Women’s Retreat: Heal Emotional Pain, Recover from Trauma, and Release Anxiety – Weekend Retreat

Loading Events

Women’s Retreat: Heal Emotional Pain, Recover from Trauma, and Release Anxiety – Weekend Retreat

Join Brett & Stefanie Cotter on a 3-Day Personal Healing Journey

Registration for this event has closed

Check out our various upcoming programs—we're sure there's something to inspire you

Program Calendar
Registration Closed

Women’s Retreat: Heal Emotional Pain, Recover from Trauma, and Release Anxiety – Weekend Retreat

Join Brett & Stefanie Cotter on a 3-Day Personal Healing Journey
March 28—30, 2025

Registration for this event has closed

Check out our various upcoming programs—we're sure there's something to inspire you

Program Calendar
Option 2: Weekend
  • Check-In Friday 3/28 at 4 pm. Check-Out Sunday 3/30 at 12 Noon.
  • Includes: 4 Group Emotional Healing Sessions, 2 Gentle Movement Sessions, 1 Dance Session or Sound Bath Session or Bonfire, 1 Guided Meditation, and 6 Meals.
  • $199 Retreat Tuition + Your Choice of Accommodations (accommodations paid separately and include meal plan).
  • Click here to see Option 1: Full Week.

Thursday Arrival Special:

Check-in at 4 pm to unwind a day early, enjoy the grounds, take a hike, or book a massage at Pure Rejuv Wellness Center (570) 647-1500 (purchased separately). To receive a 25% discount on a Thursday night reservation, call the Himalayan Institute directly to confirm a Thursday night arrival: (800) 822-4547 or (570) 253-5551.

Our Program:

Immerse yourself in a sanctuary of spirit and a supportive group environment for long-term relief and new relationships that last a lifetime. You’ll be guided step-by-step to release old layers of emotional pain to feel safe in your own skin again. 

Join Brett Cotter for 3 days of deep emotional healing and gentle movement with Stefanie. Plus special guests leading sound baths and dance sessions to help you transform your anxiety into happiness, sweetness, and tranquility. 

“There were NO palpitations on my EKG right after the retreat, that hasn’t happened in two years. My mom and I are feeling so fulfilled. Thank you for helping me.”
— Kelsey Foster, Supply Chain Planner, NY

With intuitive questions and channeled affirmations Brett helps you break through the hidden blocks to your happiness, unravel the source of your stress, and reclaim your sweetness. He helps you express and release the issues from the depths of your subconscious. 

“As a clinician, it was impressive feeling my own stress lift out of my body. I’ve already encouraged several family members to call for coaching!”
— Gerri DeBenedetto, LCSW, NY

As tension releases, participants usually feel:
  • More lightness and openness in their heart
  • Warm waves of energy in and around their body
  • Uplifted, supported, and reconnected with their inner strength
This Retreat Helps Women Release Emotional Pain From:
  • Putting Everyone Else’s Needs First
  • Growing Up with Alcoholic or Drug-Addicted Parents
  • Self-Destructive Behaviors & Negative Relationship Patterns
  • Raising a Child with Special Needs or Caring for Elderly Parents
  • Out of Control Family Issues, Uncertainty in Family Court
  • Relationship Breakups, Loss, or a Narcissist in Your Life
  • Sexual Abuse, Domestic Violence, or Sexual Assault
  • Generalized Anxiety, Insecurity, or Low Self-Esteem
  • Overwhelm, Hopelessness, Sadness, or Loneliness
  • Loved Ones with Substance Abuse Issues 
  • Military Sexual Trauma, Medical Trauma
  • Having Abusive or Neglectful Parents

“Battling depression, anxiety, and PTSD for decades has led me to several counselors, but Brett was different. His technique to guide me through my healing was exactly what I needed. It didn’t take long at all! Life is sweet again and I am blessed. Thank you, Brett!”
— Rhonda Stockstill, Ret. USAF

What to expect when you walk into the room:

Comfortable options for your personal space; a chair, backjack, or lying comfortably on the floor with a yoga mat, blanket, and pillow. An introduction from Brett about himself and the work. A quick share from each participant about what they came to let go of and we begin.

“Brett creates a safe space to open up and has an innate ability to get to the core issues. You feel them leave your body. It was a life-changing experience.”
— Sarah StanczewskI, Working Mom, NY

The Emotional Healing Work:

Brett asks questions to gently surface the source of your stress, usually stemming from childhood. He intuitively helps you express and release your unconscious emotional pain. As one person releases, others with similar issues raise their hand to let Brett know they are also ready to let go. The group sessions with Brett include one-on-one and group release work, channeled higher-self-affirmations, inner-child healing, movement, music, journaling, and meditation. Emotional releases resolve the trauma that amplifies our stress. This is a deep personal healing journey in a supportive group environment. 

“This work gave me back to myself by allowing me to visit the perfect space of my existence. Like a touchstone, it’s powerful enough to transport me beyond my biggest problems into a place where I’m free.”
Elizabeth O’Neal, Mom, Real Estate Agent

The Retreat Experience

To balance the deep emotional healing work throughout the week we include gentle morning movement, meditation, journaling, sound healing, and dance. Our focus during the first few days is the inner child work. Then we emphasize grounding and empowering. Finally, we finish the week embodying our own divine essence and sweetness.  You can expect:

  • Deep emotional releases to make peace with your past. 
  • Renewed sense of personal power and freedom.
  • Resurgence of happiness and your sweetness. 
  • At times individual attention, encouragement, and support.

Brett Cotter

Brett Cotter is the award-winning author of The Stress Is Gone Method, 3 Keys to Managing PTSD, and The Suicide Prevention Family Handbook. He has 25 years' experience helping clients process the most traumatic events of their lives. Brett leads workshops for military spouses through New York State and healing circles for s...
See Full Bio and Upcoming Events

Himalayan Institute Retreat Center

For more than fifty years, the Himalayan Institute’s Retreat Center has been a gathering place for people seeking inspiration and aspiring to restore inner balance. Home to a vibrant community of yogis, it’s a place for seekers wishing to study the ancient tradition of yoga and to deepen the connection between themselves and the world around them. Whether you visit for a weekend retreat, a personal getaway, or one of our longer-term programs, your visit to the Himalayan Institute will accelerate your personal journey of rejuvenation and transformation.
Free Wifi
400-Acre Campus
On-Site Cafe
Meditation Shrine
Wooded Hiking Trails
Pond with Kayaks
On-Site Wellness Center
Bonfires and Stargazing
Bookstore and Giftshop

Retreat Center Highlights

Sacred Space
The Sri Vidya Shrine is the spiritual heart of the Himalayan Institute. This sanctuary offers an ideal setting for silent meditation and group spiritual practice, a cornerstone of the Himalayan Tradition for thousands of years. Open to seekers of all backgrounds and traditions, the Shrine provides a serene, sacred space for meditation, quiet reflection, prayer, and contemplation.
Nourishing Meals
Our nutritionally balanced vegetarian meals are thoughtfully prepared to nourish body, mind, and spirit. Each of our three daily meals is designed to be easily digestible and to support a meditative lifestyle. Sharing meals here naturally fosters connection, offering both deep nourishment and a sense of community.
Loving Community
The Himalayan Institute welcomes people from all walks of life. With a blend of short-term guests, long-term visitors, and a vibrant residential community, the atmosphere here is warm, inviting, and rooted in kindness, generosity, and service. It’s a place where friendships form naturally, often becoming the kind of connections that feel like family, and last a lifetime.
Rest in Nature
Nestled in the rolling hills of the Poconos, the Himalayan Institute’s 400-acre campus offers breathtaking views, scenic hiking trails, and quiet spaces for reflection and contemplation. Walking is a favorite activity, whether along our groomed trails or meandering paved roads, inviting both movement and mindful presence in nature.
Conscious Simplicity
At the Himalayan Institute, we embrace simplicity in all aspects of life, from our surroundings to our approach to yoga. By minimizing distractions, we create space to strengthen the inner self and quiet the mind. Guided by authenticity and grounded in philosophy rather than frills, we support a path of meaningful personal growth.
Treat Yourself
Our Himalayan Café serves the Institute’s signature chai, coffee, and homemade cookies and treats on Saturday and Sunday mornings. The 24/7 Tea Lounge offers a variety of herbal teas for anytime enjoyment. On campus, the MOKA Origins Factory is open daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., offering handcrafted, ethically sourced chocolate and coffee, with free tours and tastings on Saturdays.
Date
March 28—30, 2025
Duration
3 days, 2 nights

$199 per person + accommodations

Registration

Dates
Friday, March 28, 2025 @ 7:30 pmSunday, March 30, 2025 @ 12:30 pm
Tuition
$199 per person + accommodations
Need Help?