grief retreat:Behavior, Boundaries & Shared Values

At The Vilomah Grief Retreat, we create an environment that honors each guest’s grief journey with compassion, intention, and care. To protect the emotional safety of all participants, we ask that each guest agree to the following expectations: 

This retreat is grounded in a Christian perspective of grief, healing, and hope. While we welcome guests of all faith backgrounds, we ask that participants refrain from introducing or practicing alternative spiritual methods during the retreat, including but not limited to mediumship, oracle or tarot cards, crystals, or energy healing rituals. 

Kristie and Michelle are the designated facilitators of this retreat. While we encourage mutual support and connection, we ask that guests refrain from offering unsolicited advice, interpretations, or “answers” to others’ grief. If any concerns arise—whether personal or group-related—please bring them directly to Kristie or Michelle. 

This is a dry retreat. Alcohol and recreational substances are not permitted during your stay. The tone of the event is reflective, grounded, and sacred—we ask that all guests respect the emotional space being cultivated. Please be mindful that we are guests in a private home and must adhere to the homeowner’s policies as part of our rental agreement. 

We reserve the right to dismiss any participant who repeatedly violates group norms or creates an unsafe or disruptive environment. No refunds will be issued in such cases. This helps us ensure the integrity of the retreat and the well-being of the group as a whole. 

Guests are expected to respect the privacy and confidentiality of other participants. Personal stories and experiences shared at the retreat are not to be recorded or shared outside the group without explicit permission.

By attending, you grant Kristie and Michelle permission to take tasteful, respectful photos and/or video during the retreat for use in future materials, including websites, social media, and event promotions. These images will always reflect the dignity and sacredness of the space. 

By submitting the registration form, you acknowledge that you have read and agree to these expectations as part of your participation in The Vilomah Grief Retreat.  

 Because our retreats are intimate, small-group experiences with significant upfront costs, we use the following payment and refund policy for all registrations.

By submitting any payment (deposit or paid in full), you are stating that you have read, understood, and agree to this policy.

Payments are refundable until 60 days before the retreat start date.

After that point, all payments become strictly non-refundable, regardless of circumstance.

If you request a refund on or before the 60-day deadline:

• Your payment will be refunded in full
   
• Standard payment processing fees (if any) may be deducted
   

Refund requests must be submitted in writing (email) by the deadline.

After the 60-day mark, no refunds can be issued for any reason, including but not limited to:

• Illness or medical issues
   
• Family or work emergencies
   
• Travel delays or cancellations
   
• Changes of mind, schedule conflicts, or discomfort with the retreat content or group dynamics
   

At that stage, your payment has already been committed to venue, catering, materials, gifts, and other retreat costs that cannot be recovered.

 If you are unable to attend, you may transfer your paid spot to another guest, provided that:

• The retreat has not yet begun, and
   
• The replacement guest is also a bereaved parent who has experienced the death of their child, and
   
• The replacement guest completes all required registration forms and agrees to all retreat policies
   

You are responsible for identifying and coordinating with your replacement guest.

Payments cannot be moved to a future retreat, event, service, or product.

Each retreat is its own event with its own budget and costs.

Guests are fully responsible for arranging and covering their own travel and, where applicable, lodging.

We strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance to protect your investment in case unexpected events affect your ability to attend. Travel issues or personal emergencies do not alter this policy.

By remitting any payment (including a deposit or full payment), you:

• Confirm that you have read this Payment, Refund & Transfer Policy
   
• Understand the 60-day refund deadline and non-refundable nature of payments after that date
   
• Agree to be bound by this policy as a condition of your registration