Who We Serve
At Phoenix Haven, we serve families who have experienced the unimaginable loss of a child. This sacred space is created for parents, siblings, and caregivers to find support, healing, and hope through guided retreats. Each family is welcomed with compassion and care, no matter how recent or distant their loss may be.
Our guests are nominated by their loved ones—friends, neighbors, church communities, teachers, and supporters and gifted a fully-funded retreat scholarship, so they can attend at no personal cost. It’s our way of ensuring no grieving family walks this journey alone.
Selection Process
We believe that healing should be accessible to all. That’s why our nominations-based scholarship model allows anyone to recommend a grieving family for a retreat stay.
Here’s how it works:
1)
Nomination Submitted by someone who knows the family’s story
2)
Family Contacted with Care, ensuring readiness and interest
3)
Scholarship Granted through community fundraising or Phoenix Haven's support fund
4)
Retreat Scheduled, and the journey toward healing begins
The Initial Visit
The first retreat typically takes place 3 to 18 months after the loss, when the grief is still fresh and often overwhelming. These retreats focus on:
-
Understanding the different modes of grief and how they show up in daily life
-
Learning the grief process, including stages, myths, and what healthy grieving can look like
-
Honoring the child’s memory through rituals, stories, and symbolic acts
-
Teaching tools for recognizing triggers and coping with emotional waves
-
Offering quiet space, nature, and a supportive community to rest and reflect
This visit is about permission to grieve, space to be broken, and finding light in the presence of others who understand.
Return Visits
Grief doesn’t end after one retreat—it evolves, and so do we. That’s why we invite families to return for follow-up retreats over the coming years.
Return visits shift the focus from intense grief to rebuilding relationships, rediscovering identity, and living with the loss in a sustainable way. These sessions emphasize:
-
Communication and connection within the family
-
Navigating anniversaries and complex milestones
-
Deepening coping techniques and emotional awareness
-
Rebuilding purpose and identity beyond the trauma
-
Sustaining relationships in a post-loss world
Each return is a chance to reconnect, go deeper, and receive continued support—because healing is not a destination, but a lifelong journey.
Our Healing Process Includes:
Grief Education & Compassionate Counseling
Understanding the grief process and how loss impacts individuals and families
Family Support Circles
Connecting with others who understand your pain and offer mutual support
Mind-Body Wellness
Gentle yoga, guided breathwork, and nature walks for nervous system regulation
Memory-Making Rituals
Honoring your child’s life through meaningful activities and reflection
Tools for Ongoing Coping
Learning how to live with grief, identify emotional triggers, and build resilience over time
Creative Expression & Symbolic Healing
Art, music, and journaling to help express and process grief
Sample 5-Day Child Loss Retreat Itinerary
Day Number | Morning Activity | Afternoon Activity | Evening Activity |
|---|---|---|---|
Day 1 | Arrival & Welcome Ceremony | Settling In & Nature Walk | Campfire reflection and storytelling session |
Day 2 | Reflection Circle | Group Grief Session | Candlelight Vigil for Loved Ones |
Day 3 | Journaling & Art Therapy | Memory Ritual (planting, crafting, etc.) | Fireside Sharing & Support |
Day 4 | Gentle Movement & Mindfulness | Family Coaching or Free Time | Sharing circle focused on hope and rebuilding strength |
Day 5 | “Letters to Our Child” Activity | Departure | ___________ |
Participation is always optional. We prioritize emotional safety, quiet spaces, and flexibility.
Carrying Their Light Forward
Whether your loss was recent or many years ago, this retreat isn’t about forgetting—it's about remembering with love and learning how to carry that love forward. At Phoenix Haven, you’ll find a place to grieve openly, connect deeply, and be supported as you navigate a path no parent should walk alone.
If you're ready, we're here. Join us for a retreat designed with your heart in mind.