Michelle, survivor of child sexual abuse, attended The Haven Retreat and found sisters.

I Found Sisters at the Saprea Retreat

I didn’t even realize how many aspects of my life were affected by my trauma until recently. It has been 20 years and I feel like I am further on my healing journey now than ever before thanks to the retreat offered by Saprea.

I had the amazing opportunity to attend the retreat. It was life changing!! You are not required to talk about your trauma at all, though I did feel comfortable doing so as the week went on. I was bonded to these ladies from the get go just knowing that we all had experienced this horrible trauma in our life and the relationships we built in 4 days are unbelievable to me.

I have sisters for life that have my back and remind me that I am strong and I am brave and I am capable and I am beautiful, I am loved and I AM WORTHY! The entire retreat is focused around reclaiming hope and it helped me do just that. The staff is amazing and I have never felt so safe. I realized things about myself that I never even thought about before. The entire experience was amazing and I left there a better person, wife and mother!!

For some of us, the trauma was more fresh in nature and for some it had been almost 50 years, but that didn’t matter, we all walked away with something and every one of us are now on a better path to healing. I can’t thank Saprea enough for giving me this opportunity to learn about myself, to grow and to recognize my true potential. My life is forever changed!

-Michelle, Survivor

Interested in Attending the Saprea Retreat?

few pink trees growing on the field against the little river

5 Ways to Find Healing for Those Struggling After Attending The Haven Retreat

Many may not realize that six months after The Haven Retreat, we reach out to participants to see how they’re doing. We’ve found that while most feel that their life has improved, there’s a small number who don’t.

This blog is for you.

There could be a myriad of reasons why things haven’t improved. It may have been as simple as having a bad day when you filled out the survey, or it could be much more complex than that. Whatever it is, we hope that this blog can help you work through this and find yourself in a happier place.

With that in mind, here are five things that we think will help those of you struggling after The Haven Retreat:

01
PROFESSIONAL AND PERSONAL SUPPORT
Find a therapist you trust who can be a support for you. Start a support group. Create a support system of friends and family members who you can turn to when you need help. The women you went to retreat with can be a great source of encouragement when you’re down.
02
BE HONEST WITH YOURSELF AND OTHERS
Maybe there’s something you aren’t addressing, a roadblock on your healing journey. Perhaps there’s a relationship, a coping mechanism, or a way of thinking that is preventing you from moving forward.
03
SETBACKS CAN HAPPEN
Healing isn’t always a straight path forward. There are ups and downs, and sometimes the downs can be devastating. Don’t give up. Don’t let the downs derail your progress.
04
EMBRACE THE FAITH STRATEGY
One of the 5 Strategies to Reclaim Hope is Faith. It’s all about creating an amazing future for yourself. Sometimes you may not be able to do more than wish for something good to happen, but keep hold of that wish. Visualize the life that you want—even if you can only take one small step toward it today.
05
CHANGE ONE SMALL THING TODAY
Are you overwhelmed? Tired right down to your bones? Exhausted from fighting every day? We understand. So today don’t overwhelm yourself with goals – just pick one. If all you can do today is get out of bed and get dressed, that’s enough. Do what you can do and celebrate yourself for every single step you take.

Although you’re home from The Haven Retreat, we here at The Younique Foundation have not forgotten about you. We want to continue to help you on your healing journey. We want to lend our support. You are not alone.

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Hailey, a survivor of child sexual abuse, attended The Haven Retreat and will live her life to the fullest.

It’s Time to Live My Life to the Fullest

Because of the Saprea Retreat, I have found a way to jump start my healing. I realized I am not alone and have learned not to be ashamed of what happened.

I finally have the tools to help myself and live a life free of fear. I also got to meet seven other women whom I have an amazing connection with, they are my soul sisters who encourage me every single day to heal, to live a full life, remind me that I am beautiful and strong when I feel weak. This retreat is truly a life changing experience that I am so so thankful for.

-Hailey, Survivor

Interested in Attending Saprea Retreat?

Marie, a survivor of child sexual abuse, attended The Haven Retreat and learned that she was not alone.

I Am Not Alone in My Healing Journey

I let the abuse control and take over my life for too long. When I went to the Saprea Retreat, I didn’t know what to expect but being with women who feel the same way made me realize that I wasn’t alone. I am proud to say I went to the Saprea Retreat because it changed me for the best. Going is the BEST thing you can do for you!

– Marie, Survivor

Interested in attending Saprea Retreat?

Cassie, a survivor of child sexual abuse, attended The Haven Retreat and will knock down barriers.

I Will Knock Down Barriers

For months I debated applying for the Saprea Retreat, then finally I did. Then I said I wasn’t going to go, but I did. Then I swore I wasn’t going to share my story while I was there, then I did. I kept knocking down barriers and each time I did I felt more empowered!

Being given the tools to move on was amazing! The friendships I have made along the ways are for a lifetime! They are a support system of soul sisters! I honestly wasn’t expecting the emotional week I would have, but it was so healing! And now I walk through life feeling like I am worthy. I am enough. I am strong.

-Cassie, Survivor

Interested in Attending Saprea Retreat?

A woman holding the other girl on her left

Supporting Survivors on Their Healing Journey

If someone close to you is a survivor of sexual abuse, it can be hard to know exactly how to lend your support. While it’s true that survivors have to take ownership of their recovery, you can do a lot to help. You can’t do the healing for them, but there are things you can do to make it easier for them to heal themselves.

In addition to the trauma that survivors can suffer when abuse initially happens, survivors also risk suffering new trauma when they disclose their past experiences if loved ones don’t respond in helpful and healthy ways. Gurvinder Kalra and Dinesh Bhugra point out, “Victims of sexual violence face the danger of suffering negative reactions upon disclosing their trauma.”

When a survivor opens up to you about what has happened to them, acknowledge how much courage it takes to talk about past traumatic experiences. Survivors have often kept their abuse to themselves for years. To them, it might seem easier to stay silent. Let the survivor know that you appreciate their bravery in facing memories and issues that might have happened years ago. Here are some specific things you can do to support your loved one.

Do . . .

  • Thank them for telling you.
  • Reassure them that you are there for them.
  • Validate their feelings.
  • Ask what you can do to help or support them.
  • Let them know that the abuse was not their fault.

Don’t . . .

  • Criticize, blame, shame, or judge them.
  • Excuse or minimize the abuse.
  • Demand to know details of the abuse; they’ll tell you if or when they’re ready.
  • Take control and tell them what they needs to do to heal.
  • Tell them to forget about it or just get over it.
  • Question why they didn’t tell you (or someone else) sooner.

Remember that sexual abuse can create serious problems with trust for survivors because in most situations, perpetrators are people the survivor knew and trusted. The fact that they are willing to open up to you shows that they trusts you. Work to continue to build and maintain that trust.

Your goal is to empower your loved one to make good choices that will lead to healing from past abuse. You can’t heal for them, but you can make the healing process easier.

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Carrie, a survivor of child sexual abuse, attended The Haven Retreat and is now a woman full of hope.

I Am a Woman Full of Hope

“She told the seashell her story, whispering every secret her memories held. Then she laid the shell at the ocean’s edge and watched the tide pick it up and carry it out to sea…”

I arrived at the Saprea Retreat a shell of a woman; someone who did not realize how broken she was until it was time to start putting the pieces back together. I had spent many years downplaying my abuse and pushing it to the back of my mind that I truly did not know where to begin my healing journey. I spent the next couple days learning who I was again and remembering that young girl who was still inside me.

As my time at the retreat came to a close, I still felt as though something more needed to be done. I had packed a 3-page note that had my entire story written on its pages. I could feel its weight as I carried it with me through life and knew that it was time to let it go. Surrounded by my new soul sisters and as the crisp air whipped my hair and as the tears flowed freely, I ripped that note into a thousand tiny pieces and watched it flow down the stream. It was in that moment that I knew my soul was cleansed and that I was worthy of all the things my abuser tried to take away from me.

To say that Saprea saved my life is an understatement. Surrounded by the snow-capped mountains, the brightest blue skies, and the freshest air I have ever breathed; I was finally able to heal. And for that, I will forever be thankful.

-Carrie, Survivor

Interested in Attending the Saprea Retreat?

A woman smelling a sunflower under the sun

How to Find Healing in Nature

The weather is changing. In the northern hemisphere, it’s spring; in the southern, it’s fall. It’s the perfect weather to go out into nature, whether you want to hike, read, or write outside. And each of these activities can help you on your healing journey.

Why nature?

Too often we let the chaos in the world around us create chaos inside ourselves. This can be especially detrimental if you are a survivor of childhood sexual abuse. The soothing rhythm of nature can calm the chaos inside of us and create a quiet space where we can get back in touch with our bodies, our emotions, and our truth.

Stepping away from our multi-tasking, noisy life and into the steady rhythm of nature can do wonders for you. Even doing a daily task outside that you would usually do inside can have a positive effect on your day. A variety of benefits have been found in regards to spending time outside. You can make the most of this time if you go with a plan in mind.

01
DECIDE WHAT YOU WANT TO ACCOMPLISH BEFORE YOU GO.
Make the decision before you even go out the door. Do you want to find peace? Do you want to get back in touch with your physical body? Do you want to find insights into a problem?
02
PICK THE BEST PLACE FOR YOU.
If water calms you, find a lake or pond. If your mind is most clear when you’re exerting yourself, take a difficult hike. If trees give you energy, find one to sit under. And if you’re not sure what you enjoy the most, try it all. Give yourself a chance to experience different natural areas around your home.
03
BRING A JOURNAL.
This may seem a bit silly, especially if you’re planning a strenuous hike, but being able to write down the insights you have is important. Even if you journal on a regular basis, writing outdoors near nature that you enjoy may bring a new view of things in your life.

Even if you wouldn’t describe yourself as outdoorsy, you can still benefit from a little time in nature. Take some time on a day with good weather this week and see what truths you can learn about yourself from spending time outside.

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