Recovery Retreats, lectures

Please contact Dr. Winell at recoveryfromreligiongmail.com">recoveryfromreligiongmail.com for more information about dates and locations, and to join a mailing list.  See the news story about a previous retreat at "Ex-fundamentalists find peace at retreat."

"RELEASE AND RECLAIM" Workshop Series
Recovering from authoritarian religious training can be very challenging and even more of a struggle if one feels alone. Yet there are many people making the effort. This is a relief to find out in a supportive group context such as a “Release and Reclaim” workshop. These weekend intensives are powerful experiences with other people who completely understand. The processes used are story-telling, lecture, and discussion as well as experiential methods, including art, guided visualization, movement, writing, and role-play.

Program content is based on the book, “Leaving the Fold,” by Marlene Winell. The groups are small (10 or less) and take place in a nurturing environment where workshop participants can spend valuable informal time together and share meals. These workshops can be full weekends or a one-day program.

Level I: “Release” -- Sharing personal stories and listening. Expressing feelings of confusion, grief, anxiety, and anger in an atmosphere of acceptance. Examining the reasons for religious involvement and reasons for leaving. Understanding manipulations. Learning to use the metaphors of the “idea monster,” the inner child, and the “adult” as a framework for healing and growth. Developing skills for self-love and self-trust. Retaining positive parts of the religious legacy. Forming relationships with other people based on new ideas.

Level II: “Reclaim” – Advanced work on self-love and trust. Emotional recovery and maturity. Reclaiming respect for the self as worthy and capable, with rich inner resources. Rebuilding identity and worldview. Skills for combating destructive left-over beliefs and assumptions. Recovering child-like ability to enjoy life here and now.

Level III: “Rebuild” – Assuming responsibility for creating a life of choice. Embracing ambiguity and mystery; overcoming fear and the need for certainty. Becoming engaged with the world; developing new commitments with joy and courage. Trusting and clarifying personal wisdom instead of outside authority. Reclaiming pleasure. Redefining morality and spirituality. Finding new options for community. Exploring the force and importance of creativity.

RELIGIOUS RECOVERY TRAINING -- for helping professionals and mentors.
This workshop is for people interested in understanding the dynamics of religious indoctrination and learning to help others recover. It will build on professional helping skills and emphasize the special issues and methods relevant to working with this population. The program includes lecture, discussion, and experiential learning.
This training can be arranged as a lecture series, a weekend workshop, or a one-day program.

VIRTUAL SUPPORT GROUP
Monthly conference calls and private online forum -- for clients who have worked with Dr. Winell individually or attended a workshop.

LECTURES
Dr. Winell is available to speak on topics of fundamentalism, religious indoctrination, metaphors of healing, processes of religious recovery, and social and political implications of the authoritarian mindset.

“A wonderful retreat.  I will never be the same.”

“Loved it. The exercises combined with the discussions really created a dynamic experience for me. The openness and the welcoming atmosphere made it easy and comfortable for me to share my thoughts and emotions.”

“Wonderful weekend! The tools, especially the monster/child/adult metaphor, and how to integrate and deal with it were very helpful. I enjoyed all the others: a talented, loving, real and compassionate group of people…I have been enriched.”       

“This retreat is a great way to connect with others and reaffirm that you are not alone in your healing process. We were able to identify our own hidden issues through others stories. Marlene provides a supportive, nurturing environment to validate and affirm each participant, regardless of their stage in religious recovery.” 

“Enjoyed your sense of humor. Really felt your connection with us. You created a safe environment for us with your unassuming approach and kind demeanor.”

“You understand, you love us through it, you give us real tools to use, you accept non-judgementally, thank-you!”                           
“Marlene is skilled, intuitive and informed. She has a gentle but firm way of guiding a person through the healing steps and skill building needed for coping with the negative aspects of religious upbringing.”                   
“You were very empowering. I want to feel empowered rather than helpless and so many other programs (12 steps) make you feel helpless.”               

“I would come again without hesitation.”               

“Retreat is worth it. Lots of guidance and nurturance will be provided if you can just get yourself to the retreat. Get yourself to the retreat and much else will fall into place.”

“I have since realized that my life is filled with promise and potential and that I have the necessary resources to make it (whatever it is) happen.”