The Haven Retreat is for You

The Haven Retreat Is for You. Yes! I Am Talking to You.

Guest blog post written by Chris Yadon, Executive Director at The Younique Foundation

We face an interesting challenge at The Younique Foundation. We designed our services for a specific segment of women, but those women often think our services are for someone else.

Let me explain. When we started planning The Haven Retreat, we specifically wanted to create a place for the “Forgotten Survivor”—the woman who is doing okay in life; the woman who has figured out how to cope with her abuse; the woman who is high functioning; but the woman who is still affected, often deeply, by what happened so many years ago.

We wanted this retreat because there are a lot of services for the woman in crisis, but there is virtually nothing for the resilient woman who has figured out a way to cope with the crisis yet still feels many effects. We know that she still deals with the impact of her abuse, and, despite her tremendous efforts, she still feels broken.

We often hear from participants that they almost didn’t apply because they felt the spot should go to someone else, someone more “deserving.” We hear statements like:

  • “I’m doing okay. Let someone else come that is really struggling.”
  • “My abuse wasn’t as bad as other people’s. I don’t want to take a spot from them.”
  • “I’ve moved on. Help someone who is still struggling.”

At The Younique Foundation, we want the “high-functioning,” “doing okay,” “not as bad as someone else” survivor to know that our retreat is for you. We built the retreat experience for you. We want to help you move past coping to healing.

Here are two questions you can use to know if The Haven Retreat is for you.

01
Are you an adult woman who was sexually abused at or before age 18?
02
Are you coping and even high-functioning but still feel the effects of trauma?

If the answer to these two questions is “yes,” then we are here for you. And we want you to come. You are worth the time, the funding, and the attention.

No matter where you are on your healing journey—at the beginning, somewhere in the middle, or near the end—we are confident you will find value in what we offer.

So next time you doubt whether or not The Haven Retreat is for you, we hope there is a little voice in your head that says, “Yes! In fact, it is designed just for me.”

Guest Blog Written By Chris Yadon

Chris Yadon

Chris Yadon currently serves as the Executive Director at The Younique Foundation. Most of his professional career has been in start-up executive management with an emphasis in operations, marketing, and sales. Chris is grateful to be the father of three boys and three girls that range from 3 to 20 years. He has been married to his wife, Christy, for 21 years and enjoys learning how to love others through her example. When there is free time, Chris loves to be on the lake, take occasional ski days, and kick box - a recently found passion.

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Shelby, a survivor of child sexual abuse, attended The Haven Retreat and learned that she is worthy and does matter.

I Am Worthy and I Do Matter

Once was more than enough! My abuse didn’t happen over the course of many years or instances. One time changed my young mind body and soul forever. Knowing that many had it worse than me, I went through life thinking my trauma didn’t mean anything because it was only one time. I discounted my pain for years, but I was never more wrong.

It doesn’t matter whether it happened once or a hundred times we still deserve to break free from the nightmare. It wasn’t till the Saprea Retreat that I felt worthy and deserving of a healing journey. With all of the things I learned at the retreat I look to my future with pride and a smile knowing there is a beautiful life to be lived. I am strong in the fact that the darkness of my past has no power over my present and I have the skills to protect my future. I am worthy and I do matter. We all do!

-Shelby, Survivor

Interested in Attending Saprea Retreat?

Diane, a survivor of child sexual abuse, attended The Haven Retreat and found peace.

I Let My Doubt Fade into Peace

There was a moment, not that long after I walked through the front door, where I just had to stand still and silent for a moment and let myself feel it all. The unknown usually feels pretty scary to me but oddly, I didn’t feel scared. The feeling that first hit me was a feeling that seems to be without words to describe it. It was like all these people were really new to me, but I’d known them forever.

The house was a house I’d never been in, but it felt like home. The energy was in full swing, but it was calm. Every doubt I had, every insecurity I felt, every single thing I’d worried about simply went away. All of those worries were replaced with a desire to just take it all in. Take in the education, the beauty, the amazing opportunity I’d been given, but mostly to take in the love.

Oh my gosh, the love. It’s a heart-, soul-, and brain-filling kind of love that seems to come from really long-lasting friendships or relationships that develop over time, but for me, it happened on day one of the Saprea Retreat. The relationships I formed with my new sisters are lifelong relationships, the kind that come from a mutual respect, love, admiration, and desire to really love another person.

These women are not victims, they are the bravest survivors you’ll ever meet, trust me. Every person who’s ever had their life changed by child sexual abuse, should find themselves in the arms of these survivors. You’ll find strength, resilience, bravery, humor, and you’ll find love.

-Diane, Survivor

Interested in attending Saprea Retreat?