Putting the pieces back together with Kintsugi

A sacred weekend to pause in the warmth of community.A place to rest.

A place to reconnect, create, and discover the beauty in repair.

WHAT IF THE CRACKS DON'T NEED TO DISAPPEAR?

KINTSUGI

This is an invitation to a different

kind of retreat.

What if the things that have broken you don't need to be disguised?

What if instead they need to be noticed, and accepted with compassion?

What if repair isn't about becoming who you were before the break?

Kintsugi is the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery with gold. The cracks are not concealed. They are highlighted, becoming part of the story—and part of the piece’s beauty and uniqueness.

This retreat invites you to experience that process for yourself.

This is not a weekend claiming to “fix” anything. It’s not a weekend that requires you tell your story. And it is not a retreat packed full of activities that ends with you feeling as though you need another vacation when you get home.

Instead, it is an intentionally small, deeply experiential retreat designed to give you space to slow down, create, reflect, connect, rest, maybe even play…

And perhaps see yourself and your story a little differently.

YOU HAD ME AT KINTSUGI

THE RETREAT

A journey, one piece at a time.

The experience follows the Kintsugi arc. At the same time, the weekend itself follows a gentler rhythm.

Each stage of the pottery process becomes an opportunity to pause and notice. You will receive a workbook with guided reflections for each step in the process.

You may find yourself thinking about your own life along the way. Or you may simply enjoy working with your hands. Both are completely welcome.

THE PROCESS

What does pottery have to do with my life?

Pottery does not have to symbolize anything. But it may. The process gives us something tangible to work with.

First, the break. Then there are pieces, the process of figuring out how those pieces might come together, next the process of golden repair. Finally… integration.

The finished piece doesn't pretend it was never broken. The cracks remain. But they have become part of what makes the piece uniquely beautiful and uniquely yours.

Kintsugi doesn't ask us to make difficult experiences beautiful. It asks a gentler question: What meaning do we make of what has happened to us?

THE WEEKEND

What will the weekend feel like?

Spacious.

The retreat will have a carefully designed rhythm, but it will not be packed from morning until night.

There will be structure around the Kintsugi journey and dedicated opportunity to process and share if desired. Mostly, it will offer plenty of space around it.

I NEED THIS!

Frequently asked questions

Is this a therapeutic retreat?

Kintsugi draws on therapeutic and reflective principles, but it is intentionally designed as a retreat experience rather than group therapy.

The purpose isn't to diagnose, treat, or fix. The purpose is to create space: space to slow down, notice, create, connect, rest, and consider what you might want to carry forward.

Do I have to talk about my personal story?

No.

This is one of the most important parts of the experience.

There will be opportunities for reflection and facilitated conversation, but there is absolutely no requirement to share personal experiences, disclose something vulnerable, or process anything in front of the group. This is a time to honor yourself-

You can participate as deeply or as quietly as feels right for you.

You might journal. You might talk. You might pray. You might take a walk. You might sit with your pottery. You might laugh with other women. You might take a nap.

There is no right way to experience Kintsugi.

Will there be emotional or spiritual work?

There can be—but it is invitational.

The Kintsugi process naturally raises questions about expectations, change, loss, identity, disappointment, resilience, acceptance, and becoming. There may be moments when something feels unexpectedly meaningful. There may be moments when you simply enjoy making something beautiful. There may be moments of laughter. There may be tears. There may be nothing particularly profound at all.

All of it belongs. You don't have to force a breakthrough.

Why such a small group?

The retreat will be intentionally limited to 8–10 women.

Smallness matters. It allows the experience to feel intimate without feeling crowded. There is room to know the women you're sharing the weekend with, while still having plenty of space for yourself.

It allows the retreat to feel less like an event and more like an experience we are creating together.

What about food?

Meals will be nourishing, delicious, and shared. There is something important about sitting around a table with others, without an agenda.

We will make room for good food, conversation, laughter, and the simple pleasure of being cared for.

You don't have to arrive with a plan.

You don't have to know what you're going to discover.

You don't have to have a story to tell. You don't have to be ready to change.

You dimply. have to be willing to come.

Come to the mountains. Come to the table. Come to the pottery.

Come to the quiet. Comet to the pieces.

And see what happens when we make room for repair.

YOU HAD ME AT KINTSUGI

Find YourSelf in...

PANAMA

An Enriching Retreat Designed to Nourish Your Mind, Body, and Soul

Find YourSelf Growing in...

PANAMA: THE ETHICS OF SELF CARE

A Continuing Education Retreat for Healthcare Providers

BECAUSE TAKING CARE OF YOURSELF ISN'T OPTIONAL - IT'S ETHICAL

This isn’t just time off. It’s time to reconnect with your professional purpose, restore your nervous system, and reflect on the ethical foundation of your work.

RECLAIM YOUR OWN WELLNESS - NOT AS A LUXURY BUT AS A PROFESSIONAL NECESSITY

Many therapists wait until they're burnt out to prioritize their well-being. But true ethical care requires ongoing, non- reactive, attention to our internal state. This retreat helps you step out of survival mode and back into a rhythm of care that sustains both you and your clients. You’ll experience rest not as an escape, but as a practice in professional integrity.

EARN MEANINGFUL CEs THAT ADDRESS THE ETHICS OF SELF-CARE, BOUNDARIES AND BURNOUT PREVENTION

Most CE trainings on ethics are dry, checkbox exercises. Not this one! Our workshops are immersive, experiential, and rooted in real-life clinical dilemmas—exploring the ethical implications of overextending ourselves, ignoring our limits, or working beyond capacity. You’ll leave with insights you can actually use in supervision, practice, and your own self-reflection.

REST WITHOUT GUILT ON A PRIVATE ISLAND DESIGNED FOR REFLECTION, PLAY, AND NOURISHMENT

The setting matters. And this island is intentionally selected for its stillness, natural beauty, and complete separation from everyday chaos. Wake up to ocean breezes, and fall asleep to the sound of the waves, nourish your body with chef-prepared meals, and calm your nervous system with hammock time, journaling, or a spontaneous swim in turquoise waters. This is a space where rest is not only permitted—it’s prescribed.

Included in the Retreat:

Transportation to and from David Airport to Resort
5 night all inclusive stay at Selva Terre Resort in Panama in Ocean Front rooms
Single or double occupancy room with AC/bathroom (Twin or King Size); 1 quad room (full size beds) available to a group of 3-4 that plan to attend as group
3 meals a day (certain dietary preferences/allergies are accommodated), plus snacks and smoothies made from the freshest island grown produce
Earn CEUs including (5 hours of Ethics) with workshops hosted by Amanda L. Marks, LPC, LMCH CPCS and Keira Oseroff Lambert, LCSW, CEDS
Surfing
Pottery Making
SUP/Kayaking
Hiking Excursion
Mangrove Excursion via Kayak/SUP
Gratituty for Staff
Daily Yoga

Additional Expenses to be Considered:

International Travel to Panama City, Panama and Domestic Flight from Panama City to David, Panama
Cocktails (Local Beer and Wine Included)
Additional experiences at Selva Terra can be booked and paid for directly with the resort to include spa (massage therapy and facials); deep sea fishing; island hopping; scuba diving; snorkeling; horseback riding (all optional)