FAQ

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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.

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.

This 4-day virtual retreat will take place [insert dates here], with a total of 19 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.