program
Grief to Grace is a week-long retreat for people who have experienced physical, emotional, or spiritual abuse, whether in childhood, adolescence, or as an adult. Through this retreat, participants discover the love, belonging, joy, and peace that are often missing in the lives of abuse victims. Their trauma and grief are honored with reverence, empathy, and confidentiality.
This effective and supportive healing process combines Living Scripture meditations, journaling, group discussion, facilitation, and somatic therapy using art, music, and body movement, as well as creative grief work—all of which offers a powerful healing response to the devastating impact of abuse. Grief to Grace is a powerful psychological and spiritual journey that provides safety and hope in the midst of emotional chaos. It supplies a model of care that has frequently been described as therapy for the soul.
A GROUP PROCESS
Although some participants can feel anxious about healing within a group structure, it’s actually a powerful source of support and healing. Abuse so often involves keeping secrets that feel or sound too shameful to speak about—or even to believe. But within a safely facilitated group, people realize they’re not alone. Participants share only when they feel comfortable, and everyone witnesses the suffering of one another; they provide support, encouragement, and hope. Exercises in personal retreat journals help individuals to privately reflect upon every stage of the program.
THERE IS HELP
If you have suffered abuse, you may have lived in great isolation and loneliness. You may be keeping shameful secrets. You may be afraid of being judged as unworthy, inadequate, or bad. You may have been called terrible names and have come to believe them. But none of this is true.
The truth is that something terrible happened to you and, because of a noble spirit, you have survived. The truth is that you are a child of God, “fearfully and wonderfully made.” (Psalm 139) The truth is you have a unique beauty and worth that was hidden by something terrible—but you can reclaim it.
Our retreat programs are offered in a safe, confidential, non-judgmental group format throughout the world. We understand it can be difficult to talk about what has happened, and you may be a long way from deciding to attend a retreat. That’s okay. You can still call us to learn more.
“The sense of helpless vulnerability which seemed ingrained in me has evaporated and I have a new sense of being present to myself and integrated in body, mind and spirit as never before.”
Contact us
If you or someone you love has suffered from abuse, you can reclaim your dignity and experience hope and healing. Call our hotline for immediate assistance: (610) 203-2002. If you would like to attend a Grief to Grace retreat, sponsor a participant, learn more about this program, or bring Grief to Grace to your area, contact us. We hold everything you share in complete confidence.
Download our Grief to Grace overview here
