Healing With Horses Malibu Retreat: A Somatic Reset for Grief and Trauma
Our next retreat is April 30 to May 3 in Malibu, California.
If you are high functioning and holding it together for everyone, but your body feels like it is quietly falling apart, this is for you.
Most women I work with are not “a mess.” They are capable, responsible, and dependable. And they are exhausted. Grief and trauma do not always look like crying on the floor. Sometimes it looks like over-functioning, smiling through it, staying busy, and wondering why you still feel on edge.
This Healing With Horses Malibu Retreat is a trauma informed, somatic experience designed to help your nervous system finally exhale. It is not about fixing you. You are not broken. It is about helping your body release what it has been carrying.
Why grief and trauma need more than talk
A lot of people try to heal from the neck up. Reading, analyzing, understanding, powering through.
But grief and trauma live in the body.
They show up like this:
tension you cannot “stretch out”
brain fog and forgetfulness
sleep disruption and exhaustion
numbness, shutdown, or feeling far away from yourself
anxiety, dread, or panic that comes out of nowhere
irritability, snapping, or feeling flooded
people pleasing and struggling to set boundaries
the constant thought, “I should be over this by now”
This retreat gives you a different doorway. A body-based one.
What healing with horses actually does
You do not need horse experience. You do not need to ride. You do not need to be fearless.
Horses are wired for safety and connection. They are prey animals, which means they are naturally attuned to nervous system states. They respond to what is real, not what is polished.
In a horse-guided session, we work on the ground and focus on experiences such as:
noticing what your nervous system does near connection
practicing boundaries in real time (yes, with a thousand-pound truth teller)
learning regulation through breath, posture, and presence
rebuilding trust in your body’s signals
experiencing co-regulation without needing to explain everything
For many women, this becomes a turning point. Not because they “try harder,” but because their body finally gets a new experience of safety.
What’s included in the
Healing With Horses Malibu Retreat
This is a small-group, trauma informed retreat. The container is intentional. You will be supported without being pushed.
Depending on the retreat flow, you can expect a blend of:
Horse-guided healing sessions
Ground-based equine experiences designed to support grief, trauma, boundaries, and nervous system regulation.
Nervous system education and tools
Simple, practical tools you can use in real life when you feel flooded, numb, anxious, or stuck.
Sound bath for deep downshifting
A sound bath experience that helps your body soften, settle, and restore. Sometimes the body needs a wordless reset.
Group circles and connection
Not performative sharing. Real support. A space where you do not have to minimize your story.
Integration time
This part matters. You will have time to rest, journal, walk, and let your system absorb what is happening.
Nourishing meals and Malibu restoration
Food that supports your body and a setting that helps you breathe again.
What you will leave with
This retreat is not a “high” you chase and lose when you get home. It is designed to give you lasting shifts and tools.
Women often leave with:
more capacity and less overwhelm
clearer boundaries without the guilt hangover
fewer shame spirals and a kinder inner voice
a deeper ability to feel without getting hijacked
tools that work when you are triggered
a felt sense of safety they can return to later
connection that makes them feel less alone
And yes, many women sleep better. That is not a small thing.
Who this Malibu retreat is for
This retreat is for you if:
you are grieving a death, divorce, estrangement, or identity loss
you have trauma history and feel stuck in survival mode
you are high functioning and exhausted
your body feels braced, tense, or numb
you want something deeper than talk, but not weird or fluffy
you want a nervous system reset in a safe, grounded container
You do not need to be in crisis to come. Sometimes the bravest thing is coming before you crash.
Dates and invitation
The next Healing With Horses Malibu Retreat is April 30 to May 3.
Spots are intentionally limited so the work stays intimate, safe, and well supported.
If your body is whispering “yes,” listen.
Ready for details?
Visit the Healing With Horses page on my website to see full retreat info and registration.
If you are coming from Instagram, comment MALIBURETREAT and we will send you the link.
FAQ
Do I have to ride a horse?
No. This retreat is ground-based. No riding required.
What if I’m scared of horses?
That is okay. We go slowly. Consent and choice are built into the process.
Is this therapy?
It is trauma informed and therapeutic, but it is not a substitute for ongoing mental health treatment. Many women attend alongside therapy and find it accelerates their healing.
What should I bring?
Comfortable layers, closed-toe shoes, and a journal. You will receive a full packing list after you register.