Katrine, a survivor of child sexual abuse, attended The Haven Retreat and learned that dreams do come true.

Dreams Do Come True

I do not have many childhood memories that are filled with joy, laughter or a sense of normalcy. My earliest memory of abuse is at age 5. From that time forward, my mind and heart needed to find something that I could relate too, feel safe, find a connection. At my darkest time in life my horses, dogs and cats were my family, my safety, my reason in life. I dreamt I was Cinderella, and I found solace with the animals as she did. They needed me as much as I needed them. I found my purpose. Luckily, over the years, my life has revolved around my two and four legged family.

As I grew up, I stopped dreaming of being Cinderella until, the day I pulled into the long wooded snowy driveway at Saprea Retreat. Upon leaving my home, I was in absolute fear. Walking into the airport, I almost turned back. Something pulled me and said have faith. Face your Fear. You can do this. And, I did!

Upon arriving at the Saprea Retreat, we were met by two massive doors that would change my life. They were the doors to healing, strength, acceptance, and best of all, I was surrounded by women who were just like me. I was not an outsider for the first time in my life. I looked into their eyes and I saw myself in many ways. I silently felt comfort and a very strange sense of peace.

Over those four days we spent together learning, sharing, growing, it was exhausting, emotional yet exhilarating, powerful, and strengthening. These women are, and will always remain, the bravest sisters in my life. We are connected. We are Warriors. Its okay to be who we are.

I never thought I would have had the chance to say, I felt like Cinderella again. Not the Cinderella locked away with abuse, but the ballroom-dancing, joyful, beautiful Cinderella. Thank you to everyone who helped me live my dreams again.

-Katrine, Survivor

Interested in Attending Saprea Retreat?

Ann, a survivor of child sexual abuse, attended The Haven Retreat and deserves to live her best life.

We Deserve To Live Our Best Life

I was never afraid to tell someone I was a survivor of childhood sexual abuse, but the effects of it lived inside of me and affected all areas of my life. I suffered from depression and alcohol abuse for years and numbed myself to survive.

I only recently realized that life is so much more than what was done to me, that I am worthy of life.  I am a survivor.  I was so lucky to attend the Saprea Retreat. I learned I am not alone.  I feel like I am walking through a waterfall and being cleansed. When I walk through to the other side, I will see the total transformation of what life has to offer and what I have to offer others.  We are survivors and strong.  We are brave and worthy to stand in the full sunshine of all that life has to offer.  I can see that now, and I no longer have to hide in darkness.

-Ann, Survivor

Interested in Attending Saprea Retreat?

Candace, a survivor of child sexual abuse, attended The Haven Retreat and never hesitated to reclaim hope.

Never Hesitate to Reclaim Hope

I was apprehensive about embarking on the healing journey offered by the Saprea Retreat. I thought that since everything had happened so long ago that maybe I really did not need it or deserve it. There were a million reasons that ran through my mind–all seeming to resist fitting the last puzzle piece in place for me.

Once I arrived at the Saprea Retreat, I immediately knew I was definitely in the exact place I needed to be. All of us were on our own individual journeys, but we all had this unmistakable bond from the very first second. It was almost as if we all finally felt like we could take off the mask and breathe.

The education, hope, healing, and sisterhood we all gained while at the Saprea Retreat will last a lifetime. Everything that was poured into us with such love by every single staff member set us all on a path to continued healing. I have never had so much self-confidence and ability to finally love myself as I now have. It has had a positive impact on all my relationships, especially my marriage.

I now have a dream to begin a program quite similar to the Saprea Retreat where I live. There are so many hurting ladies in this world who truly need all that was provided there.

If you are not sure whether you should go… my ONLY regret was that I waited. It is such a beautiful experience.

-Candace, Survivor

Interested in Attending Saprea Retreat?

Amy, a survivor of child sexual abuse, attended The Haven Retreat and there is always hope.

There Is Always Hope

I spent most of my life afraid that if people really knew me they would hate me as much as I hated myself. I felt broken and alone. I hated dating because, eventually, you had to have “that” conversation.

Slowly I began to realize no one hated me, but me. I took one small step to start loving myself. I picked one thing that I liked about myself. My eyes. I wrote why I liked my eyes, described them and drew them.

Without that step so many years ago I would never have loved myself enough to even apply to attend the Saprea Retreat. It was there that I learned why I react to things the way I do and how to not live with it, but move past it. I left the last day with something I needed so desperately… Hope. Hope that one day my past will be behind me. Hope that panic and anxiety won’t win forever. Hope that my life can be better with the truth that I am worth the effort.

-Amy, Survivor

Interested in Attending Saprea Retreat?

A woman sitting on the field and drawing

When Healing Plateaus

It is good to have an end to journey toward; but it is the journey that matters, in the end.
Ursula K. Le Guin

Think of the last time you took a long road trip. There were probably moments when everything went smoothly. You were on the freeway with a clear sky and an open road, zooming toward your destination. Chances are, there were moments that were less than ideal, too. Maybe it started to rain and you couldn’t see as far as you wanted to. Maybe you spent some time sitting in traffic totally stopped. You knew you would ultimately make it to your destination, but it didn’t feel like you were making much progress as you sat in the traffic jam.

We often refer to healing as a journey, and your journey might feel like a road trip. There are moments when everything is going well and you feel like you’re making good progress toward your goals. But there might be times when you feel like your progress has come to a stop. You just aren’t moving forward the way you want to. You’re sitting in gridlock rather than driving down the road. What can you do if you feel like your healing isn’t progressing the way you want it to? Below are three things you can try:

01
Acknowledge that it’s normal to have some moments when you stall on your healing journey.
Emotional healing is complicated and takes time. There are bound to be ups, downs, and plateaus along the way. Don’t judge yourself if you feel like you’ve hit a roadblock.
02
Spend some time reflecting on everything you’ve accomplished.
Maybe you’ve achieved the recovery goals you set, and that makes you feel like you’ve reached a plateau. Do you need to figure out a new way to challenge yourself to reach the next level of your recovery? Is there a hurdle you’ve resisted facing head-on and now you’re in a place where you can tackle it?
03
Mix up the strategies you use to address your challenges.
For example, if you always journal to work through emotional issues, try doing a physical activity instead to see if it helps you discover new insight. Incorporating variety is one way to find your way out of a rut.

It can be overwhelming to feel like you’re not progressing. Find comfort in the fact that discomfort is a normal part of the healing journey. Just as you expect some traffic and potholes when you drive, you should expect some moments of frustration on your road to recovery. Use these moments to reflect. Remember that you don’t have to resolve everything right now. Just try to find one specific thing you can do today to help yourself on your healing journey.

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