May 23–24, 2026 · Moscow, Idaho · In-Person Retreat
WHO THIS RETREAT IS FOR
This retreat is designed specifically for adoptees who are seeking deeper healing, integration, and embodied belonging.
You may feel drawn to this retreat if you are:
navigating identity loss, fragmentation, or grief related to adoption
longing for community where your lived experience is understood
ready to explore the next layer of your healing journey
seeking trauma-informed, non-clinical healing tools
deeply moved by Un-M-Othered or themes of voice, body, and belonging
No writing, performance, or somatic experience is required. This retreat centers your lived experience, not productivity or performance.
WHAT THIS RETREAT IS
Un-M-Othered: A Revolution in Adoptee Healing is a two-day, in-person immersive retreat that brings together film, somatic practice, narrative integration, and community care in a trauma-informed container.
Anchored in the filmed version of the award-winning solo show Un-M-Othered and grounded in the Migrating Toward Wholeness™ narrative framework and the 7-Phase Belonging Blueprint™ somatic framework, this retreat offers adoptees a rare opportunity to experience healing that is embodied, relational, and integrative.
This is not a conference or support group.
It is a carefully held healing experience created by adoptees, for adoptees.
WHY THIS RETREAT MATTERS
Many adoptee spaces focus on awareness or community alone. This retreat is different.
This weekend is intentionally designed as a catalytic healing arc, not a passive experience or surface-level gathering. Every element, from the film screening to somatic work to narrative integration, is intentionally chosen to support adoptees in moving toward wholeness, truth, and embodied belonging.
Witnessing → Opening → Integrating → Settling → Belonging
This is healing that lives in the body, the story, and the shared experience of being seen, heard, and understood.
HOW THE RETREAT UNFOLDS
Day 1 — Saturday, May 23 | Opening Into the Work
2:00–5:30 PM
Film screening of Un-M-Othered
Guided community dialogue and integration
Somatic healing workshop with Julie Brumley
6:30 PM
Communal dinner (included)
8:00 PM
Optional community connection time
Day 2 — Sunday, May 24 | Integrating the Story
10:00 AM–12:00 PM
Migrating Toward Wholeness™ narrative healing workshop with Dr. Liz DeBetta
12:00 PM
Picnic lunch and nature walk (included)
WHERE & LOGISTICS
Location: Moscow, Idaho
Format: In-person, two-day immersive retreat
Meals: Saturday dinner and Sunday picnic lunch included
Travel & accommodations: Arranged by participants
A hotel option has been identified for participants. Details will be shared after registration.
iNVESTMENT
$595 per participant
Your registration includes:
all retreat programming
film screening
somatic and narrative healing workshops
Saturday dinner
Sunday picnic lunch
retreat materials and workbooks
Travel and accommodations are not included. A discounted room rate has been secured at the hotel for all attendees.
FACILITATORS
Dr. Liz DeBetta (she/her)
Award-winning solo performance artist, writer, educator, and founder of Migrating Toward Wholeness™. Creator of Un-M-Othered and author of Adult Adoptees and Writing to Heal. Liz’s work centers narrative healing, voice reclamation, identity integration, and transforming silence into language and action.
Julie Brumley, M.A. (she/her) Adoptee, trauma-informed somatic coach, and creator of the 7-Phase Belonging Blueprint™. Host of the Resilience Project Podcast, Julie supports adoptees in reconnecting with their bodies, regulating their nervous systems, and cultivating embodied self-belonging.
WHAT YOU’LL LEAVE WITH
Participants will leave with:
deeper understanding of their adoption experience
somatic tools for emotional regulation and safety
renewed connection to body and internal cues
narrative practices for ongoing healing
increased clarity around identity and belonging
a felt sense of being witnessed and not alone
Ready to Join Us?
This retreat is intentionally intimate and space is limited.
We can’t wait to see you there!
Frequently Asked Questions
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No. This retreat offers educational and experiential healing practices and is not a substitute for psychotherapy or clinical mental health treatment. While the work is trauma-informed and deeply supportive, it is not therapy.
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This retreat is designed specifically for adoptees seeking somatic, narrative, and relational healing. You do not need prior experience with writing, somatic practices, or performance.
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Not at all. This retreat centers lived experience, not artistic skill. All practices are accessible and guided.
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Your $595 registration includes:
all retreat programming
film screening of Un-M-Othered
somatic healing workshop
Migrating Toward Wholeness™ narrative integration workshop
Saturday dinner
Sunday picnic lunch
retreat materials and workbooks
-
Travel and accommodations are not included and are the responsibility of participants.
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A recommended hotel option has been identified for participants. Details will be shared after registration.
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You’ll be asked about dietary needs during registration. If you have accessibility questions or concerns, please reach out in advance so we can support you as best we can.
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Emotional activation can be part of healing work. The retreat is structured with grounding, choice, and nervous-system support throughout. You are always invited to participate at your own pace and step back when needed.