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:

Our Foundational Values

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.

Leadership & Facilitation

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.

Alcohol, Substance Use & Environment

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.

Group Safety & Participation

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.

Privacy & Media Consent

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.

Agreement

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

If you have a question that is not ansswered here, please email me at Sadpandabook@gmail.com

How much does the Vilomah's Respite Retreat cost?

The cost of each retreat varies slightly based on location, accommodations, and seasonal offerings. All pricing details—along with room options—are listed on the current retreat page.

Your registration fee covers everything once you arrive:
✔️ 3 nights of private or shared accommodations
✔️ All meals, snacks, and drinks
✔️ Guided workshops, daily movement, and activities
✔️ Supplies, materials, and meaningful take-home gifts

There are no hidden fees or upsells during the retreat—just honest, all-inclusive support in a setting designed to nourish your grief and your growth.

Who can come to The Vilomah Grief Retreat?

The Vilomah Grief Retreat is exclusively for parents and stepparents who have experienced the death of a child—at any age, and from any cause.

We intentionally limit attendance to this group so that every aspect of the retreat speaks directly to the unique grief of losing a child. It’s the kind of loss we know personally, and we believe that shared understanding is essential to creating a safe, meaningful space for healing and connection.

It's only been a short time since my child died. Should I come to a retreat?

Yes! However, grief is different for each person and parents are ready to share and receive support at different times. Only you will know when you are ready - but you are always welcome.

It's been many years since my child died, should I come to this retreat?

Yes! Not only will you benefit from the respite of a Vilomah Grief Retreat, but you could also experience the cathartic affect of offering encouragement to others whose loss is more recent.

How many people attend this retreat?

Though typically smaller, the maximum number of guests at a Vilomah Grief Retreat is 10; including Michelle and Kristie.

I read the words "prayer" and "blessing" in reviews, but I don't believe in God...or I'm struggling with my faith. Can I still come?

Absolutely. We recognize that grief and faith are deeply personal—and that each person may carry different beliefs, questions, or doubts, even within the same tradition.

While conversations around faith, God, Jesus, heaven, spirituality, or the universe may naturally arise during our time together, you are welcome here exactly as you are. All we ask is that guests extend mutual respect for the beliefs, experiences, and honest wrestling of others.

What if the retreat I want to attend is full?

If the retreat you’re interested in is full, we encourage you to submit the Registration Form anyway. If a cancellation occurs, we’ll reach out to those on our waitlist in the order received.

If a spot doesn’t open up this time, we hope you’ll join us at a future retreat. New events are added regularly, so check back often or subscribe to stay in the loop.

Do you offer scholarships to help pay for the retreat?

Thanks to the generosity of our support community, we occasionally have scholarship funds available to help cover part of the retreat cost for those in financial need.

If you’re grieving and feel this experience is something you need but can’t currently afford, we encourage you to reach out.

Please email Kristie or Michelle at Sadpandabook@gmail.com to inquire about availability.

facilitators

Meet Kristie

Kristie is a Human & Organizational Psychologist by training, a leader by experience, and a teacher at heart. After the death of her daughter in 2021, she felt called to walk alongside other grieving parents—not as someone with all the answers, but as someone who understands the depth and complexity of this path.

With both professional expertise and personal lived experience, Kristie brings a rare blend of psychological insight, faith-based resilience, and deep compassion to every retreat she leads. Her work is rooted in the belief that while grief may never leave us, we can learn to carry it in ways that are meaningful, honest, and even life-giving.

Meet Michelle

Michelle is a seasoned geriatric RN with 37 years of hands-on clinical experience, a trauma-informed yoga and meditation instructor, and a devoted mindfulness practitioner.

Having endured the unimaginable loss of three adult sons, she brings both profound empathy and evidence-based care to her work with grieving parents.

Michelle’s healing approach weaves together clinical insight, gentle somatic practices, and heartfelt presence—helping participants find steadiness amidst their grief. As a passionate grief advocate, she understands that the journey through grief is both personal and shared, and partners deeply with each guest to offer solace, validation, and grounded support.