Therapeutic
Retreats
Project Sanctuary hosts therapeutic retreats in five states across the country that are staffed and designed by Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialists, licensed counselors, and social workers. Retreats are open to active-duty service members, retirees, veterans, Reserve and Guard families (currently serving or past service) from all branches of the military (including Coast Guard) and all eras. All families, including the LGBTQ+ community are welcome at our retreats.
Families/couples that are looking for a therapeutic environment to help them reconnect, navigate communication challenges, and help all members of the family (including children) learn how to work together in challenging times to restore family cohesion will benefit from our therapeutic retreats.
Space is limited to just immediate family, or the one person/partner that supports you on your healing journey. Because of the nature of our programs, those that are single or would want to attend alone are not a great fit. If you are a single active-duty or veteran looking for a therapeutic retreat, Project Sanctuary Family Support team is happy to help connect you with one of our partner organizations that focus on these specific goals. See our list of single/solo retreat resources HERE.
What to Expect
Our retreats and classes are designed for families / couples to come together and gain tools and resources in three key areas: Relationship Reconnection, Family Communication, and navigating mental wellbeing. At Family Retreats, parents experience workshops in these specific areas led by trained professionals, and children experience fun, age-appropriate activities around similar topics to ensure the family can come together and build stronger relationships. Throughout the week families will participate in fun indoor and outdoor recreational activities together, making memories guaranteed to last a lifetime. Families will complete their retreat by having professional family photographs taken (no additional fee).
Couples are welcome at our Couples Only retreats, where we dig deeper into strengthening the marriage/relationship to increase communication, build trust, and reconnect with each other. There are no children at the couples-only retreats, creating an environment for the couple to focus on what is needed in their relationship.
After each retreat experience, participants will be asked to complete a survey that helps the Project Sanctuary team continue to improve, provide ongoing support after your retreat experience and help other families.
Tasked trained service dogs are always welcome. We are not able to host emotional support animals.
- Lodging (each family gets their own cabin, lodge room, or duplex with linens and towels)
- Meals
- Activities, including equipment like helmets (doesn’t include adaptive equipment)
- Family portraits taken by a professional photographer
Souvenirs or personal items are not included.
Transportation to and from the retreat is not provided. Because of the remote locations of most of our retreats, Uber and Lyft are NOT recommended. If there is a financial need, you will work with family support to find resources to help get you to the retreat closest to you.
Task trained service dogs are always welcome. We are not able to host emotional support animals.
All classes and workshops are mandatory. Each full day of the retreat has one class per day. Topics include a “Relationship Reset” workshop, First Command’s “Money Matters, Family Matters” workshop and the “Field Guide to Post Traumatic Growth (PTG) and Military Families” class hosted by licensed professional counselors from Project Sanctuary. Classes are interactive and fast-paced; there will be no death by PowerPoint.
All recreation activities are optional and offer something for everyone. This includes those with disabilities, however ADA-accessibility can vary by venue. Recreation activities vary by season and location. Each full day of the retreat involves at least one recreation activity. Some activities you may enjoy include:
- Outdoor: Hiking, fishing, whitewater rafting, snowmobiling, ice skating, snowshoeing, zip lines, ropes courses
- Indoor: Swimming, bowling, foam pits/gymnastics rooms
While we take the education and therapeutic aspects of retreats seriously, we also want you to have fun! Our goal for the week is for you to bond with your family, make lasting memories, and feel empowered with the tools to thrive as a family unit
Our Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialists (CTRS) have built age-appropriate curriculums for teens and youth that mirror adult classes. While you’re in class, kids will be doing therapeutic activities like art expression, learning about teamwork, and emotion identification. Just as importantly, they’ll be having fun, too.
If children are too young to participate in recreation activities (for example, snowmobiling), our fantastic volunteers will help out during those times.
A $100 commitment fee is required via PayPal to secure your family’s retreat date. We will not hold your retreat spot until your commitment fee is received.
The 100.00 commitment fee will be refunded upon the successful completion of the entire 6-day retreat (inclusive of staying the full duration of the retreat Friday-Wednesday) and until your family has submitted the wrap-up survey which must be done prior to departing the retreat center on the last day.
Additionally, any cancellations made less than one month before the retreat date will result in the loss of the $100 commitment fee. In the event of such a cancellation, your family will be required to wait an additional two years before being eligible to attend another retreat. Upon reapplication, a $200 commitment fee will be required to secure a spot in the retreat.
What happens at a Project Sanctuary retreat stays at a Project Sanctuary retreat. We have no chain-of-command reporting and receive no federal funding. No written documentation or recordings are taken during counseling sessions.
Licensed professional counselors, licensed social workers, and Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialists (CTRS) are all bound by law to keep client information and interactions confidential. All volunteers are made aware of our confidentiality policy and receive a background check before attending a retreat.
We host therapeutic family and couple retreats in partnership with retreat centers across the United States. Each retreat center enforces its own rules and policies regarding alcohol, drugs (including medical marijuana), and tobacco. We deeply respect and work to adhere to the guidelines at each retreat center. If you have any specific questions about a state or retreat center, please don’t hesitate to contact us at retreats@projectsanctuary.us. We are here to provide any information you may need.
Therapeutic RecreatioN
CTRS design and staff every Project Sanctuary retreat. Recreation therapy harnesses the healing power and laid-back atmosphere of outdoor recreation to help families break down walls and learn skills like conflict resolution and communication.
Education
Retreats and classes are designed for families/couples to come together and gain tools and resources in three key areas: Relationship Reconnection, Family Communication, and navigating mental wellbeing. At Family Retreats, parents experience workshops in these specific areas led by trained professionals, and children experience fun, age-appropriate activities around similar topics to ensure the family can come together and build stronger relationships.
Counseling
Each retreat is staffed by at least one licensed professional counselor. Families have the opportunity for family, couples, and individual counseling throughout their retreat experience if they would like to participate.
Veterans Report
17% increase
in feelings of life purpose
24% increase
in feeling engaged in their community
17% increase
in quality of family relationships
