Grief Healing Retreats

Welcome to Shelly Glennon Grief Retreats—where healing lives in the quiet power of nature, creative expression, and heartfelt connection.

Here, you’ll find a gentle space to be witnessed. Explore grief in many forms: through art, writing, ritual, movement, and music.

Rediscover how love continues to shine, even after profound loss.

Sometimes we forget this simple truth: 

The broken pieces of ourselves are often our greatest teachers.  

It is from them that we learn our strength.  

It is from them that we learn compassion, wisdom and understanding, devotion, faith and insight.  

It is from them that we learn how to pray, how to cry, how to listen, how to reach out for help.  

It is from them that we learn how to strive for better, how to empathize and offer help.

Naomi Levy — “To Begin Again”

I'm ready

Release the pain.

Remember the love.

Retreat Details

November 6—9, 2025

Losing a loved one often means losing your most cherished travel companion and with them, the shared escape from everyday life. This retreat is a well-earned adventure as well as a time of growth.

Here, nature becomes that quiet solace: wandering forest-carpeted trails, pausing beside still lakes, and breathing in healing through art, quiet music, and heartfelt ritual.

In moments crafted just for you, like candlelit journaling or a soothing cup of tea at twilight, you’re invited to rediscover a softness; a space where healing feels not only possible but also deeply inviting.

Lochaerie Resort, Lake Quinault

Our retreat will be hosted in the historic, rustic cabins of Lochaerie Resort, nestled on the north shore of Lake Quinault within Olympic National Park. This tranquil setting places us steps from quiet forest trails and lakeside reflection. Lochaerie Resort has been offering quiet solace since 1926 and features cozy cabins with fireplaces, kitchens, and private baths, perfect for creating an intimate, unplugged retreat experience.

Day One: Welcome & Connection


Upon our arrival, we’ll come together for warm introductions and clarify our group expectations, creating a safe, respectful space where each story can be honored.

Please bring a cherished photo of your loved one, as we will introduce them tenderly into our shared circle as well.

Day Two: Release

We’ll begin the day with gentle movement, a mindful practice that helps release stress, steadies both body and spirit, and offers a space to notice how far you've come in your grief journey.

Throughout the day, you'll find time for journaling to reflect on your personal growth and for quiet walks by the lakeshore: spaces to quietly bear witness to how grief has shaped you and to imagine what lies ahead in healing.

We’ll begin a Small Steps journal and add to it as we notice progress throughout the day, weekend, and beyond.

Day Three: Creative Renewal & Embracing Love’s Legacy

Today will begin with gentle movement, stretching, and conscious breathing exercises. The afternoon includes time for contemplation, journaling and community support.

A walk on the forest trails to gather autumn leaves gives us a tactile reminder of the beauty that persists and transforms. Using these leaves, we’ll create gel print art, a hands-on activity that helps us externalize grief, celebrate our resilience, and witness how our partners continue to enrich our lives even in their absence.

Day Four: Honoring, Reflecting & Looking Forward

On our final full day by Lake Quinault, we’ll gently honor your healing journey and explore how you’ve found renewed purpose. Through soft stretches, meditative walks, and reflective journaling, we'll create a record of peace and presence that will help you recognize how far you've come and envision where your evolution may lead.

The Investment in Your Healing

An investment of $1,315 includes four days of intensive and immersive healing, designated activities, healing experiences, and delicious health-conscious meals, all of which awaits you on the shores of lovely Lake Quinault.

Book Your Retreat Space Here

Once your space is reserved for the retreat, we will connect you with our travel professional to book your cabin. Reservations made by October 5th qualify for 10% off thanks to kind and supportive people at Lochaerie Resort. Cabin prices for our four day retreat range between $1,590 and $1,950, which already reflect the early bird discount. If you come with a friend, some cabins have space for double occupancy. And if you want to pamper yourself further, spa services like massages or facials can be added to your free time slots each day. Our travel professional will handle all those details.

Spaces are limited, so sign up now!

Cabins

Angeles. $1588.60

Cozy one-bedroom cabin built in 1936. River rock fireplace, large windows overlooking the forest and lake. Double bed. One bath with shower. Steep stair and path access; DO NOT BOOK if you have ANY mobility limitations… seriously!

Christie $1761.23

Cozy one-bedroom cabin built in 1932 on Onion Rock. Spectacular lake and mountain views. Brick fireplace, twin bed in living room, and double bed in bedroom. One bath with shower. Steep stair and path access; DO NOT BOOK if you have ANY mobility limitations… seriously!

Ellinor $1588.60

Rustic one-bedroom cabin built in 1926. River rock fireplace, large front porch. Lake and sunset views. Double bed in bedroom and twin bed in living room. One bath with shower. Three person maximum. This cabin is the closest to the parking lot and only has a couple stairs on the front porch.

Olympus $1588.60

Large one-bedroom cabin built in 1926. River rock fireplace, forest and lake views. Double bed in bedroom and bunk bed in living room. One bath with shower. Four person maximum. This cabin is close to the parking lot and only has one stair at the front door and a few stairs off the back porch.

Storm King $1922.47

Large two-bedroom cabin with sleeping loft. Built in 1936. River rock fireplace, large front porch, lake, mountain and sunset views. Two double beds and a twin bed. One bath with shower. Steep stair and path access; DO NOT BOOK if you have ANY mobility limitations… seriously!

Colonel Bob -RESERVED-

Large two-bedroom cabin with sleeping loft. Beautiful lake and mountain views, free-standing wood stove, near beach access. Three double beds and a futon. One shared bath with shower. Steep stair and path access.

Come as you are.

Your grief is sacred. So is your healing.  

It’s not about moving on…  

…it’s about moving through it.

sign up here

Testimonials

  • Comforting, focus on my grief journey for the retreat was invaluable. I had not given that kind of focus to my journey since Tachi died 31/2 years ago. I wasn't actively avoiding it, I did not know how to go about it, how to express the different facets of grieving. The space you provided was perfect for me, I felt safe to express myself, and be who I am, and empowered to keep moving down this path. The small size of our group allowed for more and deeper sharing,

    -Leslie

  • The retreat was fantastic. The thing that stands out the most to me is the variety of activities. It was so well balanced. They all helped us dig deep into ourselves but in such a wide variety of ways.

    -Janine

  • You're leading the next generation of women and men to grow after a loss and empower them to move forward.

    -Anais

  • Oh where to begin. Shelly’s grief retreat has helped me so much with the grief I’ve carried for 10 years. It’s something I haven’t been able to really face or accept over the years, but the retreat helped me get closer to that acceptance. I met amazing people in this group and it was a comfortable and safe place for all of us to connect and share. I felt less alone and a heavy weight had been lifted from my heart. I’m so grateful for Shelly and her warmth, love, empathy and deep understanding of grief and how to maneuver it in a beautiful and healthy way. This is the retreat for you if you’re dealing with the heaviness of losing a loved one.

    -Daryn

  • Shelly Glennon brings a wealth of wisdom and compassion to her grief healing retreats. I recently participated in one of her retreats and found her to be tender and warm. She fostered an atmosphere of openness and trust. Her decades of experience in education were evident as she was well organized and brought a wealth of healing modalities for all the participants to explore and experience. She was also patient, listened deeply and was very understanding. The intimacy that she created was beautiful. If you are feeling overwhelmed with grief and struggling to move through it, I highly recommend Shelly!

    -John

About Shelly

After losing my husband, my world became unrecognizable. As a lifelong teacher, mother, and nurturer, I found myself untethered until I slowly rebuilt a life I could love again. Through therapy, community, nature, art, and journaling and retreats, I discovered not just healing, but a deeper kind of love: one that includes loss and still dares to hope.

With over 37 years of experience fostering growth in others, I now bring my heart and skills to support grieving loved ones in rediscovering joy, resilience, and connection. My retreats offer guided healing designed specifically for widows and widowers. They are safe spaces where grief is honored, stories are shared, and hearts begin to expand again.

Through soulful practices, nature immersion, creative expression, and authentic community, I invite participants to grow in grief and witness their evolution into love on another level.

Get to know Shelly a little better!

Below is an excerpt from her journal about a recent painting and one way that healing snuck up on her when she wasn’t paying attention. Thank goodness for journals!

“Think of it as if He’s Just in the Next Room”

How was this going to work—this living on after losing the love of my life?


Two and a half years since his passing, I’m still surrounded by his memory and influence: the mid-century modern dining set he insisted we buy, the piece of jade collected off the Big Sur coast by one of his patients, the voluminous floral scarf he once picked up at Costco that has served as everything from a wrap to a tablecloth, the intensely red rhododendrons blooming in the sweetheart garden just outside our bedroom window, his passion for Venetian blown glass, so strong that it once made me pull an emergency U-turn on my way home from Trader Joe’s to stop at an estate sale offering the perfect vase. I’m sure he sent it to me.

This man, this love, is still profoundly present in my life; I just can’t see him. I like to imagine he’s simply in the next room. His love still surrounds me. As I paint and travel, make new friends, and even consider new relationships, I feel his applause, his encouragement. I’m certain he laughed with me when, after months of work on my first oil painting—a Fauvist still life exercise—I realized it wasn’t just a composition of objects in my dining room. It was, in truth, a portrait of his love on another level.

Contact Shelly

FAQs

We know that choosing to attend a grief healing retreat is a tender, courageous step. It’s natural to have questions about what to expect, whether you’re ready, and how this experience might support you.

This page is here to offer clarity and comfort. Below, you’ll find answers to the most common questions about our retreats: what we will be doing, if there will be down time, and how we honor your grief with compassion and respect.

Remember, there is no “right way” to grieve and no single timeline for healing. If your heart feels drawn to this work, you belong here. These retreats are created to meet you exactly where you are with gentleness, privacy, and support every step of the way.

If you have further questions, please reach out with them. Comments made through the “Contact Shelly” form above will be answered promptly and with love.

  • My retreats are designed specifically for widows and widowers navigating the profound loss of a spouse. Unlike general wellness retreats, these gatherings specifically honor grief as sacred. They provide a safe, supportive, and heart-centered space to explore healing through meditation, nature, creative expression, and soulful connection with others who understand.

  • Newly widowed spouses are so raw that I have found these retreats to be too much too soon for them. Generally, I find that these retreats are more appropriate for those who have experienced a year or so living with the loss. However, each case is different—if you are early in grief and feel this retreat could help you, please reach out and we can talk.

  • To ensure a deep connection, each retreat is limited to 4—10 participants. This small group setting allows everyone to feel seen, heard, supported, and safe.

  • Yes. Every retreat includes intentional space for solitude, reflection, journaling, or simply resting. Healing happens as much in stillness as in activity.

  • Each retreat blends meditation, time in nature, creative art projects, reflective writing, and group sharing. These multimodal approaches give you space to explore your grief from many angles, offering healing for body, mind, and spirit as part of your process to regain your footing and locate new strength after your loss. Grief heals better the more we engage with it.

  • A packing list will be provided. Generally, comfortable clothing, a journal, walking shoes, a photograph of your loved one, and an open heart are all that is required.

  • Grief is tender and unpredictable. We create a compassionate environment where emotions are welcome. You will never be alone in your process; supportive facilitators and fellow participants will always be here to listen and walk with you.

  • Not at all! Come as you are. The practices are guided gently and designed for people of all backgrounds.

  • Yes. After the retreat, participants are invited to gather to reconnect, share progress, and continue the healing journey together.

  • Absolutely! Many participants form lasting friendships. We encourage ongoing connection through supportive groups and community gatherings. We will make a plan that best fits our group on our last day together. Staying connected to your community of support is an important part of a successful reentry into your everyday life.