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GRIEF RELIEF: MEANINGFUL CONNECTION FOR BROKEN-HEARTED PARTS

What is the retreat about?

In this creative, experiential 5-day retreat, you are invited to gently tend to parts deeply impacted by the death of someone dear to you.  Whether your loss occurred recently, long ago or some time in between; you are warmly welcome here.

 

Grieving can be lonely. Important losses are too often inadequately witnessed or held.  Parts holding great pain are frequently shushed, shamed, or exiled by families and societies that do not know how to hold space for this kind of pain.  

 

Relegated to isolated shadowlands, suffering can fester and grow.  Well-meaning protective parts build defensive walls to keep the pain away, but in this guarded state, healing can become elusive.  We believe that hope, healing, and the pain of grief can co-exist.

 

In our caring retreat group, grievers will explore what healthy grief looks like and will learn to welcome tender parts into the warm embrace of SELF-led connection and compassion. Retreat participants can explore meaningful new pathways towards making sense of their grief and reconstructing a meaningful life, inclusive of tender or broken-hearted parts.

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What to expect from this Grief Relief:

Within the safety of our co-created healing circle, we will hold space for tending to the layered complexity of grief. In large and small groups, you will experience professionally guided opportunities to talk, journal, create, move, and reflect on the unique meaning of your losses. You will be gently guided to move into SELF-led connection with vulnerable, broken-hearted parts, and with our community of grievers.  

 

Our group will experience a variety of creative ways to deepen meaningful understanding of your unique grieving parts and explore new opportunities for grief relief. Choices will be given frequently so you may take more time with one creative exercise or adapt a guided experience to meet your unique needs best. There will be plenty of opportunities to work with hurting parts and to lean into parts who guide respite efforts.  All your beautiful grieving parts are welcome.

Recommended reading: 

Retreat Requirements & Recommended Readings:

To have a meaningful retreat participants should have a readiness to explore the death of a significant person and should already have a basic understanding of the Internal Family Systems Model. 

Schwartz, R. C., & Sweezy, M. (2020). Internal family systems therapy (2nd ed.). The Guilford Press.

Schwartz, R.C. (2020) No bad parts. Louisville, CO: Sounds True. 

Not Your Ordinary Parts Podcast-IFS and Grief Discussion with Lara Krawchuk

https://youtu.be/nEiil0sDeno?si=rhnO-75KJWBjLVEV

The Validation Lounge Podcast- IFS and Grief Discussion with Lara Krawchuk

https://www.audacy.com/podcast/the-validation-lounge-all-parts-are-welcome-with-sasha-jenkin-0fbaa/episodes/the-validation-lounge-all-parts-are-welcome-episode-8-with-lara-krawchuk-eba19

We Can Do Hard Things Podcast-Schwartz Interview and Demo

https://open.spotify.com/episode/5Zchpu26WxiCRV9GwuTHRk?si=DvpCFP0XTgirMguZHyaEqA

The Retreat Location

The Retreat will take place at the Guesthouse, in Chester, Connecticut. 

The Guest House was built as a country inn and offers beautiful and comfortable ensuite accommodations while maintaining a feeling of serenity throughout.

Our Retreat Participants enjoy the convenience of meeting rooms, dining halls and guest rooms located under one roof, while enjoying the comfort and privacy of individual spacious guest rooms, each with their own full bathroom.

 

Every guest room is decorated with elegant and functional furnishings, and no two rooms are exactly alike. High-speed WiFi and air conditioning are available in all guest rooms and throughout the building.

 

The Guest House is a beautifully renovated country inn that combines functionality with comfort. It has many features that you can enjoy throughout the retreat week such as:

  • Facility-Wide High Speed WiFi

  • Private baths in each of Guest Rooms

  • Fully air conditioned and heated guest rooms, with most using environmentally friendly, individually controlled HVAC units

  • A fitness center featuring aerobic exercise equipment, free and fixed weights, a ping pong table, and a sauna.

  • The Guest Amenities Closet has all the little things you might miss from home: Irons & Ironing Boards, Fans, Bath Mats & Extra Towels, etc

  • Bottomless Coffee & Tea served daily in their Dining Room.

  • Three healthy, expertly prepared meals per day with most menus adapted to many common allergies such as gluten & lactose intolerance.

  • Wooded walking trails on property, with many hiking trails very close by.

  • Two large open fields, perfect for yoga or yard games – Weather permitting.

  • Full-size tennis court

  • A meditation Labyrinth.

  • A lending library

  • A Gift Shop & Necessities Store

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Retreat particulars

Applications are currently open for this retreat in Chester, Connecticut, USA from 3rd - 7th of November, 2025

Please be advised that this is not a formal training. This is strictly a retreat for your own personal growth and well-being.

The retreat will take place over 5 days starting on Monday, November 3rd and concluding on Friday, November 7th, 2025

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There is an afternoon off on Wednesday to allow participants to process, rest and relax or sightsee. Chester is a beautiful town located only 5 miles from the retreat centre and Long Island Sound is only 12 miles away for those that wish to visit the beach. There will also be some local hiking tours available at an additional cost. 

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This retreat is limited to 30 participants and all participants must have a strong knowledge and understanding of IFS to get the best benefit from this retreat. An application form will be available to you once you register your interest and your place on the retreat will only be confirmed once a $500 non-refundable deposit is received. Please do not make travel arrangements until your registration has been fully accepted by Souliology and we formally confirm in writing that the retreat is proceeding. Should we not reach the required numbers for the retreat to proceed, we will refund your non-refundable deposit and any other fees you have paid towards the retreat cost only.

Any travel costs to the retreat location in Chester, Connecticut, USA is the sole responsibility of the participant. We also highly recommend you take our trip cancelation insurance to cover your financial investment should personal circumstances prevent you from attending the retreat.

IMPORTANT: Please read our FAQS page on this website for further guidelines and information on Covid, the arrangements we have in place in the unlikely event the retreat is cancelled due or in the unlikely event the retreat leader is not in a position to attend. The FAQS page also provides further general information which you may find useful when planning your trip. If after reading the FAQS page you have any further questions, please feel free to email us at contact@souliology.com.

GRIEF RELIEF: MEANINGFUL CONNECTION FOR BROKEN-HEARTED PARTS

Five Day Retreat Schedule – This is a broad outline of what the schedule for the week will look like but it is subject to change at the retreat leaders discretion.

 

3rd - 7th November, 2025

Monday

Tuesday & Thursday

Wednesday 

11am – 1pm

1pm 

2pm – 6pm 

6.30pm

8am – 9am

9am – 12pm

12.15pm

3pm – 6pm

6.30pm

8am – 9am

9am – 1pm

1pm

1pm – 7pm

7pm

Morning Session

Lunch

Afternoon Session

Dinner

Breakfast

Morning Session

Lunch

Afternoon Session

Dinner

Breakfast

Morning Session

Lunch

Time off to rest, relax or sightsee 

Dinner

Friday

8am – 9am

9am – 1pm

1pm

Breakfast

Morning Session

Lunch & Goodbyes

Please note bottomless teas/coffees will be available at all times throughout the retreat period.  

Your Investment:

Total Retreat Cost: - $2,300 (USD) per participant (single room occupancy only). 

The retreat cost includes the 5-day retreat itself with Lara Krawchuk plus 4 nights private ensuite accommodation at our charming retreat centre in beautiful Chester, Connecticut and 3 delicious meals a day to include breakfast, lunch and a delicious evening meal. Our retreat location can also cater to a variety of dietary requirements such as vegetarian, gluten free and lactose intolerant. You can indicate your preference on the registration form.

 

Retreat Payment Schedule: We are delighted to offer flexibility with our payment options. You have two choices: you can make full payment now of $2,300 (USD) or you can opt for our convenient payment plan. The payment plan breaks down the retreat cost into 3 convenient payments as follows: 

  • Payment 1:  $500 (USD) non-refundable deposit – (Due on acceptance onto the retreat).

  • Payment 2.  $1,000 (USD) per person due by the 9th of May, 2025. (This amount will be refundable until 8th, August 2025 should you decide to cancel.

  • Payment 3:  The remaining balance depending on your room type must be paid by the 8th August, 2025

Please note: There is no refund of fees over and above your non-refundable deposit for withdrawal for any reason after 8th of August, 2025.

If you register for the retreat after the specified payment deadlines outlined above, the existing payment schedule will no longer apply. Your payment schedule will either be adjusted to align with the existing payment plan, provided the payment deadlines allow, or you will be required to pay for the retreat in full.

Partners/Companions: If you wish to attend the retreat with a companion who will also attend the retreat and share accommodation together, we offer a reduced fee for both attendees. The total cost for two people to attend the full retreat and share accommodation at the retreat venue is $4,300.

Additionally, you are welcome to bring a companion who can stay at the hotel with you in shared accommodation, enjoy the set retreat meals but not attend the retreat itself.  This option incurs a supplementary charge of $900. Please ensure to indicate your preference during the registration process.

 

Please note:

  • Any companion accompanying you must be an adult over 18 years of age.

  • Children are not allowed to join you in shared accommodation during the retreat.

Possible additional charges -: 

  •  An additional $100 (USD) per person late fee for payments received after 4th April, and 4th of July, 2025.

  •  An additional $50 (USD) administrative fee for room or occupancy category changes.

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How to get there…..and more! 

Please download the attached information document which includes details about -

 

  • Getting to the retreat location in Chester, Connecticut, USA

  • Interesting places to visit while in Chester.

  • What to bring

  • Where you will be staying for the retreat week

  • The Weather

  • OUR COVID-19 Policy

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A little about Emily Duckworth, Program Assistant......

Emilee Duckworth is co-founder of Healing Perspectives, a continuing education resource for helping professionals looking to heal themselves, help their clients and heal a broken-hearted world. She loves helping newer therapists develop skills and find greater confidence in their clinical practices.

 

Emilee is also a Senior Clinical associate with Healing Concepts, LLC, offering IFS, EMDR, and Narrative psychotherapy services to clients seeking healing from wounds related to attachment trauma ruptures, grief, living losses, and religious trauma.

 

Emilee can be reached at emilee.healingperspectives@gmail.com

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A little about Lara Krawchuk……

Lara Krawchuk, MSW, LCSW, MPH is the Owner and Clinical Director of Healing Concepts, LLC (www.healingconceptsllc.com) a private counseling and consulting practice, in West Chester, Pennsylvania.  She is co-founder of Healing Perspectives, a continuing education resource for helping professionals looking to heal themselves, help their clients and heal a broken-hearted world.  She is a two-decade-long Adjunct Lecturer for the University of Pennsylvania School of Social Policy and Practice; teaching Loss Across a Lifecycle, IFS-inspired Social Work, and Advanced Clinical Practice classes to MSW students.  She is on the Practicum Faculty for Robert Neimeyer’s Portland Institute for Loss and Transition.  

 

Lara is a certified IFS therapist and Certified Consultant with a passion for sharing this amazing healing model with other professional healers.  She speaks nationally about issues of ambiguous and living losses, caregiving, end of life, grief & loss, the Internal Family Systems Theory model, the psychosocial impact of cancer, self-care for helping professionals, and trauma treatment. 

 

Lara is the author of numerous chapters and articles on creative healing for grief and living losses including The Handbook of Grief Therapies (2023), Non-Death Loss and Grief: Context and Clinical Implications (2020), and Techniques of Grief Therapy Series 2015).  Lara likes to tell people she was born to do this work and she loves it!  She can be reached at lara.healingperspectives@gmail.com

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