NEW DATES! November 14 - 16, 2025, Peoria, IL

Do you struggle with any of these issues?

• Feeling more concerned with others than self, rather than a balance of individual and relational needs

• Constantly apologizing even for very minor things, like having basic needs or taking up space

• Craving validation and letting people take advantage of you

• Struggling to say no and feeling guilty or mean when you set a reasonable boundary

• You expect yourself to be perfect and hold yourself to high standards

• Have a hard time enjoying life and simply having fun in the moment

• Are extremely loyal, even in the face of evidence that the loyalty is undeserved

• Avoiding conflict in an effort to minimize the risk of abandonment or a relationship rupture

• Unpredictable behavior, possibly due to chaotic childhood environments

• Feeling isolated or uneasy around other people and hyper independence, leading to difficulty in relationships

• Challenges in romantic relationships, such as emotional dysregulation and trust issues

• Overreacting to changes and deep desire for control and predictability

• Not feeling sure what is “normal” or “healthy” in relationships

• Approval seeking or people pleasing behaviors in an effort to be loved or needed, but at a personal cost or loss of personhood

• Tending to love those who need rescuing

• Willing to do anything to avoid perceived or actual abandonment by loved ones

• Often find yourself in one-sided relationships with loved ones or friends

• Judge yourself without mercy or grace for imperfections

• Resenting always being asked to do more and wishing people would consider your feelings and needs

• You hate to see anyone hurt, afraid, sad, or uncomfortable, and then feel like you have to fix it for them.

If you feel yourself relating to several of these struggles, please consider joining our intensive. We can help you peel back the layers of your story, find a better understanding of how you got to where you are, and begin the journey to finding yourself again.

Connections: A Healing Trauma & Reclaiming of Self Workshop for Women

We don’t have a workshop scheduled at the moment. Check back here for updates on upcoming dates!

What is an intensive workshop?

With traditional one-on-one therapy, you attend an hour-long therapy session once a week, maybe every other week; eventually moving to as-needed sessions. Our therapeutic intensives offer multiple hours of therapy in a given day, and are scheduled in multi-day increments.

These elongated sessions are particularly helpful for addressing trauma work. This is because you have more time to cover content and do more therapeutic work in a given day vs. over several weeks. Intensives may be a great fit for those whose schedules might make weekly therapy a challenge.

What if I feel nervous about sharing in a group?

It is very normal to feel apprehensive about sharing your story, and nothing will be forced in this process. We do invite you to lean into discomfort because that is where the real healing happens. By sharing our stories with others, we reclaim pieces of history for ourselves, but now we are in control of writing the narrative.

"Shame cannot survive being spoken," Brene Brown says. "It cannot survive empathy."

But what if I don’t have any trauma?

First, let’s define what we mean by trauma. Judy Crane writes, “Trauma is anything less than nurturing that changes your vision of yourself and your place in the world.” Yes, trauma can come in the form of single major life events such as physical or sexual abuse and death, but it may also be more contextual, such as bullying, a narcissistic partner, attachment breaks, emotional neglect, and chaotic or unhealthy generational patterns learned from our families.

Yes, it is possible that you do not have trauma, but more often than not it is simply part of the human condition. We would love to explore this with you further, especially if the above list of issues resonates with you.

What does the workshop cost?

One of the benefits of an intensive is that many clients are able to make gains forward that might take months of weekly counseling. We offer a very small group size, with a maximum of 12 participants.

The Connections workshop intensive is $700, and $650 if you register by our early bird deadline after the event sign up is live. You may reserve your spot immediately with a $200 deposit and pay monthly installments until the workshop date.

Registration

Space in each workshop is limited, so register now. Your space will be reserved on receipt of your $200 deposit. Registration ends one week prior to workshop date to give time for all materials to be prepared. We are also offering payment plan options. Please reach out directly to Dr. Stivers to set up a payment schedule.

Please note any food allergies or special food accommodations when you register.

Prior to the workshop, Dr. Courtney Stivers will email you a history questionnaire so the workshop can be customized to the specific needs of each person and the group.

Please email courtney@summitfamily.net if you have any questions or concerns about the intensive.

Where should I stay?

**Pending final details

Workshop registration does not include the cost of your hotel room.

Example Workshop Schedule

• Friday

  • 5:00 pm - Introductions Group Session

  • 6:00 pm - Dinner

  • 7:00 pm - What is Trauma? Group Session

  • 8:00 pm - Return to Rooms

• Saturday

  • Breakfast (on your own)

  • 11:00 am - Morning Session (breaks as needed)

  • 12:30 pm - Lunch

  • 1:30 pm - Afternoon Session (breaks as needed)

  • 6:00 pm - Dinner

  • 7:00 pm - Evening Session (breaks as needed)

  • 9:00 pm - Return to Rooms

• Sunday

  • 9:00 am Breakfast

  • 9:00 am - Morning Session (breaks as needed)

  • 11:00 am - Wrap up & Say Goodbye!

What is the cancellation policy?

Your registration fee is non-refundable, but transferable. Once registered, if unforeseen circumstances prevent you from attending a workshop, you will have the opportunity to transfer your fee to any other service provided through Summit Family Therapy including other workshops, intensives, groups, or retreats within 12 months of the registration date instead. However, there will be a $75 transfer fee applied. All classes are enrolled on a first come, first serve basis. If the workshop is cancelled by the presenters, the option will be given for a full refund or a complimentary transfer will be provided.

**LIMITED AVAILABILITY**