Menopause Retreat

1. The Biology of Midlife
2. Integrated Medical & Clinical Care
3. Identity & Shame Resilience

The Biology of Midlife

Understanding how hormonal transition can influence sleep, mood, stress tolerance, cravings, motivation, emotional regulation, and overall capacity. Biology matters, and when women understand what is happening in their bodies, they can move through this season with more clarity and compassion.

Integrated Medical & Clinical Care

Evidence-based, trauma-responsive psychotherapy and addiction counselling adapted to the realities of peri- to post-menopause. Exploring the story without understanding the biology can leave women feeling blamed, while understanding the biology without exploring the story can leave women feeling pathologized.

Identity & Shame Resilience

Exploring the stories, beliefs, and expectations that shape how women see themselves through the lens of Dr. Brené Brown’s research and The Daring Way™ methodology.

The Inside Work is a holistic approach to recovery and a place where women can explore their lives with curiosity, self-compassion, and courage.

Who It’s For

The Inside Work is designed for women in peri- to post-menopause who are navigating recovery, identity shifts, and the physical and emotional changes of midlife.

This program may be for women who are questioning whether what they are experiencing is “normal,” feeling overwhelmed by hormonal transition, drinking more than they would like, struggling with food, body shame, burnout, anxiety, perfectionism, or patterns of coping through work, achievement, caretaking, shopping, or constant busyness.

It is also for women navigating relapse, recovery challenges, moral distress, self-abandonment, or the experience of feeling like a stranger in their own body and mind.

The program offers a space for exploration, education, empathy, and emergence.

Arrival
Sunday
Departure
Saturday
Core Program Hours
9:00 AM – 4:00 PM Daily
Lunch & Rest Period
12:00 PM – 2:00 PM
Each day includes:
- Facilitated group sessions
- Clinical education and therapeutic exploration
- Small-group dialogue
- Guided reflection and journaling
- Somatic and embodiment practices
- Creative expression and experiential activities
- Dedicated time for rest and integration
- Connection with nature
- Access to restorative wellness experiences, including infrared sauna and cold plunge
Additional Therapies and Activities Include:
- Vitamin therapy
- Massage & bodywork
- …and more
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Participants leave The Inside Work with:
- A deeper understanding of the biology of midlife and recovery
- Greater awareness of the patterns that influence their coping behaviours
- Practical tools for navigating stress, cravings, anxiety, and overwhelm
- Increased self-compassion and shame resilience
- A stronger sense of identity and self-trust
- Meaningful connection with other women navigating similar experiences
- A personalized plan for continued healing and growth

The Journey

We begin by exploring the biological realities of midlife and how hormonal transition influences mood, motivation, sleep, stress tolerance, emotional regulation, reward pathways, cravings, and our desire to reach outside of ourselves to cope.
Understanding what is happening in our bodies and brains is often the first step in releasing shame.
Midlife has a way of bringing unfinished stories to the surface such as scripts about our worthiness to be seen, heard, loved, and valued.
Through therapeutic exploration, guided reflection, and connection with like-hearted women, participants are invited to examine the stories that have shaped their lives and decide which chapters they wish to continue writing and which ones they are ready to close.
Many women arrive knowing they are overwhelmed, exhausted, anxious, or disconnected, yet struggle to identify what they are actually feeling on a deeper level.
Drawing from emotional literacy frameworks, participants learn how emotions can serve as information rather than problems to solve. By cultivating curiosity, self-awareness, and emotional fluency, participants can build a stronger connection to their internal landscape.
Most coping strategies start as solutions. They may have helped us manage stress, loneliness, grief, uncertainty, overwhelm, or pain.
But over time, what once offered relief can become maladaptive and cause harm.
Together we explore what sits beneath the urge to numb, escape, achieve, perform, control, or disappear – with curiosity rather than judgement. Because understanding what a behaviour has been doing for us is often the first step toward discovering what we truly long for.
Drawing from The Daring Way™ framework, participants identify what is no longer working and develop greater awareness of the patterns that keep them stuck.
Healing requires bravery. And bravery requires solidarity and support.
In a trauma-informed, supportive, and invitational environment, participants can explore vulnerability, shame, fear, and uncertainty while cultivating the capacity to stay present with what arises.
Like the seasons, tides, and moon, our bodies are designed to move in cycles.
Yet many women have spent years overriding their natural rhythms in service of productivity, caregiving, achievement, and survival.
Together we explore the role circadian biology plays in regulation, restoration, and recovery. Participants learn how reconnecting with the body's innate rhythms can support healing and create a foundation for a more sustainable way of life.
Recovery is cultivated in small, consistent practices – and within intentional acts of joy – that bring us back to center and into enchantment with our lives.
The Ritual invites participants to explore the daily rituals, restorative habits, and intentional practices that support nervous system regulation, emotional wellbeing, recovery resilience, creativity, connection, and self-trust. Together we examine how small, consistent acts of care can become anchors during seasons of uncertainty and change.
Participants begin to release inherited beliefs, societal expectations, and ways of being that have worked to disenchant, disempower, and disconnect us from ourselves, each other, and the natural world.
Together we will reclaim our right to rest, belong, and take up space.
Healing doesn’t end when the program concludes.
Participants will leave with practical tools, a personalized plan for ongoing support, resources, deep connections with like-hearted women, and a clearer understanding of how they want to move forward in this next chapter of life.

A Therapeutic & Healing Environment

Healing happens in relationships, with ourselves, others, and the environments that surround us. Every aspect of The Inside Work has been designed with these relationships in mind.

The Setting

Located on Gabriola Island, British Columbia, The Healing Institute at Taylor Bay is nestled between forest and sea, surrounded by the rugged beauty of Canada’s West Coast.

Overlooking the Pacific Ocean, this serene setting offers a place of refuge from the relentless pace of everyday life.

The beauty of the natural world, including ocean tides, towering evergreens, birdsong, and expansive skies, creates an awe-inspiring environment for rest, reflection, and renewal.

To learn more about the retreat venue click here.

Nourishment

Food as medicine, and as a source of joy, is woven into the experience. Throughout the five-day intensive, participants are nourished with delicious, balanced meals created by a team of seasoned professionals who understand that healing is supported not only through therapy and reflection, but also through rest, rhythm, and nourishment.

Meals are thoughtfully prepared to support the body during a time of deep inner work, while also creating moments of comfort, pleasure, and connection. Shared meals offer space to slow down, be cared for, and experience food as part of the healing environment.

Community

We are not alone in our struggles, our stories, or our recovery. It is our birthright to heal and belong in community.

At The Inside Work, participants are invited into a small, carefully curated cohort where empathy, connection, and community care are at the heart of the experience. Through shared reflection, meaningful conversation, and the simple act of being witnessed, participants are reminded that healing does not have to happen in isolation.

Rest & Integration

The Inside Work intentionally includes space for reflection, slow time, contemplation, and integration.

Rest is a revolutionary act of self-love and miracles can happen when we create space for them to manifest.

“Before attending, I felt overwhelmed and under-informed. I left with greater understanding, meaningful connections, and a powerful reminder that I am not alone. The vulnerability, wisdom, and sense of community were truly beautiful.”
“I came for the sense of community, and I found it. My grief felt seen, my faith in humanity was restored, and I left with a deeper appreciation for my body and a gentler relationship with myself. Thank you for the care, wisdom, and heart you brought to this experience.”
“I left feeling educated, validated, inspired, and deeply supported. I felt safe, welcomed, celebrated, and grateful to be part of such a powerful experience.”
“There is something deeply restorative about being held by both the program and the environment at The Healing Institute. The food is enriching, the accommodations are warm and welcoming, and the natural beauty of the property was soothing. It felt like a sanctuary.”
“For the first time, I understood that what I was experiencing wasn't a personal failure. Learning about the connection between hormones, recovery, stress, and coping helped me make sense of my life and gave me a sense of hope. I left feeling empowered and less alone.”

You Are Not Broken

Women are often taught that we need to be more: disciplined, productive, tolerant, resilient, and in control when it comes to navigating life stressors and changes.

The Inside Work is an invitation to reject the story that your struggles are evidence of personal failure, and instead listen to what your body is longing for.

You deserve to reclaim the parts of you that have been waiting to be called back home.

This is the inside work.

Frequently Asked Questions

No. The Inside Work is designed for women who identify as being in recovery, women who are questioning their relationship with certain coping behaviours, and women who simply recognize that something in their lives needs to change.
Recovery is understood broadly and may include recovery from substances, mental health issues, disordered eating, burnout, perfectionism, people-pleasing, overworking, self-abandonment, and/or related life challenges.
No. The Inside Work is not a detoxification or medically supervised withdrawal program. Participants who require detoxification or medical stabilization must complete that process prior to attending, and can do so at The Healing Institute.
Please contact us to discuss whether this program is the best fit for your current needs.
The primary format is therapeutic group programming. Individual sessions or consultations may be available and will be outlined prior to registration.
The Inside Work combines a trauma-informed approach with clinical education and therapeutic exploration. While psychotherapy-informed approaches are integrated throughout the experience, the program is not intended to replace ongoing mental health treatment or medical care.
Women experience midlife differently. While hormonal transition is a central focus of the program, participants may be at different stages of the journey. The material is designed to support women navigating the physical, emotional, mental, relational, spiritual, and identity shifts that often emerge during midlife.
Program-specific medical services, assessments, and testing will be outlined before registration opens. Any optional medical services would be discussed during the intake process.
Accommodation options will be provided prior to registration. Private and shared accommodations are available at The Healing Institute.
Each day includes a blend of education, therapeutic exploration, group discussion, reflective practices, embodiment work, nature-based experiences, rest, and integration time. The schedule is intentionally paced to support healing without overwhelm.
The Inside Work is designed to be accessible to women with varying levels of mobility and physical capacity. Participation in movement and experiential activities is invitational, and accommodations will be made whenever possible.
Yes. All general programming is wheelchair accessible and accessible accommodations are available. Some of the natural landscape, such as walking trails and parts of the beach, are not wheelchair friendly.
Registered and certified service animals are welcome. Please notify us of your needs upon registration.
Meals are designed to be nourishing, balanced, joyful, and aligned with the program's recovery-focused philosophy. Dietary restrictions, allergies, and accommodations will be discussed during the intake process.
Participants leave with practical tools, personalized next steps, resources, and ongoing recommendations for support. Optional follow-up offerings and community connection opportunities may also be available.
The program is intentionally kept small to support meaningful connection, individualized attention, participant wellbeing, and a strong sense of community. Each cohort is limited to a maximum of 15 participants.
A pre-program conversation or intake process will help determine whether The Inside Work is aligned with your needs, goals, and current circumstances. If another program would better serve you, we will do our best to help guide you toward alternative resources.

Women’s Menopause Retreat

The Inside Work for Women

A Revolutionary Approach

The Biology of Midlife

Integrated Medical & Clinical Care

Identity & Shame Resilience

Who It’s For

The Programming

Arrival

Departure

Core Program Hours

Lunch & Rest Period

Each day includes:

Additional Therapies and Activities Include:

Participants leave The Inside Work with: