Retreats
Trauma informed Residential short and longer therapeutic respite retreats, Supporting rest and recovery. With professional therapeutic support through your journey.
Through our retreats, participants receive compassionate, evidence-based care and guidance to support recovery, growth, and self-empowerment.
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Emotional Healing & Trauma Recovery
Respite Support for women navigating sexual or physical abuse, trauma, grief, anxiety, depression, Substance recovery and life transitions. Retreats provide safe, trauma-informed spaces to process experiences, build resilience, and reconnect with inner strength.
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Mind-Body Wellbeing
Practical tools and workshops for emotional regulation, stress management and more. Sessions integrate mindfulness, somatic practices, gentle movement, and reflective exercises to nurture the whole person.
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Community Connection & Empowerment
Opportunities to connect with peers, share experiences, and build supportive networks. Retreats emphasise collaboration, peer support, advocacy, and fostering a sense of belonging and empowerment in a compassionate, non-judgemental environment.
Donations directly support our community initiatives, including workshops, retreats, and education programmes, helping us keep these accessible and low-cost for those who need them most.
Retreats
KULA - West Auckland (on sale 18th of April)
10:00am-4pm
Workshop - Shadow cognition therory - Trauma informed.
Yin yoga
Mindfulness
Sauna
Ice Bath
Nourishing Nutritional - Morning tea, Lunch & tea and coffee provided.
**We offer a tiered fee structure based on income to support equitable access while maintaining the sustainability of our services. All tiers provide the same full-day retreat experience.
Participants are invited to select the rate that best reflects their current financial position. This is a self-selected model and does not require application or verification.
Access communtiy Rate is intended for those on lower incomes or experiencing financial strain. (limited spots, accessibility-focused)
Standard Rate is suited to those on a stable income
Supporter Rate is for those on higher incomes or with greater financial flexibility, and helps subsidise access for others.
This model is grounded in transparency, fairness, and shared responsibility.
*If the minimum group numbers are not met, the session will not go ahead. You will be asked whether you would like to be added to the next cohort or receive a refund.
MindfulWell® Fee Structure
We offer a tiered pricing model to support accessibility while maintaining the sustainability of this work.
Each tier reflects the same full retreat experience.
We offer a tiered fee structure based on income to support equitable access while maintaining the sustainability of our services. All tiers provide the same full-day retreat experience.
Participants are invited to select the rate that best reflects their current financial position. This is a self-selected model and does not require application or verification.
Access communtiy Rate is intended for those on lower incomes or experiencing financial strain. (limited spots, accessibility-focused)
Standard Rate is suited to those on a stable income
Supporter Rate is for those on higher incomes or with greater financial flexibility, and helps subsidise access for others.
This model is grounded in transparency, fairness, and shared responsibility.
What You’ll Experience in a MindfulWell® Workshop or Retreat
MindfulWell® workshops and retreats offer a practical, supportive space to deepen understanding, build regulation skills, and explore emotional wellbeing in a facilitated environment. Our workshops and retreats are designed for real-life integration.
Each session is shaped by our trauma-informed, whole-person approach, drawing on our integrative ShadowCognition Theory™ to blend evidence-based tools with nervous system care.
What You Can Expect:
Psychoeducation & Emotional Skill-Building
Clinically informed content tailored to the group — covering topics like emotional regulation, boundaries, self-worth, stress, grief, and behaviour patterns.
Somatic & Regulation Practices
Simple, guided nervous system tools including grounding, movement, and mindfulness-based techniques that support calm and embodied awareness.
Facilitated Group Process
Workshops are interactive and relational, with opportunities to reflect, ask questions, and connect with others in a supported setting.
Tools That Translate to Everyday Life
Every workshop is designed to offer real, applicable tools that participants can take with them — at home, in the classroom, or in their own journey.
Our Workshops & courses
These workshops are ideal for individuals, families, teens, educators, or organisations and health care professionals wanting to understand and support mental health in deeper, more embodied ways somatics and trauma informed — without the pressure of therapy, but with the care of therapeutic insight.
What is the ShadowCognition Theory®?
Developed by Amy reis williams and Intergrated within our retreats and programs, rooted in the philosophies of MindfulWell™, the ShadowCognition Theory® is a clinically-informed, integrative framework that helps women explore how unconscious thoughts, beliefs, and past experiences the “shadow” influence emotions, behaviours, and overall wellbeing. This trauma-informed approach gently guides women to recognise, process, and integrate these hidden patterns, supporting emotional resilience, personal growth, and sustainable wellbeing.
Why it Matters
The shadow is a natural part of being human. It holds emotions, beliefs, and traits that may have been repressed or unacknowledged often shaped by early experiences, trauma, or societal expectations. When left unconscious, it can show up as:
Emotional reactivity, overwhelm, or anxiety
Self-sabotage or perfectionism
Shame, guilt, or imposter syndrome
Disconnection in relationships
Understanding the shadow helps shift from self-blame to self-awareness, creating space for growth, self-compassion, and authentic living.
Who this approach is suitable for:
Women navigating trauma, abuse, or life transitions
Those experiencing anxiety, stress, depression, or overwhelm
Individuals seeking support with emotional regulation, self-worth, or motivation
Anyone interested in holistic, mind-body approaches to wellbeing
Therapeutic Modalities Integrated
ShadowCognition combines evidence-based and holistic methods, including:
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) – reshaping thought patterns
Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) – emotional regulation and distress tolerance
Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT) – mindfulness and values-based action
Internal Family Systems (IFS) – exploring inner parts and self-leadership
Somatic Regulation & Body-Based Techniques – nervous system regulation and grounding
Core Principles
Awareness – Recognising unconscious cognitive and emotional patterns
Acceptance – Embracing all aspects of self for integration
Mindfulness – Observing reactions with present-moment awareness
Cognitive Reframing – Challenging and reshaping distorted beliefs
Emotional Regulation – Moving through emotions safely and skillfully
Integration – Merging conscious and unconscious parts for holistic healing
Through a structured yet compassionate process, ShadowCognition supports women to reconnect with themselves, reclaim inner strength, and move forward with clarity, confidence, and resilience.
Disclaimer
The ShadowCognition Theory by MindfulWell is a clinically informed, psychoeducational framework designed to support self-awareness, emotional insight, and personal growth. It is not a substitute for psychological therapy, medical advice, or mental health treatment provided by a qualified professional.
Engaging with this work may bring awareness to deeper emotional material, including past experiences, unresolved patterns, or aspects of the self that have been held outside of conscious awareness. At times, this process can feel activating or emotionally intense.
You are encouraged to move gently and at your own pace. Pausing, resourcing yourself, and seeking support are not only appropriate, but essential parts of this work.
If you are currently experiencing significant distress, trauma-related symptoms, or challenges that feel difficult to manage alone, it is strongly recommended that you engage with a registered mental health professional before or alongside this material.
This framework is intended to support — not replace — therapeutic care. Your safety, stability, and wellbeing remain the priority at all times.
