About this Event
We warmly welcome you to join us for a nourishing & transformative Family Retreat at the beautiful Mount Madonna Retreat Center in California. This inspiring weekend workshop has been carefully crafted to guide you, your teens and young adult childreb on a journey of Self-discovery and Self-Leadership. Our team of facilitators will lead you and your family members through experiential exercises to support all of you on your path together ahead.
You’ll learn tools such as the “You-Turn”, “Parts Mapping” and “Speaking for your parts instead of from your parts”.
These tools can be helpful when you find yourself getting activated during challenging interactions. These “un-blending” tools can help you and your teens move into a deeper relationship with any activated parts of yourselves, so you can more effectively communicate your needs and truly listen - with a deep sense of calm, curiosity and compassion - to your loved ones when their parts get activated. By exploring these tools experientially, we’ll help you create opportunities for greater connection, harmony, and joy within your family. Our intention is to provide more than tools – we aim to provide experiences that can truly transform you, your loved ones and the dynamic between you.
How do I introduce this retreat to my teens?
We encourage you to connect with at least 5 other families your teen knows, and invite them to join you for the retreat. If your teen knows a few other teens who will be coming, it can make it more appealing to them. Perhaps the teens can camp in a tent together, while the parents stay in a lodge or cabin. This not only cuts the cost for you, it also offers a sense of adventure and autonomy for your teenager.
We’ll have facilitators leading three different sub-groups for pre-teens (10-13), teens (13-16) and young adults (17-23+). Please note that age groups might be adjusted depending on the ages of those who attend. We'll do our best to keep friends in the same group together.
Parents are more than welcome to come alone, without your children, for any reason, including 1) if you have very young children but are interested in learning about parenting with Self- Leadership, 2) your teen / adult children are not interested in attending, or 3) your young adults live too far away to be able to attend, but you would still like to come. We warmly welcome you attending on your own! Great benefit can still come from attending this family retreat by yourself.
Additional Activities
In addition to experiential learning through group / family activities and separate sub-group exercises, you’ll get a chance to explore optional morning / evening movement opportunities. You can choose between hiking in the redwoods, dance, or gentle yoga.
For those interested in gentle yoga, the yoga mats and props will be provided. No previous yoga experience is necessary.
Nourish your nervous system, move through stuck emotions, and become more embodied as you connect with parts of you that have been seeking your compassionate presence with restorative and yin yoga led by Jaclyn Long, MFT, Certified Yoga Teacher.
When not engaged in the workshop or enjoying the delicious, healthy food, we invite you to explore the gorgeous hiking trails lined with redwood trees in the surrounding area. The vegetarian meals are lovingly prepared by the Mount Madonna staff with delicious vegan and gluten free options. The staff cares about your dietary needs, and we encourage you to make your needs and/or preferences known when you fill out the lodging form. Email [email protected] with accommodation questions.
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Mount Madonna Center, 445 Summit Road, Watsonville, United States
USD 100.00