Caring for the Caregiver Retreat
Caring for the Caregiver Retreat
November 13 @ 3:30 pm – November 15 @ 3:30 pm
A unique weekend of self-care for parents. Create space for yourself and find community amongst people who have been in your shoes.
At this retreat, we will bring together parents of children with cancer and other chronic illnesses to recharge their spirits and dive into a few deep healing techniques.
Psychosocial support, that given to help meet the mental, emotional, social, and spiritual needs of patients and their families is shown to be one of the most effective strategies for processing the trauma of raising a child with cancer or other similarly treated illness. Coming together, we will foster a community of parents who are medical caregivers for their child and individually work through emotions in ways other than traditional talk therapy.
You may attend as a single parent or couple. Single people may need to share a room with another person of the same gender if not attending with their spouse. The lodging and grounds at River Winds is exquisite, although you may also choose to attend this event just for the day. A delicious group dinner will be offered on Saturday night, and a light breakfast and lunch is provided each day.
We are thrilled to welcome back Justin Wilford from MaxLove Project and the Yes Collective!
On Saturday, dads will meet with Justin to participate in therapeutic healing techniques including Internal Family Systems and Holotropic breathwork. Moms will get their chance on Sunday to work with Justin. You can read more about these well-researched, innovative modalities below. On the opposite days, parents will have the opportunity to do art therapy, get a massage, forest bathe on the trails, visit the sweet horses and goats, and participate in a yoga class.
About Justin
We are so excited to have Justin Wilford join us again for this retreat. Justin is the father of Max, a 15-year survivor of Glioblastoma, and Maesie. He holds doctorates in public health (UC Irvine) and cultural geography (UCLA). He co-founded the childhood cancer nonprofit MaxLove Project with his wife Audra. He is also a cofounder of an emotional health platform called Yes Collective that focuses on Internal Family Systems-based therapeutic programming. He is a health program designer, Internal Family Systems practitioner, psychedelic medicine guide, and conscious dance DJ.
Internal Family Systems is an evidence-based, paradigm-shifting psychotherapeutic approach that today is practiced by thousands of therapists, psychologists, and psychiatrists around the world. IFS sees our minds as a system of various parts, or sub-personalities, each with its own unique perspective, emotions, and role to play in our lives. The goal of IFS is to foster harmony and healing within this internal system by establishing a compassionate and curious relationship with each part. By understanding and engaging with our internal parts, we can improve our mental, emotional, and spiritual health in profound ways.
Psychedelic breathwork (which does not use psychedelic substances) is a unique practice based in holotropic-style breathing. It opens up the body, heart, and mind to help us witness what we’ve been holding on to, compassionately release what is not ours to hold, and open us to our deeper wisdom and clarity inside. Justin will help you do this by first guiding you through meditation practices inspired by an Internal Family Systems framework. He’ll then lead you into the psychedelic breathwork, followed by an integrative journaling and processing session to close the experience. Psychedelic breathwork sessions are safe but powerful experiences for individuals who are ready for breakthroughs of greater clarity, self-compassion, and self-expression.
Do we qualify? To attend this retreat, your child must have been diagnosed with pediatric cancer or a similar childhood-related illness. There is no restriction for time from your loss or where you live. This retreat is open to both parents of patients and survivors, as well as bereaved parents.
Rett’s Roost retreats are nondenominational. We act, and ask our participants to act, without discriminating against any person or organization because of their race, age, nationality, gender, sexual orientation, or religious belief.
Last year’s agenda: 2025
Check out photos from last year’s Caring for the Caregiver Retreat: 2025
