About the Retreat Experience...

The Empowered Transitions
STORMS of CHANGE Healing Retreat

You’ve done the work—therapy, retreats, journaling, processing. And still, something inside hasn’t fully landed.

You’re in the in-between: grieving, rebuilding, redefining. You’ve outgrown surface-level healing and are ready for something that meets you where you actually are—not where someone thinks you should be.

This isn’t a feel-good escape. It’s a rare opportunity to integrate the hard-earned wisdom of your journey into something embodied, lasting, and real—surrounded by people who are also doing the work, who aren’t making excuses, and who deeply get it.

The Retreat experience can produce a profound and transformative experience of healing. When coupled with the aspects of psychotherapeutics, restorative yoga, experiential learning, and a tranquil, nurturing environment, and we can safely leave the demands and confines of the narratives of our outside world and explore within. We are with others who are supportive and non-judgmental and with experienced facilitators who are extensively trained in trauma and holistic healing.

Most importantly, we can attend to our deeper needs of growing, learning, and thriving that may routinely get sidelined or ignored in the day-to-day experience of our lives.

OUR MISSION at BETTER WELLNESS RETREATS

Our mission is that of assisting people in the exploration of the full potential of the Retreat experience-- in all its healing and transcendent qualities. You can achieve deep emotional release, gain wonderful insights, and find the joy, peace, and gratitude that may previously have been elusive. Your Transitions are Empowered. You can reconnect with your deepest heartfelt desires.

Retreats are held in various locations in both the United States and abroad and will be held exclusively at the Imiloa Institute in 2025. Retreats are led by Trauma Recovery Specialist, Laura Weber Garrison, Ph.D., and further facilitated by experienced and credentialed healthcare professionals, counselors, coaches, therapists, and Holistic Health practitioners trained in psychotherapeutics.

ABOUT OUR RETREAT SITE

We'll be at the Imiloa Institute in Costa Rica in 2025.

Imiloa Institute is a stunning jungle-meets-ocean-on-a-mountain Eco-Luxury, all-inclusive location, and is truly a 5-star therapeutic haven of restorative wellness--perfect for our Empowered Transitions Retreats. As in...living in the jungle overlooking the ocean for the week... three full meals and snacks of gourmet plant-based cuisine crafted from fresh, locally sourced, wholesome ingredients every day...a caring dedicated Concierge and 'Welcome Home' staff... on-site wellness practitioners and a wellness center...waterfall and infinity pool...and so much more. Luxury airport transfers, adventure and self-care times, pampering sessions, and healing experiences are also included in the Empowered Transitions Retreat. You can preview a highlight of the Imiloa Guest Experience here.

Why Join Us?

Whether navigating life’s upheavals or seeking meaningful, lasting changes, the Storms of Change Healing Retreat offers a safe, supportive, and compassionate setting to learn and practice transformative tools, find personal clarity, and peacefully move forward with a renewed sense of resilience and connection.

What to Expect:

Immersive and safe experiences, activities, and unique intensives that will allow you to process challenges, restore hope, and reconnect with your inner strength

Trauma-informed practices and workshops to help guide you in transforming pain or difficulty into resilience, growth, and clarity

Meaningful playtime and connections that support continued healing, renewal, and a sense of shared purpose

While retreating to recalibrate is essential after life’s upheavals, we’ve created an experience that offers exactly what’s needed for restoration and growth. The Storms of Change Healing Retreat is designed to support you in gaining clarity, rediscovering inner strength, and connecting in ways that feel both meaningful and supportive. Hosted at the incredible Imiloa Institute in Costa Rica, this experience allows you to step away from daily demands and immerse yourself in a setting dedicated to your well-being where you can truly refocus and renew.

What You’ll Walk Away With...

Emotional lightness and renewed clarity
Tools to integrate, not just reflect
A deep sense of connection—to yourself, to others, to nature
Time and space to actually rest in ways that restore your system
A renewed sense of direction, purpose, and alignment

Join us for a transformative experience, where each practice is intended to nurture resilience, deepen personal insights, and inspire a renewed sense of purpose. This is your time to restore, reflect, and revitalize, with the guidance of experienced facilitators and the support of a compassionate community that honors each individual journey

Questions? Please email us at hello@betterwellnessretreats.com

The Empowered Transitions Storms of Healing Retreat is part group therapy, part individual work, and part Mastermind group. Incorporating many aspects of psychotherapy, accelerated learning, personal development, and comprehensive holistic healing techniques, the Program is experiential, fun, transformational and, if you commit yourself to fully immersing yourself in the Program and doing the work, can be incredibly life-changing.

Rates are based on the accommodations. Please see more about them here.

THE CORE LEARNINGS OF THE STORMS OF HEALING RETREAT:

Why You’ve Been Feeling Stuck—

And What Comes Next

Life after upheaval can leave you in a fog. You're no longer who you were or where you were... but not yet clear on who you're becoming or where you are going. We call this the Liminal Space.

This retreat is designed for that Liminal space, that space in-between—where healing, clarity, and reinvention are waiting.

Here’s what we’ll explore together:

🧠 Understanding the Brain-Body Impact of Trauma

How trauma reshapes your nervous system and sense of safety
Navigating the subtle (and not-so-subtle) effects of chronic stress, pain, and emotional fatigue

💔 Grief, Loss & Emotional Entanglements

The deep relationship between trauma, grief, illness, and chronic emotional weight
Tools for gently untangling sadness, guilt, shame, and the anger that hides beneath

🧘 Returning to the Wisdom of the Body

Reconnecting with your body’s intelligence through restorative somatic practices
Mindfulness, movement, and the quiet power of noticing
Rebuilding trust in your inner signals—your "body’s barometer" and intuition

🔓 Releasing Patterns That No Longer Serve

Compassionate exploration of self-sabotage, avoidance, and destructive coping
Real, lasting pathways out of stuckness—not just insights, but shifts

🌱 Resetting Your Compass

Visioning and moving toward what’s next with intention
Setting aligned goals and stepping into new phases with courage and clarity

🎭 The Power of Fun, Joy & Play in Healing

Why true transformation isn’t always heavy—it can be creative, silly, connective, and alive
Rediscovering the part of you that knows how to laugh, dance, and feel fully again

An Intimate Experience, Intentionally Designed

We intentionally limit the number of participants to create a cohesive, connected group space—where everyone is seen, supported, and safe to do the deep work. You won’t get lost in the crowd here. You’ll be held, witnessed, and invited to rise.

THE PRE-PROGRAM: PREPARATION and PRE-RETREAT SUPPORT

We'll work with you ahead of time to help map your Intentions for your time in retreat!

You'll meet with the Facilitator in person, via phone, or by Zoom for a Clarity Session before admittance to the Retreat Program and there are written pre-retreat assignments.

We want you to dive in and really get the most out of your Program and your Retreat experience.

Not only will this Pre-Program help our team better assist you in integrating your learnings while 'on campus', it will also help you to gain greater insight and will make navigating your transitions Post-Retreat easier and more productive.

ADDITIONAL SUPPORT

All Retreats also include the option for extended pre and post-counseling and small-group coaching at a discounted rate.

WORKSHOPS and PLAYTIMES WITHIN THE RETREAT PROGRAM

We'll work with habit loops, patterns, trauma, emotional regulation, behavioral changes, and the formation of new ways of being. You'll also be receiving a Workbook and a binder (and a great swag bag of goodies!) The Facilitator will be on campus during the entire time in retreat.

SOMATIC RECONNECTION, and INTENTIONAL CREATIONS

The construction--and reconstruction-- of your life story from past, to present, to future is pivotal in creating a new level of self-understanding. While we cannot change the past, we can, indeed, change our subconscious and somatic responses to those matters which no longer serve us and begin intentionally living a purpose-filled and purpose-driven life.

RESTORATIVE YOGA and MEDITATION

Our Retreats include daily practices to help improve your ability to navigate your day-to-day life outside of the Retreat. New to yoga, mindfulness, and meditation? No problem! Dr. Garrison and the team will break the practices down into super easy-to-follow components.

NOURISHMENT

Gourmet-plated plant-based meals, snacks, and beverages are included throughout the Retreat. As a participant in The Storms of Change Healing Retreat, you'll also have unlimited access to the Wellness Bar for incredible local coffee and signature smoothies if you wish (this is separate from the Retreat fee.)

RITUALS, EXPERIENCES, ACTIVITIES, CONNECTIONS

We'll incorporate some amazing experiences including extended Sound Healing sessions, a Blue Clay Waterfall experience, and other immersions, activities, and ceremonies. We'll also have a very special closing ceremony.

THE SPA SERVICES: PAMPERING AND SELF-CARE

Imiloa has an incredible spa program that offers a range of spa services tailored to individual needs, including shamanic, Ayurvedic, Swedish, facials, relaxation, and Thai yoga massages. Their practitioners are consistently rated among the very best! (These services are optional and not included in the retreat package. )

WEATHER and TERRAIN

The weather and terrain in Costa Rica offer a perfect backdrop for the Storms of Healing Retreat.

Costa Rica's climate boasts warm days and slightly cooler evenings. With temperatures reaching highs around 85°F and lows around 75°F, you'll find the conditions ideal for relaxation and exploration between activities, workshops, and sessions.

Nestled in the breathtaking Savegre mountains, you'll have the opportunity to immerse yourself in the rugged terrain while surrounded by pristine nature. Imiloa is situated on approximately thirty privately held acres.

So, please be prepared to traverse jungle paths that include varying inclines, stairs, rocks, and exposed tree roots. We recommend wearing sturdy footwear such as sneakers or strapped sandals like Chacos, Keens, or Tevas for stability and comfort. While the trails cater to a range of fitness levels, a basic level of physical capability is recommended to fully appreciate the experience.

During your stay at Imiloa, expect also to be embraced by nature's elements, including seasonal rain, gentle breezes, geckos, lizards, and yes, even the jungle insects! (You might even see the resident sloth!) You'll also find that there is an incredible symphony of wildlife sounds at Imiloa, from the playful chatter of monkeys and parrots to the melodies of other tropical birds and the soothing hum of cicadas.

Imiloa Institute is simply magical—a dedicated, intentionally designed five-star retreat center where luxury meets the untamed beauty of the rainforest. As you move along jungle paths alive with the vibrant sights and sounds of nature, each step invites a deeper connection with yourself and your surroundings. Here, nature isn’t just a backdrop; it’s woven into the retreat experience.

CEUs: Continuing Education Units for Healthcare Workers and Yoga Professionals!

For Yoga Alliance registered teachers AND I-AYT Professionals, 35 hours of continuing education are available with this retreat.

Questions? Please email us at hello@betterwellnessretreats.com

READY TO MAKE MAJOR CHANGES?

We'd love to have you join us! Our Groups are very limited in size and sell out quickly. The 'Book My Retreat' button will take you to the registration form and walk you through the fine print and process of booking and payment.

Once we receive your deposit, we'll schedule a Clarity Session and get you started!

YOUR INVESTMENT:

The Program and Retreat are all-inclusive and the Booking price is based on your choice of accommodations.