This deeply meaningful retreat is for women who have experienced Motherloss and are seeking time for themselves to explore their grief and connect with other women who can relate to their grief journey.
This retreat is an invitation to a sacred space where self compassion is fostered, stories are honored, and deep healing is possible.
This retreat is designed for those whose loss occurred 2 or more years ago. However, if you feel called to this experience, but do not meet our 2-year requirement, please reach out to us. We are willing to discuss whether this retreat can meet your current needs.
A peaceful seaside setting
All meals during the retreat
Snacks offered throughout the day during group gatherings
Collective grief informed sessions by two grief and trauma informed facilitators
Take away strategies to support your grief journey
All materials for sessions are supplied
Journal writing sessions with writing prompts
Guided meditations with a focus on self compassion, breathwork and somatic practices
Release ceremony
Table of Remembrance
Indoor book nook shares by the fireplace
Personal gift bag for each participant
Post retreat follow up via Zoom for all participants with retreat Facilitators
Use of the Spa’s fitness facilities and grounds
Accommodations are yours to choose and are not included in the price of the retreat.
Oceanstone Resort and Spa offers waterfront cottages, suites and rooms to meet your individual needs and budget.
Contact them directly to make your reservation and inquire about their luxurious spa treatments and packages including Hydrothermal treatments which are not included in your retreat fee.
Please note that transportation to and from Oceanstone is your responsibility and not included in the retreat fee.
The friendly staff at Oceanstone will be happy to advise you of local transportation available.
We come together at Oceanstone Resort on Friday October 17th, 2025, until Monday October 20th 2025.
Check in is on the 17th at 3:00pm and dinner will be served at 5:30 pm.
We then officially welcome all participants at 7:00pm and begin the retreat in the Great Room.
The retreat comes to an end on Monday October 20th 2025 following closing conversations and a delicious lunch.
Located at the Oceanstone Resort and Spa in Nova Scotia. This retreat will take place within this beautiful seaside resort.
The fee for the Motherloss retreat is $1,295 CDN. ***The cost of the hotel room is not included in this price*** This fee includes grief informed sessions and materials, as well as journal writing prompts, guided meditations, release ceremonies and personal gift bags for all participants.
Connection, personal growth and healing is priceless!
Motherloss is a painful experience at any age, whether the loss was expected or unexpected, or even if you had a complicated relationship with your mother.
This retreat encourages a pathway to deep emotional healing through compassion and collective support. Heidi and Sal are grief and trauma informed facilitators who understand grief as they have experienced mother loss early on in their lives. Years of spiritual healing have supported them in finding meaning to the loss that impacted and shaped their lives. They honor their grief and continue to carry both love and loss in their hearts. This journey has deepened their soul.
Learn more about Heidi and Sal’s journey through grief.
Registered Clinical Social Worker | Grief-Informed Therapist | Mental Health Clinician
Heidi Sturgeon is a Registered Clinical Social Worker with the Nova Scotia College of Social Workers (NSCSW) and has over 28 years of experience supporting individuals and families through life’s most challenging moments. She completed her master’s in clinical social work at the University of Toronto in 1997.
In 2016 Heidi opened her own Private Practice which has since grown into Heidi Sturgeon and Associates Online Therapy. This Virtual group practice offers experienced compassionate mental health care in Atlantic Canada and Ontario. With deep empathy and clinical skill, Heidi creates a supportive space where clients can process their experiences, reconnect with themselves, and find a path forward.
Heidi has also completed a Comprehensive Grief and Loss Training Program with Claire Bidwell Smith and the Motherloss Grief Training for Mental Health Professionals with Hope Edelman and Claire Bidwell Smith She is also a member of the Conscious Grieving Collective, a professional network of grief-informed professionals.
Based in Nova Scotia, Heidi finds joy in being close to the ocean, long walks, good books and moments of quiet reflection
To learn more about Heidi please visit www.heidisturgeon.com
Registered Clinical Social Worker I Grief Informed Therapist I Author
Salvina is a registered Social Worker with over thirty-five years of experience working in various clinical settings. She is a Certified Grief Educator and Member of the David Kessler Grief Community. She is also a member of the Ontario College of Social Workers, as well as the Ontario Association of Social Workers.
In 2015, Salvina launched her private practice, The Cardinal Connection for Hope and Healing and offers both online and in person counselling services.
Salvina has self published two memoirs, My Journey with Josie (2013) and Finding My Abandoned Self (2021) and is currently working on a third.
Salvina resides in Ontario, Canada, has two adult children and two adorable rescue cats.
She enjoys spending time with family and friends, sipping her favorite chamomile -lavender tea and binge -watching episodes of Downton Abbey.
Sal considers herself to be an interior décor enthusiast as she is passionate about creating beautiful and comfortable spaces that invite people to come together to share their life stories.
To learn more about Sal visit her website at www.cardinalconnection.ca
The resort has relaxing spa treatments and a Hydrothermal Nordic Spa. It is surrounded by beaches, trails and stunning natural landscapes
Oceanstone is a modern and peaceful seaside resort and spa. It is located less than an hour from Halifax, Nova Scotia. This resort has relaxing spa treatments, the only Hydrothermal Nordic Spa's in Nova Scotia, and is surrounded by beaches, trails, and stunning natural landscapes.
The rooms here are luxurious and designed for privacy and comfort. There are many areas of this resort to find seclusion and relaxation. The beach is just steps away from the grounds and there are walking paths nearby.
Nova Scotia is a beautiful province to explore
Nova Scotia is stunning in the fall. Peggy’s Cove, Chester, Mahone Bay and Lunenburg are a short drive from the resort and offer a rich history, great food and quaint shops.
To learn more about Nova Scotia and great areas to explore once the retreat has ended, we recommend going HERE.