Our Story
Mending Hearts Retreat is a luxury grief, divorce, and healing retreat. We offer a unique experience for individuals experiencing the hurt and pain of a relationship breakdown, divorce, or grieving the loss of a deceased loved one. Through a range of individual and group therapy sessions, coaching, and social activities, we aim to help people emerge from the healing retreat stronger and better prepared for the future.
Mending Hearts Retreat provides a holistic approach with activities designed to both heal and empower. In addition to therapy sessions, we offer a variety of activities to bond the group and create lasting friendships.
Our healing retreats include daily group therapy, one-to-one therapy, visualisation, social activities, excursions, overnight accommodation, and daily 2-3 healthy, nutritious meals. Yoga and meditation are also integral parts of our program. Plus, it doesn't end there. Once the retreat is over, we create a group on WhatsApp to continue supporting one another during tough days and arrange trips and social meet-ups.
Why Mending Hearts Retreat?
Mending Hearts Retreat was launched during the pandemic while I was personally going through my own divorce. I realised I had little support apart from close friends, but I also didn't want to burden them with my heartbreak. My initial idea to heal my broken heart was to run away and travel the world, visiting old friends in New York, Spain, Canada, Greece, etc. However, as much as I loved travelling, I was still running away, and not dealing with my own feelings and grief over losing my husband so quickly and unexpectedly.
Divorce and separation can lead you to a dark and lonely place. I knew I wasn't alone in my pain. When I finally grounded myself, I was shattered into pieces. I cried every day, from the moment I woke until I struggled to fall asleep at night. It was then that I decided to seek professional help from a relationship counsellor to gather myself and move forward.
I was finally ready to accept divorce counselling to release the pain and mend my broken heart. I enrolled in therapy, and within weeks, I began to feel stronger and more positive about my future alone. It was during this period that I conceived the idea of a divorce retreat, which later expanded to include a grief retreat as well. I wanted to create a safe environment away from home to offer support, build new memories, and provide divorce and grief counselling to those experiencing similar situations, whether through a divorce, a difficult breakup, or bereavement.
Our journey began in East Sussex in 2020, and we've since expanded the retreats worldwide, hosting sessions in Spain, Greece, Morocco and Portugal. Taking the retreats worldwide allows participants not only to benefit from intensive counselling sessions and forge new friendships, but also to enjoy a rejuvenating holiday in the sunshine.
Losing your partner means losing not only your best friend but also your travel companion. Our goal is to help you make new friends, regain confidence in travelling alone, re-invent yourself, and fill the void. We offer opportunities to learn how to travel independently and rebuild your life so you can let go and move forward.
Excursions
By taking our healing retreats internationally, we offer a chance to enjoy a holiday with new friends and discover new opportunities. Our retreats are designed to rebuild confidence and rejuvenate spirits. Whether you are navigating divorce, a difficult breakup, or coping with bereavement, our programs provide a supportive environment to heal and grow. Through therapeutic sessions and group activities, we aim to help you regain strength and rediscover joy.Join us on a journey to heal, connect, and open your heart to new friendships and experiences. By embracing our retreats, you can learn to travel again with confidence, explore new horizons, and find renewed hope for the future.
One-to-One & Daily Group Counselling
On the first day of arrival, each participant will undergo a thorough individual assessment before the group counselling sessions commence the following day. This personalised approach allows our experienced counsellors to gain a deep understanding of each individual's unique circumstances and needs. It also helps to alleviate any anxiety one may have before joining the group sessions.
We recognise the importance of privacy and personal time with a counsellor, which is why we include one-on-one sessions in our comprehensive program. These private sessions provide a safe space for participants to discuss personal concerns and receive tailored support. Our program is designed to ensure that everyone feels comfortable, supported, and ready to engage in the group counselling experience.
Leave With New Friends
Once the healing retreat concludes, participants leave feeling relaxed, happier, and stronger. They not only gain new friends but also become part of a supportive community that continues beyond the retreat. We establish a dedicated WhatsApp group to keep everyone connected, ensuring ongoing support and encouragement. Additionally, we organise regular meet-ups to strengthen these newfound bonds. Many attendees form lasting friendships, and a significant percentage return to experience the retreat again.
Meet The Team
Gilly Da Silva
Life Coach & Founder
Having experienced my own marriage breakdown that led to divorce after 20 years of being together. I realised I was lucky enough to have a strong network of friends to help and support me through such a difficult and sad time. Unfortunately not everyone has friends or family to offer unbiased support. Therefore, with this is mind I decided to create a positive, supportive community a place for both men and women to come together and share their experiences. Leave with new friends, learn to love themselves and be strong enough to move forward onto the next chapter.
Annabel Kicks
Counsellor
I am a fully qualified and experienced Humanistic Therapist integrating Person Centred, Gestalt and Transactional Analysis modalities. I am a registered member of the BACP (British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy).I provide an atmosphere of support, empathy and trust so that my clients feel able to share their feelings without fear of judgement. I believe that client is the expert on themselves and I create a non-judgemental, empathic and authentic relationship which my clients can utilise to enable personal growth.
COUNSELLING & ADVICE
Healing a Broken Heart Through Therapy
The way to healing a broken heart is to talk about it. Our main focus at our retreats is group therapy, but we also offer the option for one-to-one sessions for those who need a little extra time with our therapist. The sessions are focused on how to deal with and overcome grief, anxiety, and taking back your life, ready to move on with the next chapter.
At our retreats, we provide a supportive environment for individuals coping with divorce, grieving the loss of a loved one, or struggling to heal a broken heart. Our experienced therapists are dedicated to helping you navigate these difficult emotions and find a path to healing. Group therapy sessions foster a sense of community and shared experience, while one-to-one sessions offer personalized support tailored to your unique needs.
Whether you're dealing with the aftermath of a divorce or the deep sorrow of grief, our program is designed to help you regain control of your life. By addressing and working through these emotions, you can begin to heal and embrace the future with renewed strength and optimism.
YOGA & MEDITATION
Going through a breakup, divorce, or bereavement is one of the most difficult and saddest experiences to endure in our adult life. We invest 100% into our partners and family, but when that person is suddenly taken away from us, it can have a tremendous effect on our lives and well-being. Attending a grief retreat or a divorce retreat can provide the support and guidance needed during these challenging times.
By introducing yoga and meditation into your daily routine, our retreats can help clear tension and stress, providing you with the ability to think more clearly and rediscover yourself. These practices are integral to the healing process, allowing you to find inner peace and emotional balance.
Our grief retreats are specifically designed to support individuals coping with the profound sorrow of loss, offering a compassionate environment to share your feelings and connect with others who understand your pain. Similarly, our divorce retreats focus on helping you navigate the emotional turbulence of a relationship ending, offering tools and strategies to rebuild your life and move forward with confidence.
Whether you are dealing with the heartache of a breakup, the challenges of a divorce, or the pain of bereavement, our retreats offer a holistic approach to healing. Embrace the opportunity to heal, grow, and rediscover your strength through our supportive and nurturing programs.
SOCIAL ACTIVITIES
It's just as important for our well-being to add a little bit of fun to the retreat. This also helps bond the group. Our retreats are perfect for those seeking solo holidays to meet new friends and create lasting connections. We organize sightseeing trips, group lunches, engaging workshops, and social meet-ups that continue even after the retreat ends. These activities not only enhance the healing experience but also help participants form new friendships that can last a lifetime.
Whether you are dealing with the heartache of a breakup, the challenges of a divorce, or the pain of bereavement, our retreats offer a holistic approach to healing. Embrace the opportunity to heal, grow, and rediscover your strength through our supportive and nurturing programs, while also enjoying the chance to bond with others and make new friends for life.
Our Stories