The Embrace Retreat Experience (Fall 2025)

Are you ready find a more peaceful, neutral, possibly even celebratory relationship with your body? The Embrace Retreat is a unique group counselling and photography experience that has been called “truly transformational.” If you’re looking to level up your body acceptance, consider joining us for this one-of-a-kind experience.

The retreat is a 3-day/ 2-night getaway of rich conversations, genuine connection, delicious food, and of course…an epic photo shoot!

About the Embrace Retreat Experience:

This year, we’re once again integrating the feedback of our participants and adding to this already rich experience. We’re adding more opportunities for connection before and after the retreat by integrating 2 unique Zoom-based group sessions. These BONUS sessions will afford us more time and space to explore ideas, as well as more spaciousness during the weekend to take advantage of the gorgeous venue (including the stunning riverside nature setting, a sauna and hot tub), connect more with other women, take time to reflect, journal, colour, or maybe even take a nap!

Retreat Experience intentions:

- - Create a space of safety, honest dialogue, and growth
  - Cultivate curiosity, encouragement, and compassion (for self and others)
  - Explore your relationship with your body image and how it impacts your life and well-being
  - Engage in rich conversations, and experiential exercises designed to invite new perspectives in your relationship with your body
  - Connect with other like-minded women in meaningful ways

Your Retreat Includes:

- - Two virtual group counselling sessions (one pre-retreat and one post-retreat – more details below)
  - Access to a facilitated group chat via Signal (similar to WhatsApp but more secure) during the Retreat Experience (Oct 15 – Nov 5)
  - A full weekend of connection with fabulous women
  - A lovely welcome gift bag including a journal
  - Private (limited availability) OR shared (very spacious) accommodation at our gorgeous retreat venue
  - Counsellor-led conversations, meditations, and exercises to explore your relationship with your body
  - A unique perspective-changing photography experience
  - Optional (but awesome) daily joyful embodied movement breaks (all bodies and abilities welcome)
  - Fully catered fresh wholesome meals and snacks (from a Red Seal Chef!)
  - Digital copies of our group shot and 10+ individual shots
  - One printed photo keepsake

Dates + Details:

When:

- - - Wednesday, October 15 from 7-9 pm (Zoom)
    - Friday, October 24 at 4pm – Sunday, October 26 at noon (Retreat weekend)
    - Wednesday, November 5 from 7-9pm (Zoom)

Where: West Coast River Lodge, Port Alberni, BC

Investment:

Private Room: $1195* regular (until capacity)

Shared Room: $995*

*plus GST

Retreat payment can be split into 3 monthly payments as long as registration occurs prior to August 15th. After August 15th full payment is required at registration.

Note: I am a Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC #22774) and receipts can be provided for extended benefits coverage for the group therapy portion of this retreat. Over the course of the experience (including the 2 zoom sessions) we will have 6 group therapy sessions (6 x $75 = $450). All extended plans differ, so please confirm with your plan regarding coverage if this is important to you.

Registration is OPEN (but there are only 3 spots left!)

Take these steps to secure your spot in the 2025 Embrace Retreat Experience:

Step 1: Complete the registration form*

Step 2: Make payment (full payment OR 1st of 3 monthly instalments)

*upon completion of this form we will send you an invoice for the appropriate fee (private vs. shared rooms / full payment vs. instalments)

About the Accommodations:

There are if you’re coming with someone, you’ll have the opportunity to let us know so you can room together!). FYI Each bedroom has its OWN bathroom with a shower!

West Coast River Lodge has 7 spacious bedrooms and 13 beds. Each bedroom has its own bathroom including a shower. With up to 10 RAD women joining us, that means that we have some availability for private accommodation, as well as some shared accommodation options (everyone will have a bed to themselves). Please note that shared accommodation involves 1 room with 2 beds with a private bathroom (2 people sharing 1 bathroom). So there is still a lot of spaciousness. If you are coming with others and would like to request who you’d like to share with, you’ll have the opportunity to do that upon registration. If would like to take one of the private rooms, this option will be first come, first served (only 3 available). Once this option is GONE we will indicate that on the registration form.

PS. that’s Brooke relaxing in one of the gorgeous rooms!

About the Photography Experience

The Embrace photography experience always has a theme and this year is no different. Given our unique location that has a beautiful earthy, woodsy, magical feel – we’re encouraging skin-tone undergarments (think undies, bra, tank or cami) for the group shots. We will have gorgeous colourful drapey fabrics and blankets to bring us all together for some fabulous retreat “sisterhood” shots!

For your solo shots – girl, you do you! The world is your oyster. Want to go nude? Or draped tastefully in a blanket? In the hot tub? Sauna? Wine cellar (yes, there’s a wine cellar and it’s STUNNING)! We’re here to support you. Want to wear a special shirt or outfit that makes you feel fabulous? YESSS!!! Magic. Brooke will also be bringing some of her fabulous photography wardrobe you can consider (hello, dress-up trunk play!).

In addition to the group and individual shots there will also be an opportunity to have small group photos (if you come as a duo or group).

If any/ all of this makes you nervous – please hear this. The photography experience is about being seen as you are. Being celebrated as you are. And you – seeing you with a lens of love, appreciation and (maybe even) celebration.

Some of the beautiful group photos from the 2024 retreat:

Please note: these group images are shared with permission form our 2024 participants. Please know that you always have the choice about if and how your images are shared. For example you might choose to not have your image shared at all, or only in photos where you can’t easily be identified (ie. from the back) or with full consent (you give us permission to share any group image). Regardless of your decision to share, being part of the group photos is a beautiful experience. You will be included in the group shots and your image will be removed after if you don’t consent to us sharing it. Both your participation and honouring your comfort and consent is vital to us. You will also notice that both Brooke and Gillian are in many of these shots. Our participation in the photography is also a vital component to this experience. We believe in embodying and modelling vulnerability and bravery.

The Embrace Retreat Experience Flow:

(NEW this year) Pre-retreat virtual group session: Wednesday, October 15th from 7-9 pm

During this call we will connect as a group, establish group safety/ confidentiality, and set individual and group intentions. This call is vital for establishing the container for the retreat weekend (so that every person gets the most out of the experience). If you are genuinely not able to attend, please contact Gillian or Brooke prior to registering to discuss potential workarounds.

Retreat Weekend: Friday, October 24th at 4 pm – Sunday, October 26th at noon

This is where the magic happens (well, a good portion of it!). Your full weekend is curated and planned to foster curiosity and explore the themes of body image, body neutrality, and body respect. This includes plentiful amounts of a variety of delicious foods, thoughtfully curated group sessions (discussion and experiential), optional (but awesome) joyful movement sessions, the one-of-a kind Embrace Photography experience, journal prompts, and so much more.

(NEW this year) Post-retreat virtual group session: Wednesday, November 5th from 7-9 pm

This will be our final group session, during which we will have the opportunity to ask questions, discuss insights since the retreat weekend, debrief the experience of receiving the photos captured during the retreat, and consider how to continue to integrate and expand into greater body neutrality and respect (maybe even appreciation).

(NEW this year) Private Group Chat via Signal

We will utilize Signal (similar to WhatsApp but more secure) as an (optional) means to communicate as a group after our first Zoom session (and running through our final Group session on November 5). This will be a space to chat about what to bring, get your questions answered, or simply connect with the group!

Please be advised:

This is a clean/sober event. We are committed to this experience being positive and supportive for all involved. We feel this is best accomplished without any mood-altering substances. We will provide an array of yummy non-alcoholic beverages (and you’re more than welcome to bring any non-alcoholic beverages you love).

Register NOW!

Registration is OPEN, but only until we reach capacity (there are currently 3 spots left!). So if you’d thinking about it, don’t delay!

Cancellation policy: 30 days or more before the start date of the retreat experience (deadline: September 15, 2025), we are happy to offer a full refund less $150 admin fee. 0-29 days before the start date of the retreat no refunds will be given. If you are unable to attend, but can find someone to take your spot, we are open to this as long as they can complete appropriate forms and provide us with relevant information.

Your Embrace Experience Facilitators:

This retreat is a collaboration between Super You (Gillian Goerzen), pictured on the left, and Captured Essence Photography (Brooke Hewitt-Morgan), pictured on the right. We are both passionate about changing the way women view their bodies and are so excited to share this day with you! We believe in immersing ourselves in this experience right alongside you. We will be part of the photography experience too! Because body peace – it’s a practice (and we still need to practice too – because we’re humans!).

What participants had to say about their experience:

What a powerful day. Something beautiful happens when women come together in love and support of each other. We were a group of strangers but Gillian and Brooke bonded us in such a beautiful way. To say the photography experience was amazing feels trite. It was inspiring, it was fun, it was empowering. Brooke has a way of making you feel so comfortable, and her gift behind the lens led to so many gorgeous photos. The conversation Gillian facilitated was powerful and real. We have work to do, as women, to re claim our place in the world. And Gillian and Brooke are making that work a little easier by building safe, open communities of women. Much love and respect to you both.

Julia

I went into this day with great trepidation, but I am SO GLAD I went. It was a really powerful day looking at preconceived notions about how I felt about my body and the way I show up in the world. It was a powerful day confronting some stories I’ve had and the way I have let them limit me, or censor me, hold me back from sharing myself authentically and without reservations. The photo experience captured me with such ease and being so fully in the moment that it was really profound. I am excited for the impact this experience will have on my life moving forward.

Cheryl

What a day that was spent at the Embrace Retreat. Women coming together to support and reflect. This world needs to hear this and change their mind on body positivity. The photo shoot was spectacular and was all about supporting each other and feeling great about ourselves.

Erin

If you are considering joining this retreat STOP and sign up!!!! It was very well thought out and the content was impressive and empowering. The food… Delish! Very worth the price paid. I was so very happy to be a part of the wonderful group of diverse women. The personality’s just worked. I felt safe and respected. I give huge compliments to Gillian and Brooke for this collaboration. Excellent!!!

Chelaine

What an incredible day, listening, learning and sharing. There is such power in a group! Gillian and Brooke were amazing at facilitating conversations with respect and kindness. I recommend this retreat to anyone wanting to get closer to body peace.

Justine

I found the embrace retreat to be a real eye opener and an AMAZING experience ! I felt safe and guided, was able to really express myself without any anxiety or fear. The process of listening to other women and their experiences and thoughts reminded me that I am not alone in how I feel, the fears I have and that I DO have the ability to change the story I tell myself and to help others do that as well. After a couple of weeks I am still feeling the love and gratitude that I felt that day and am feeling more comfortable in my own skin – it was and continues to be a strong life changing force. I soooo look forward to more retreats, more growth, more self love and more connection with strong badass women in all phases of their life and growth! The connection, realness and truth I felt filled my soul with a peace I have not felt in a long time – I saw a glimpse of “me” that has been missing!

Jen

I participated previously, would I gain value from coming again?

In short, YES! Not only will the conversations be completely unique (because they never are exactly the same, are they?), but you’ll have the opportunity to deepen and grow even further into this experience. It’s kind of like watching a movie you’ve seen before. Each time you see slightly different things, and deepen your understanding of the characters (in this case you!).

Plus with a completely unique photography experience this year (and a little more comfort since you’ve been in front of the camera before), you’ll have a new opportunity to shine!

Questions?

We love them! Feel free to email either of us directly! You can contact Gillian here, or Brooke here.