A HEALING RETREAT FOR MOTHERS NAVIGATING ESTRANGEMENT
RECLAIM THE WOMAN INSIDE THE ESTRANGED MOTHER
Beyond Frenzied and Frozen
March 11-14, 2027
An immersive, 4-day, online retreat for mothers of estranged children.
Has your identity unraveled in the silence of estrangement?
Healing doesn’t mean forgetting. It means honoring, softening, and reconnecting with what still lives inside you.
DO YOU FIND YOURSELF:
Ruminating endlessly on the past.
Determining your worth by if your child reconnects or not.
Putting your life on hold until the relationship is restored.
Sensing if you crack the door on grief it will never end.
Repeatedly texting, calling, emailing, or sending gifts—even when asked not to.
Asking others to provide information about your child.
Analyzing every interaction looking for clues about what could have happened.
Vacillating between feeling desperate and numbed out.
Resigned that hope is painful.
Isolating or avoiding social situations that would cause you to explain.
Believing if you had the exact right words the relationship would be repaired.
Fantasizing about how the next potential contact with your child might go.
Terrified the distance will never end.
Shopping, eating, or behaving in ways that don’t serve who you want to be.
Quietly longing to be able to breathe again.
IMAGINE IF YOU COULD:
-Have a calm mind whether or not you have contact with your child.
-Hold peace and sorrow gracefully at the same moment.
-Soothe the maternal parts of you that are grieving deeply.
-Remember who you are as a woman, not only a mother.
-Have compassion for the little girl in you that’s hurting.
I have learned that I can be OK despite the estrangement from my son. I am more sure about who I am, and I allow that to guide me instead of thinking…”what should I do?”
-SC
“In spite of my being estranged from my children, my story was received with great compassion, and it led me to insights that I did not have previously. I was encouraged as I met other women in a similar struggle, no longer feeling alone in my pain. I highly recommend this retreat! ”
-MM
“I was consumed by the thought, “What kind of monster loses the love of her son?” This program gently introduced me to my internal world, and guided me toward a wholeness and hope I didn’t think possible. The “Mommy” part of me is no longer drowning in shame. Tara held the vision of my worth until I could do it myself. Thank you!”
-OM
“I kept looking, but nothing on the outside of me was fixing the hurt and pain. The answer was inside of me all along. Maybe that sounds silly, but I didn’t believe I’d feel hope or joy ever again. I do, and am finally on a track for true healing.”
-PT
WOULD YOU LIKE TO:
-Be seen, known, and valued beyond your parenting role.
-Make peace with what’s yours, and let go of what isn’t.
-Find true wholeness even if the ache of estrangement remains.
-Wake up free from despair.
-Make space in your day for mourning and meaning.
-Hold deep compassion for the mother in you who did the best she could.
Hi, I’m Tara
— practitioner, writer, and educator who works with moms navigating the crushing heartbreak of estrangement.
I know estrangement from the inside out. I’ve been estranged from my own parents for over 20 years. That might sound like the last person you'd want leading a retreat for estranged mothers—but it’s exactly why I do.
For years, I poured my heart into trying to reconnect, hoping for repair. When that wasn’t possible, I began creating the very experience I wished my parents had sought out; a supportive, reflective, and healing space that might have changed everything.
This retreat is born from that longing. It’s offered with deep care—not as a fix, but as a way forward. A place for you to discover the woman inside the mother, and find your path back to purpose and passion.
I live in the Midwest with my dogs, dear friends, family, a growing yarn stash, and more books and plants than shelves to hold them. Clients describe me as compassionate, insightful, and witty—I like to think that’s true.
WHAT TO EXPECT
A Four-Day, Small Group Retreat
An intimate and nurturing space designed for meaningful connection, reflection, and healing.With no more than 12 participants, groups are intentionally kept very small.
Expertly Facilitated, Warm, and Supportive
Guided with care and clarity in a casual, compassionate environment where you can show up exactly as you are.Fully Live and Interactive
Every session is held live—no pre-recorded content—so you receive real-time support, presence, and connection throughout.Join from the Comfort of Home
Connect virtually via Zoom, in a setting that’s cozy and convenient, with space for privacy, presence, and peace.Confidential and Safe
To honor the privacy of all participants; sessions are not recorded. This helps create a space where everyone can share freely and feel protected.Opportunities for One-on-One Support
For those who want to go deeper, optional individual processing is available to explore those mommy parts of you in a more in-depth way.A Structured and Safe Experience
Thoughtfully designed to create emotional safety, clear boundaries, and a gentle path for growth.
REGISTRATION
Investment: $1749.00
This includes the full 4-day retreat experience, all live group sessions, a supportive community, and a gentle, expertly guided structure and care.
Optional one-on-one opportunities available for individual processing and exploration with Hedman Wellness staff for an additional charge.
Small Group Format
Groups are intentionally kept to 12 participants or fewer to ensure an intimate, personalized, and deeply supportive experience.
Refunds
Due to the small group size and depth of preparation for each specific group, all purchases are non-refundable. This helps us maintain safety, consistency, and care for everyone involved—and honors the commitment each person makes by joining.
DATES AND TIMES
March 11-14, 2027
(All times listed in Central Time)
Thursday, March 11
4:00–7:00 PM – Opening SessionFriday, March 12
9:00 AM–Noon – Morning Session
2:00–5:00 PM – Afternoon Session
6:00–7:00 PM – Optional Evening IntegrationSaturday, March 13
9:00 AM–Noon – Morning Session
2:00–5:00 PM – Afternoon Session
6:00–7:00 PM – Optional Evening IntegrationSunday, March 14
9:00 AM–Noon – Morning Session
Location: Live Online
No pre-recorded sessions
* There are generous breaks each day to support rest, nourishment, and reflection. Evening sessions are optional and offer a softer space for integration and connection.
13-Week Guided IFS Journal
A 220-page, hardcover edition of Journal Back to Self will be mailed to you before the retreat begins, to support your reflection, integration, and personal growth throughout our time together, and beyond.
*Additional charge may apply if you are located outside of the USA.
MOVE BEYOND THE CHAOS OF ESTRANGEMENT
“I was always willing to DO the work, but wasn’t finding anything that worked. I hadn’t been able to get out of the shame spiral and stop ruminating on the details of the estrangement…until now. I’m forever grateful.”
-MJ
“The retreat was very helpful and enlightening. Tara is calm and knowledgeable. The other mother participants were incredible, kind, sensitive and understanding, and we all learned from each other. It was well worth my time and mental energy. I was unsure about sharing my story, but it was so easy, the women were smart, kind and great listeners.”
-SD
“It was the best investment I’ve made in myself in a long time. To spend the time with other women who have been through the same painful experience was amazing and just what I needed. The collective wisdom, unconditional love, and support will stay in my heart forever, and we have agreed to stay in touch to continue to support each other. It’s amazing how total strangers can come together with a common issue, a club if you will, that no one wants to belong to, but connect so deeply.
-PH
This retreat is for you, if you…
Want to stop waiting for reconciliation to start living.
Desire safe connection with others who understand the complexity of estrangement.
Long to be the very best version of yourself should your child ever reengage.
Long for relief from the crushing heartbreak .
Want to rediscover the woman in you that got lost in the demands of motherhood.
Need space to safely grieve in small, metered doses.
Permission to rest, breathe, and live, even if reconciliation never comes.
This retreat is not for you, if you…
Want a self-paced home study program.
Are primarily looking for strategies to have your child engage with you. (that’s a different program)
Believe the only way to heal is to regain contact with your child.
Struggle to respect those with differing spiritual or personal beliefs.
Need your child to be seen by others as the problem.
Are hoping to find a guru.
Want to learn strategies to fix or manage the estrangement.
Thursday
Evening: You Are Not Alone — or Broken
Establishing emotional and relational safety, introducing the IFS model of healing, and beginning to turn gently toward the hope of a new journey while acknowleding your pain.
EACH DAY AT A GLANCE
Friday
Morning: The Nature of Fear, and The Need to Protect
Begin to understand that there may be parts of us working hard to shield against pain and fear. Perhaps through control, reactivity, or self-contempt. Start to imagine having compassion for your own journey.
Afternoon: Navigating the Complexity of Estrangement
Explore the balanced space between the feelings of “frenzy” and “frozen” in the silence of estrangement. Finding your truest self to begin building a bridge between the two for clarity and insight.
Evening: Being Human When Life is Inhuman.
A soft landing space to pause, reflect, and offer compassion to what got stirred up during the day — allowing the nervous system and inner world to settle and absorb what’s been learned.
Saturday
Morning: Understanding the Wounded Inner Child in the Mom
Gently connecting with the vulnerability inside the mother. The parts of us holding pain, fear, or abandonment, and beginning to offer compassionate attention.
Afternoon: Grieving in Estrangement
Creating space for personal and shared grief. We will honor the parent you were, grieve the parent you wish you’d been, and validate the parts that have been carrying so much pain.
Evening: Grounding Time for Integration
A space to let the grief process settle, to feel calm, or simply to be with what is emerging without needing to fix or change it. Always supported and guided.
Sunday
Morning: Honoring the Journey and Reclaiming Hope
Reflect on the transformation that’s occurred, recognize what’s been released, and acknowledge the parts of yourself that feel newly seen or softened, and naming the strength it takes to live a passionate, purposeful life — whether or not reconciliation occurs.
FAQ
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This retreat isn’t a long-term weekly program—it’s a focused, 4-day experience designed to gently support deep work in a short amount of time. Over the course of the retreat, you’ll spend about 20 hours in guided sessions, reflection, and connection. It’s a meaningful commitment, and one that fits into a single long weekend, with space built in for rest and integration. For those interested, there is optional reading and engagement the week prior.
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I know estrangement from the inside out. I’ve been estranged from my own parents for over 20 years. That may not sound like someone you’d want to lead a retreat for estranged mothers, but it’s exactly why I do.
For years, I poured my heart into trying to reconnect, hoping for repair. When that wasn’t possible, I began creating the very experience I wished my parents had sought out—a supportive, reflective, and healing space that might have changed everything.
This retreat is born from that longing. It’s offered with deep care, not as a fix, but as a way forward. For you to discover the woman inside the mother and find your path back to purpose and passion.
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Tara is a Level 3 trained, Certified IFS Practitioner, Certified Trauma Informed Trainer, and Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction trainer. She owned and operated Hedman Counseling Center, a large multi-clinician therapy practice in Colorado for over a decade. She’s specialized in estrangement and spiritual trauma for over 15 years. Tara provides training for other IFS practitioners and therapists to utilize the Internal Family Systems model in their practices, and works as a full time IFS Practitioner and consultant.
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Yes. Whether the estrangement is recent or happened many years ago, the impact often lives on in quiet (and not-so-quiet) ways. This retreat is designed to meet you right where you are—whether you're still searching for answers, carrying grief, feeling stuck, or simply longing for some peace. There’s no timeline for healing. If your heart is still holding the story, this retreat can help you tend to it with care.
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That’s completely understandable—and you're not alone in feeling that way. What makes this retreat different is the approach: it’s grounded in Internal Family Systems (IFS), a gentle, evidence-based method that honors all parts of you, especially the ones that feel unheard or stuck. Rather than offering advice or quick fixes, this retreat creates space for true inner connection and healing at your own pace. It’s experiential, not just educational—and we walk with you, not ahead of you. Many participants find that this kind of work reaches places other programs simply don’t.
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We know that life can be unpredictable. If you need to cancel your registration, you’ll receive a full refund (minus a small processing fee) if you cancel at least 14 days before the retreat begins. Cancellations made within 14 days of the retreat are not refundable, but we’re happy to offer you credit toward a future retreat or course. If something urgent comes up, please reach out—we’ll do our best to work with you.
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This 4-day virtual retreat will take place March 11-14, 2027 with a total of 20 hours of guided sessions. Each day includes a combination of teaching, reflection, and small group connection, with breaks built in for rest and integration.
Daily Schedule (Central Time):
Day 1: 4:00-7:00 PM
Day 2: Day 3: 9:00 AM–12:00 PM and 2:00–5:00 PM and 6:00-7:00PM
Day 2: Day 3: 9:00 AM–12:00 PM and 2:00–5:00 PM and 6:00-7:00PM
Day 4: 9:00 AM–12:00 PM
This rhythm allows for deep inner work without overwhelm—and gives you space each day to rest, journal, or simply breathe.
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This retreat is for moms of all ages and stages navigating the grief, confusion, and complexity of estrangement from an adult child. It’s especially helpful for those who are ready for a different kind of support—whether the estrangement is recent or has stretched on for decades.
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No experience needed. Truly! This retreat is designed with beginners in mind. You’ll be gently introduced to the basics of IFS in a clear, supportive way, and we’ll guide you through each step. You won’t be expected to “know how” to do anything—just to show up with openness and curiosity.
IFS is a deeply compassionate and intuitive approach, and many people find it feels surprisingly natural, even if it’s their first time. We’ll walk with you the whole way.
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Internal Family Systems, or IFS, is a gentle, evidence-based approach to healing that helps you understand and care for the different “parts” of yourself; like the part that feels angry, the part that blames you, or the part that still hopes.
Rather than trying to fix or get rid of these parts, IFS invites you to meet them with curiosity and compassion. The idea is that every part of you has a reason for being the way it is, and when those parts feel seen and understood, real healing can happen.
IFS is not about judgment or advice. It’s about creating an inner relationship with yourself that’s grounded in kindness, clarity, and calm. And the best part? You don’t have to be a therapist or have any prior experience to benefit from it.
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While everyone’s journey is unique, many participants leave this retreat with a sense of relief. Feeling less alone, more grounded, and more connected to themselves.22
You can expect to walk away with:
A deeper understanding of your inner world through the lens of IFS
Practical tools for navigating the emotions that come with estrangement
Greater compassion for yourself and the many parts of you that have been carrying pain and loss
A sense of peace that doesn’t depend on whether the relationship changes
And maybe most importantly, the beginning of a new kind of relationship—with you
This retreat isn’t about fixing the estrangement. It’s about tending to the tender places it touches, so you can move forward with more clarity, strength, and purpose.
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You don’t need to have it all figured out—or even know exactly what you’re feeling. All that’s asked is that you show up with openness, curiosity, and a willingness to explore your inner world.
You’ll be invited to:
Attend each session (as much as you’re able)
Engage in guided reflections
Lean gently into experiential exercises as you feel you can
Respect the privacy and stories of others in the group
Be extraordinarily kind to yourself
Give yourself space to breathe and be exactly who you are where you are.
No need to perform or appear perfect. You’re welcome just as you are—no need to fix, force, or perform. Just bring your full, human self.
No matter what you’ve done or what’s been done to you, you deserve to heal.
WHAT’S NEXT?
If you decide to join us, and I hope you will, here’s what’s next:
Click the “Sign Up” button below.
After submitting the Sign-Up form, you’ll be automatically directed to the client portal and asked to complete your retreat Registration.
You’ll then receive a welcome email from Tara with details to prepare your mama’s heart leading up to the retreat.
Your hardcopy of Journal Back to Self will be sent to you by regular mail. * Additional charge may apply if you are located outside of the USA.
You will be invited to a private, pre-retreat, orientation chat (optional, but helpful).
You will be encouraged to create a cozy retreat space. This can be at home or at lodging of your choice. Whatever allows for your body to feel safe, present, and grounded.