kitchen table at the age of 40.
Since then, her work’s been featured on CNN and HuffPost Live, as well as in the Chicago Tribune, the Chicago Sun-Times, Runner’s World, ChicagoNow, Better Humans, Invisible Illness, and other outlets, almost always exploring topics of emotional depth, including relationships, mental health, grief, loss, trauma, and advocacy.
In 2019, Wolf founded Writers’ Haven Evanston, a cooperative writing space for women. In 2022, she launched her free newsletter on Substack, Writers’ Haven by Christine Wolf. She’s a performing member with Short Story Theatre and Telling Stories, and has appeared on the stages of Mortified Chicago, Louder Than A Mom, and at The Moth — where she was named StorySLAM champion in June 2022.
When not coaching her memoir clients, you can find Christine working on her own memoir about sisterhood lost and found, training for the next Chicago Marathon, or trying to stay awake while watching TV with Eric. www.christinewolf.com
Angie Stewart
Trauma-Sensitive Workshop Facilitator
Angie Stewart is a master facilitator who leads with a dynamic spirit and contagious, inspirational energy. Her savvy, engaging style promotes and encourages audiences toward progressive, actionable, tangible gains.
Angie is the Regional Director for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for Michigan, Georgia, and Florida at Trinity Health, as well as the Principal, Co-Founder, and Chief Learning Officer of Ethoshive, a consulting firm focused on interpersonal growth and transformation.
A certified facilitator with The Center for Appreciative Inquiry, Angie holds a BA in Intercultural studies. She’s an avid photographer, writer, 3-time marathoner, and lover of life.
About her own writing journey, Angie says,
“My exploration and experimentation with the power of the pen to heal began quite naturally at a young age and continued throughout my young adult life, writing my way through, what seemed to me, a tremendous amount of loss, including my parents' divorce and the loss of my mom, grandparents, and sister. Later in life, writing would prove a most valuable tool as I slowly emerged from hiding my true self to owning, embracing, and celebrating my identity as a member of the LGBTQ community.”
Cathy Clarke
Clinical Certified Trauma Specialist, Art Therapist, Workshop Leader — Mandalas for Meditation and Healing & Trauma Processing and Recovery
Cathy Clarke helps people deconstruct their old, destructive narratives, encouraging them to reconstruct new, empowering outlooks that lead them toward healing, wholeness, and post-traumatic growth. Registered guests receive Cathy’s Write to Heal Mindfulness Toolkit, a trauma-informed resource designed to help better understand our human, instinctive responses to chronic and traumatic stress. Among many other things, the toolkit helps to identify nervous system dysregulation (and its impact on physical and mental well-being) — an essential skill for regaining and maintaining physical and emotional balance to better navigate the emotional challenges in everyday life.
A licensed art therapist and former LPC, Cathy is also a Certified Domestic Violence Counselor and Certified Clinical Trauma Professional. Through her Transforming Therapeutic Spaces Initiative, Cathy has transformed therapeutic environments to help students, therapists, and staff to manage their daily stressors.
Cathy’s artist talks and exhibits include After the Jump: A Survivor’s Healing Journey After Domestic Violence (Harper College, Elmhurst College, & Friendship Village), Material Vocabularies (The Silver Room, Chicago), and The Art of Connection (Sullivan Galleries of The Art Institute of Chicago).
Cathy is a mother, trauma survivor, advocate, storyteller, liberator, meaning maker, and a perpetual student of life. She believes that when we see ourselves as creative forces through writing, visual arts, drama, or other expressive outlets, we begin to understand that we have created this world together — and we have the power to re-create it together — in healthier and more sustainable ways.
Mar Wolf
Book & Papermaker
Mar Wolf is an American writer with trainsets in film, publication, literary translation [Sp.], art books and multi-media pieces.
Published in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Austin, Philadelphia and Melbourne, Wolf’s work delineates memory and imperative understanding of the hazy miasma that each recollection gains when rolled through again, tapping into a confluence of mediums to express the strata and freefall in senescent misrecollection.
Her work in bookmaking aims to deconstruct and rework memory, using recycled materials and found items to forge new means of expression.
Mar’s tenets surrounding healing begin and end with letting go — her paper-making origins culminated with the physical destruction of trauma in the form of paper and photo items, making space for a clean slate and openness toward rewriting a story from a new and informed perspective.
Currently based in New York, Mar spends her time teaching book and papermaking in Bronx public schools, while working personally on her established chapbook series Susie Q. Click here for Mar’s website
Emma Vivian
Writer, Young Breast Cancer Survivor, and Young Adult Cancer Advocate
Emma Vivian is a writer, young breast cancer survivor, and young adult cancer advocate. Originally from England, she and her husband moved in 2014 to Los Angeles, where Emma worked as a Music Contractor before her diagnosis in 2018 of aggressive breast cancer at the age of 29. Six months into her treatment, Emma's childhood best friend died from metastatic breast cancer, prompting her to turn to writing to process her grief and survivor's guilt. She is the co-author of Cancer Sucks, You Don’t: A Guidebook for Young Adults With Cancer, due to be published in 2023. She’s also writing a memoir that details her experience of breast cancer in her twenties. Her writing has been featured in Indeed, Elephants and Tea Magazine, Stupid Cancer Stories, and FabFitFun’s online blog.
Passionate about supporting the adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer community, she volunteers for Young Survival Coalition, an organization for young women with cancer. Emma organizes monthly meetups for young women with breast cancer in the greater Los Angeles area, as well as serving as the Chair of the UCLA Hospital AYA advisory board. She has a PGCE in Primary Education and a BA Hons in Music for which she was valedictorian of her graduating year. When not writing, Emma loves devouring transformative memoirs, singing sad songs, and going to agility classes with her puppy/land-shark Flynn.
Emma believes healing to be the process of finding — then walking — the path which connects the old self with the new self.
Gina DeLeo-Stamey
Certified Life Coach and Certified Reiki III Advanced Master, Inspired Life Now
Gina DeLeo-Stamey is a life coach, reiki master specializing in self-worth, and owner of Inspired Life Now. Gina believes that everyone has the answers within, and her approach is to help you uncover them.
Since the age of 19, Gina has trained with spiritual gurus, Buddhist leaders, and renowned coaches and healers to form her well-rounded approach to bridging spirituality and daily life, helping her clients find their magic. Gina guides her clients inward, helping them to gain clarity, increase their capacity for self-love and acceptance, and uncover the soul's desires.
Having come from a drug-ridden childhood in L.A., Gina has made it her life's journey to reach her full potential as a human being and help others do the same. She believes that each person has a unique gift to share, and hopes to help as many people as possible realign with that gift. Her powerful guidance has helped many on their quests for happiness, and in the process, has helped clients feel more connected, whole, and grounded.
Gina believes that identifying your destination helps to clarify your direction — and that a huge step in becoming crystal clear about your soul's desire involves writing.
Registered guests receive a 45-minute, post-retreat, remote coaching session with Gina, in which you'll work together to identify a vision of the future you desire as well as aspects of your life that you hope to expand.
FAQs
WHAT’S INCLUDED?
Before the Retreat:
45-minute, Pre-Retreat, One-on-One with Christine Wolf via Zoom
During the Retreat:
5 days/4 nights at Civana Wellness Resort & Spa in Carefree, Arizona, located 34 miles from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) and 27 miles from Scottsdale
Your choice of King, Double Queen, or Double Queen Patio, each with a terrace
Science-backed expressive journaling exercises led by award-winning writer and memoir coach, Christine Wolf
Workshops led by experts and professionals in trauma-informed care, writing, and art therapy
2 daily choices from 70+ weekly wellness and fitness programs, 5 fitness & movement studios, 17+ wellness guides, 20+ acres of land to roam & explore
Guided writing sessions to move through blocks
Welcome gift
One-Hour Welcome Reception on Tuesday, 5/9 at 6:00 p.m.
3 group dinners at the resort (Wed/Thur/Fri), plus a $300 Civana food & beverage credit to help cover the remainder of your meals
Breakfast & Lunch on your own (apply your $300 food & beverage credit). Spend these times as you wish: grab something to go and take a walk around the beautiful grounds; order room service and spend time writing, reading, or napping on your terrace; enjoy lunch at the spa pool; meet other Write to Heal Guests at one of the 2 resort restaurants…
Complimentary wireless Internet in guestrooms, meeting spaces, and throughout the resort
Complimentary parking
Saltwater pool, complimentary use of onsite athletic courts and equipment, nearby hiking, and complimentary bike use
After the Retreat
A 45-minute remote session with Certified Life Coach Gina De-Leo Stamey
WHAT’S NOT INCLUDED?
An obligation to clean up after or take care of others (woo hoo!)
Travel Insurance (highly recommended)*
Airfare and travel to and from the retreat venue
Accommodations off-site if you need to leave due to illness
Dinner on Tuesday, 5/9, and any dining not covered in the retreat schedule (but use your $300 food & beverage credit!)
Spa treatments & class upgrades
Alcohol/Taxes/Service Charges
MORE QUESTIONS…
Q: Is this retreat for women only?
A: Yes, this particular retreat is designed for guests who identify as women.
Q: What’s the weather like in Carefree, Arizona, in May?
A: Temps average between 93.6 to 63.9 F (34.2 to 17.7 C), so bring your hat and sunscreen, plan to hydrate, and do your best to pack accordingly. Pool and exercise attire are always acceptable at Carefree. Feel free — but do not feel an obligation — to dress up for our evening dinners. Consider bringing an extra layer or two for comfort.
Q: May I bring a non-retreat guest?
A: Yes. A non-retreat guest may share your room for an additional $150/night. Both guests will enjoy the same access to resort amenities (you’ll each have access to the resort amenities and 2 daily, complimentary daily wellness activities per person). Your non-retreat guest is responsible for their own food and beverage costs.
Q: May I share a room with another retreat attendee to save costs?
A: Yes. Depending on the room you select and the number of guests, we can let you know the price. The savings will translate only to the lodging portion of your price, and each guest pays the same, individual amount for food/programming.
Q: How do I get from the airport to the resort?
A: You have several options.
Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) is 34 miles from the property.
Scottsdale Airport (SDL/SCF) is 17 miles from the property.
The local private airport SkyRanch at Carefree (18AZ) is .9 miles from the property.
If you rent a car at the airport, parking is free at the resort.
If not, you can also take a service like Lyft/Uber (we recommend sharing one with another Write to Heal Retreat attendee to save money). Finally, Civana Wellness Resort & Spa can help with Airport Transfers.
Q: Is a deposit required?
A: Yes. A $500 non-refundable deposit is required to reserve your spot.
Q: Do you offer a payment plan?
A: Yes. Contact us to talk about specifics.
Q: How many attendees will there be?
A: We’re limiting this retreat to 10 guests.
Q: What are the resort rooms like?
A: Choose between a Double Queen Patio, Double Queen, or Single King Room.
Q: How do I book this retreat?
A: Registration Opens Soon! Reach out to let us know you’d like info about registration and Early Bird Discounts.
Q: Can I explore the area while I’m at the Write to Heal Retreat?
A: Absolutely! The town of Carefree, Arizona is a 17-minute walk from the resort. To maximize your time at the retreat (and to take advantage of all the resort’s amenities), we suggest exploring Carefree and the surrounding area either Tuesday evening, 5/9, after our brief welcome reception, or on the day you head back home.
Q: Website for Civana?
A: Here you go
Q: What are the resort policies?
A: Here you go
Q: Address for Civana?
A: 37220 Mule Train Road Carefree, AZ 85377
Q: If I decide to skip a meal or eat offsite or pass on a workshop, will there be a discount?
A: Unfortunately, no. We’ve taken great care in planning what we hope will be a self-contained event for you, with a balance of independence and community, and we’ve planned our budget accordingly. You’re always free to attend what you like and to skip what doesn’t serve you. You’re also welcome to leave the resort at any time (that sounds more ominous than it should, right?), but your Write to Heal Retreat cost will not change. Thank you for understanding.
Q: Do we do most things as a group during the Retreat? How much alone time will I get? How much writing time will I get?
A: Our 5 days and 4 nights are designed with the flexibility to maximize your daily needs and mood.
• You get to decide which wellness courses you’ll take (or skip them altogether).
• You get to pick from 2, daily, Write to Heal Workshops.
• You get to choose what to do for breakfast and lunch. Sleep in? Room service? Dine poolside? Eat alone? Gather with others?
• You can decide to add Spa services or a 1:1 onsite meeting with Christine for an extra charge.
We’ll share three dinners: Two communal dinners on Wednesday/Thursday (7:00 pm), and a plated, Farewell dinner on Friday (8:00 pm).
As far as writing time, that’ll all depend on how much you’d like to fit in. Are you an early riser? Are you a late-night writer? How much time do you envision sleeping in, thinking, and connecting with others? No matter how you answer, know that there’ll be several prompts and opportunities every day for expressive writing.
Q: I’ve registered! Now how do I prepare for this retreat?
A: Once registered, you’ll receive an email confirmation from Christine and an invoice for your non-refundable $500 deposit. Soon thereafter, Civana Wellness Resort & Spa will reach out to help you book your wellness classes, any spa appointments (additional charge), and travel arrangements to/from the resort (this is not included in the retreat cost). Book your classes and appointments early, as they regularly fill up.
A few weeks before your retreat, you’ll receive another email from us with packing information and other helpful details to prepare for your trip. To better serve you during the retreat, we’ll also schedule time for you to meet for 20-minutes via Zoom with Christine to discuss any questions you might have and get to know where you are in your writing and wellness journey.
Q: What’s nearby?
A: Some quick ideas:
Grocery/Pharmacies
There’s a grocery store 0.8 miles away, as well as pharmacies within 5 miles. Having stayed at Civana twice in the past, Christine can attest that, aside from leaving for a half-day, self-guided hike at Pinnacle Peak, she never needed (or wanted!) to leave the resort. During one of her visits, she developed a cold at the end of her stay and hired DoorDash to deliver decongestants in the middle of the night.
Shopping, Offsite Activities, and Nightlife
The resort itself has two small, onsite gift shops. The towns of Carefree and Cave Creek have bars, restaurants, art galleries, and shopping. Buffalo Chip Saloon in Cave Creek has bull riding and western-themed events on Wednesdays, and we’re told Pizzacata in Carefree is a fun restaurant!
More Questions?
Join Christine for a live, 30-minute Zoom Info Session to learn more — and meet other potential attendees!
Sat, March 4, 12:00p-12:30p CST Zoom Link
Sun, March 5, 10:00a-10:30a CST Zoom Link
Mon, March 6, 8:30a-9:00a CST Zoom Link
Tue, March 7, 6:00p-6:30p CST Zoom Link
Wed, March 8, 1:15p-1:45p CST Zoom Link
Thur, March 9, 10:15a-10:45a CST Zoom Link
Sat, March 11, 9:00a-9:30a CST Zoom Link
Sun, March 12, 10:00a-10:30a CST, Zoom Link
Mon, March 13, 1:00p-1:30p CST, Zoom Link
Tues, March 14, 8:00a-8:30a CST, Zoom Link
Wed, March 15 thru Wed, March 22, 10:00a-10:30a CST, Zoom Link
Thur, March 23, 12:00p-12:30p CST, Zoom Link
Fri, March 24 thru Mon, March 27, 10:00a-10:30a CST, Zoom Link
Tue, March 28, 11:00a-11:30a CST, Zoom Link
Cost
$4500
$500 non-refundable deposit reserves your spot
REGISTRATION CLOSES
APRIL 7, 2023
Includes your choice of
King, Double Queen Room, or Accessible Double Queen Patio Room
Payment Plans Available if Registered by 4/7
Is price a barrier? Please let us know and we’ll do our best to help…
Send a message to Christine
*Deposits are non-refundable
Cancellations, Refunds, and Other Info
We HIGHLY recommend that all participants get travel and trip cancellation / interruption insurance, and check to see how the insurers handle COVID-19. Your retreat deposit is 100% non-refundable. If you cancel your retreat registration for any reason 60 days or more before the retreat (before March 10, 2023), we will return 75% of any fees paid less your non-refundable deposit and payment processing fees. If you cancel within 60 days of the retreat (March 10, 2023 or later), any fees paid cannot be returned unless there is a waitlist and your empty spot is filled; if so, we’ll refund 75% of your portion of the payments you’ve made (less your non-refundable deposit) after the retreat concludes. If not, and we are able to offer you a credit, you must use your credit within 18 months of cancelation. We can only offer refunds if we can fill empty slots and our providers also refund monies to us. If you cancel within 40 days of the retreat (March 30 or later), you will not be refunded/credited. You may, however, sell or give your spot to someone else.
If the retreat needs to be postponed, we will make every attempt to reschedule. While we present our information in good faith, sometimes things happen that are beyond our control. Circumstances may force us to change certain aspects of the retreat; in such a case, we’ll do our best to offer a comparable alternative.
* In the event of unexpected events such as natural disasters, pandemic surges, closures, etc., we’ll reschedule our retreat and apply your funds to the rescheduled event. Because of the preparation, care, and time that goes into this retreat, rescheduling is the best option. If we cannot offer a suitable time to reschedule, we will offer you a full refund and/or credit towards a future retreat. Please note that changes made to transportation and airfare are your responsibility. For all of these reasons and more, particularly those we cannot foresee, purchasing travel insurance is highly recommended.
Lodging
During your 5 day/4 night stay, you’ll enjoy a peaceful and beautifully appointed room with a terrace. Select from a King, Double Queen, or Double Queen Patio.
King and Double Queen Rooms are located throughout the resort.
Double Queen Patio Rooms are located on the ground floor of Building C (scroll up or down to see Civana Map). While the Double Queen Patio rooms are around the corner from the pool and may have a slightly less desirable view than some rooms, many Double Queen Patio rooms are larger than the standard King and Double Queen rooms. Moreover, Double Queen Patio rooms have large, ground-level patios as well as dedicated Civana bikes with which to explore the area.
Once registered, you’ll want to contact Civana to select your 2 daily wellness experiences for Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday (these 8 wellness experiences are included in your Write To Heal Retreat cost), as these classes book far in advance. Here’s a peek at the weekly class schedule. And, for an additional charge, you can also add Spa services to your stay.
Screenshot courtesy Civana Wellness Resort & Spa
Food & Beverage
At CIVANA, guests have the delightful adventure of enjoying two warmly inviting and wondrously inventive restaurants led by an incredible culinary team. Breakfast and lunch at CIVANA are meant to sustain guests through an active day. Enjoy hyper-seasonal offerings and high-vibe food at Seed, CIVANA’s cafe and specialty market. As the sun begins to set, enjoy a change of venue at Terras, the resort’s signature dinner destination, offering a delightfully fresh and modern take on regionally inspired cuisine.
Write-to-Heal Retreat guests enjoy 3 dinners (Wed/Thur/Fri). Apply your $300 Food & Beverage credit as you with to 4 breakfasts and 3 lunches as your daily schedule allows. F&B credit can also be used for room service. F&B credit does not cover taxes/alcohol.
Note: There’s no formal dinner scheduled on check-in day, Tuesday, 5/9. You can a) join those who choose to dine at Terras that night (use your F&B credit), b) enjoy a quiet night in with room service (use your F&B credit), or c) head to downtown Carefree or Cave Creek to explore the local cuisine.
Civana’s Four Pillars of Wellness
Pillar 1 — Movement: Every day, you’re invited to participate in 2 of more than a dozen complimentary movement and fitness classes - everything from a morning hike and aerial yoga to myofascial release and TRX training. There's something for everyone. (And if not moving is your idea of wellness, Civana has three pools on property, all within reach of a snack or cocktail. See, that's wellness, too.
Pillar 2 — Spa: While at Civana, book personal time at the state-of-the-art spa, with 22 treatment rooms offering a wide range of therapeutic and rejuvenating treatments focused on healing through water. The Aqua Vitality circuit — which contains Civana’s Kneipp walk, Sanarium, and Cold Deluge — coupled with a Watsu therapy pool, 25-meter pool, sundeck, salon, and more, will leave you feeling relaxed and rejuvenated.
Pillar 3 — Nourishment: Civana’s culinary philosophy is born from the belief that true health is grounded in nature. Therefore, the Write to Heal culinary offerings are plant-rich (not exclusive to plants) and the food is seasonal, offering a broad range of menu options suitable for everyone.
Pillar 4 — Discovery: Civana understands wellness as a commitment to providing paths of change, growth, and discovery, be it an appreciation for the natural beauty around us, new experiences or relationships, or a deeper understanding of the self. Whether your version of wellness is a glass of wine with a friend or meditation on the yoga lawn, Civana is committed to providing the possibility for you to checkout changed, if even just a little - to leave more than when you arrived.
Photo courtesy Civana Wellness Resort & Spa
Weather & Conditions
Average May weather temperatures in Carefree, AZ range from 93.6 to 63.9 F (34.2 to 17.7 C). Prepare for hot, dry, sunny outdoor temps and air-conditioned rooms. Hydration is critical, and you’ll sign a release acknowledging you’re aware of the risks of overheating.
Disclaimer
The WRITE TO HEAL RETREAT IS NOT TREATMENT. The Write to Heal Retreat is neither a clinical nor a medical program. Attendees acknowledge that the retreat team will share personal learnings and opinions which are not to be interpreted as therapeutic advice. The intention of this Write to Heal Retreat is to offer a supportive and informative environment of discovery, with a focus on, but not exclusive to, expressive writing. As such, attendees will, at times, receive prompts or be asked to write about challenging and/or difficult memories which, may, at times, result in painful feelings and emotions. Attendees are responsible for managing their feelings and for participating in the retreat activities to the extent they feel safe and comfortable. Attendees acknowledge that every attendee will have a unique response to the activities, prompts, discussions, and offerings during this multidimensional retreat. Attendees acknowledge that, should they not feel safe or comfortable with or about an activity or a suggestion offered during the retreat, the attendees are responsible for communicating their feelings and are under no obligation to partake or continue with any of the activities offered. Attendees nevertheless acknowledge that no refunds will be extended for any portions of the retreat which attendees choose to decline, withdraw from, or find dissatisfactory. Attendees acknowledge they register and attend this retreat willingly and with the desire to spend time in the company of others who may express their own life challenges and struggles, and that some of the conversations and times of sharing may be difficult or uncomfortable to hear. Despite their personal backgrounds and experiences as professionals, the Write to Heal Retreat team members do not serve in this capacity as doctors, therapists, counselors, or advisors. Their opinions are their own, and Write to Heal attendees acknowledge they may accept or reject the materials, discussions, and suggestions offered during the retreat.
Photo courtesy Civana Wellness Resort & Spa
Donate To Our Mission
Like what you see and want to see more? Want to help offset the cost of an attendee’s trip? Care to support our efforts financially? We appreciate building communities of resilience and welcome donations in any amount. Your contribution encourages us to keep researching, facilitating, and offering healing experiences to women working through challenging memories of trauma and upheaval.
Sorry — Registration Closed April 7, 2023
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Testimonials Following a Write to Heal Retreat
“I'm so glad I got to have this experience. It has been the highlight of my year and it was such a special week to devote to my own self-care and healing. The resort was amazing and I loved everything I learned --- so much I wasn't even expecting. I also really enjoyed the structure of the retreat --- how flexibility was encouraged and how it was a mix of group activities with alone time and the wellness activities. I felt so refreshed and energized when I got back home. But by far, the people I met made this so special. I subscribe to several of their Substacks now and love keeping up with their writing journeys. One of the best retreats I've ever attended.”
—Client Testimonial, August, 2023
“I wanted to reach out and extend the depth of gratitude I feel for whatever financial magic and tender hearted grace that you made happen to allow me to say yes to the amazing retreat. As you know, it was a stretch for me in more ways than one. I was literally shocked by how capable I was while there, and it literally felt like parts of me that had gone dormant (that I honestly thought were gone for good) came back to life. In my recovery process over the last 4 years following my car accident, I have been so focused on my own healing that I thought I had lost the healer part of me ( being able to be there for others in a meaningful way), especially in regards to being engaged with others and being of service. On the plane back from the retreat, I remember thinking “I’ve still got it.” Coming through the fires of the last 4 years, there is now a depth and embodiment that I didn’t have. Thank you for helping me to reveal and remember my usefulness again. I know it’s only the beginning.”
—Client testimonial, May, 2023
“I want to share today that I normally come back from vacations feeling super drained and tired. But I feel so energized today! I'm sure the lovely, peaceful Civana environment had a lot to do with it, but I think most of it is because of the community we made. I feel so propped up by everyone I met and the friendships. We gave each other power. And I feel beyond motivated about my writing. Thanks again, Christine, for this retreat. I feel so lucky to have stumbled upon this trip.”
—Client testimonial, May, 2023
“All day I’ve been reflecting on what writing has given me. It’s given me confidence in my voice and belief in my own worth. It’s helped me heal when I felt sure I’d be broken forever. It’s given me opportunities to help and support others. And now, it’s given me the privilege of meeting all of you. If not for our writing, we would never have all met to share this remarkable experience. It was by doing the ‘big scary thing’ of writing my story… something I never would have dreamt of doing a mere few years ago… that I found myself in Arizona. So, I’m making a promise to myself to keep being brave and (to quote Angie Stewart) ‘show up on the page’, because the ways in which writing has rewarded me never cease to amaze me.”
—Client testimonial, May, 2023
"Knowing Christine, I knew it would be amazing, but it was beyond my expectations, in large part due to what each of the women brought to the experience. I’m enormously grateful to have had the time with each of them.”
—Client testimonial, May, 2023
"Gratitude doesn’t seem like a big enough word to encompass what I am feeling right now. So proud of myself and all of us for taking a risk and for showing up in our true selves and being vulnerable. Thankful to Christine for envisioning and accomplishing this and bringing together a great set of facilitators and participants. I learned something(s) from each one of you. So blessed by the financial creativity that made this experience accessible. Feeling cared for in ways I didn’t know I was craving. Deeply nourished by Vitamin C (community) and Vitamin S (sisterhood). My well feels so much more full than before Tuesday. I truly feel alive and cannot believe how many new things I tried. Hoping to stay in connection outside the retreat bubble…”
—Client testimonial, May, 2023
“This experience has been giving in so many layers. I keep using the word magical but that isn't right. Magic implies we don't know how it happened, but I do. Christine brought us all together and everyone showed up as active participants willing to listen, engage, trust, and go deep and uncomfortable with women they have (in most cases) never met. And we got to take a bunch of fun classes and pampered by staff (none of whom have agreed to come home with me to fluff my pillows and feed me). I am filled with gratitude for Christine and all the presenters who came to share knowledge and actively participate, and for all of the attendees. I hope you are all able to keep this experience with you in some way as we head back into the wild.”
—Client testimonial, May, 2023
"Christine, I cannot thank you enough for offering this for us all. I know that many of us also benefited from your generosity in making it financially possible...as one of those humans, I am forever grateful. I didn't know what to expect when saying yes to this, and I honestly couldn't have guessed the many gifts that came from being here. I have spent so much time feeling alone in my grief. I don't mean unsupported...I have an incredible support system of friends and family back home. But here, I felt community in a different way. Community of writers who have been through shit and are here, showing up, offering voices and vulnerability. I felt seen in a different way. There are practical take-aways and good info to come back to, but I think the greatest gifts for me were being seen and heard... and hearing and seeing others who I might not have come across otherwise. I received something from my connections with every human here, and I treasure that. Christine and team, you created the space for all of this to happen. Thank you.”
—Client testimonial, May, 2023
Things attendees report leaving behind as a result of a Write to Heal Retreat:
"Shame”
"Guilt”
"Imposter Syndrome and Imposter-ness”
"Not Enough-ness”
"Self Doubt”
"Self-loathing”
"Belief that I must do everything by myself”
"Making decisions from a place of fear”
"The lie of scarcity”
"Giving a shit about someone shitty”
"Judgment”
What attendees of a Write to Heal Retreat report taking home with them:
“Hope”
"A new lease on life”
"Friendship”
"Honesty”
"The power of writing in community”
"The feeling of being in community with all these amazing women”
"Empowerment”
"Connection”
"The knowledge that self-abandonment is not an act of love”
"Empowerment”
"Connection — and the knowledge that I’m not alone in my journey”
"Hope that I can keep an open heart in times of adversity”
"Freedom”
"Curious stillness”
"Voice”
"Friendship”
"Belonging”
"Belief in myself”
"Awareness that I am a writer”