
Women's Trauma Recovery Workshops

Led by Dr. Courtney Stivers
Yoga Sessions Led by Regina Bridges, MA, LCPC
Britny Wallace, BA, MA (in progress)
YOU WILL LEARN:
Strategies for increased emotional self-awareness, self-regulation, self-compassion, and self-care
To identify and better understand the impact of trauma on self
Coping skills for building resilience and ownership of self
Bodywork techniques: such as yoga, breath work, etc.
November 14 - 16, 2025
THE PRICE FOR OUR WOMEN ONLY WORKSHOP INCLUDES:
12+ hours of intensive group therapy
Mindfulness and body connection focused self soothing practices
A small cohort of supportive women
A deeper understanding of how trauma affects our bodies and our relationships
Guided therapeutic exercises customized for the needs of each group
A safe space to share your story and reclaim your self
Four meals (Friday dinner, Saturday lunch & dinner, Sunday breakfast)
Private meeting room
New Offering! A complimentary video or phone consultation with Dr. Stivers prior to the event
Do you struggle with any of these issues?
Prioritizing others’ needs over your own, with difficulty balancing individuality and relationships
Constant apologizing, even for basic needs or taking up space
Struggling to say “no,” feeling guilty for setting healthy boundaries
Seeking validation, people-pleasing, and tolerating one-sided or exploitative relationships
Staying loyal even when it’s undeserved; tending to “rescue” others
Avoiding conflict to prevent abandonment or relationship rupture
Perfectionism, harsh self-criticism, and difficulty enjoying the moment
Discomfort in relationships due to trust issues, emotional dysregulation, or hyper-independence
Overreacting to changes, craving control and predictability
Uncertainty about what’s “normal” or “healthy” in relationships
Resentment over always being asked to do more without your needs considered
Feeling responsible for fixing others’ pain or discomfort
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
November 14 - 16, 2025
Hosted at Soulside Healing Arts
1311 SW Adams St, Peoria, IL 61602
Where is the intensive workshop?
We’re thrilled to partner with Soulside Healing Arts for this year’s retreat! This wonderful local non-profit is dedicated to making yoga accessible—both physically and financially—for our community. If you’ve ever stepped into Soulside, you know it’s a peaceful, inviting space that feels like an instant exhale.





Still have questions?
Fill out some info and we will be in touch shortly! We would love to answer any questions you have via email or set up a phone consultation with Dr. Stivers.
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.
Most weekend workshops start at $1500, and all-inclusive options may be upwards of $6000. This is in addition to travel expenses.
In an effort to serve our community and keep our offerings affordable, the Connections workshop intensive is priced at $700, and $650 if you register by our early bird deadline on August 31, 2025 (CODE: EARLYBIRD2025). You may reserve your spot immediately with a $200 deposit and pay monthly installments until the workshop date.
Early Registration Payment Plan
$200 Deposit in August
$150 due September 8, 2025
$150 due October 8, 2025
$150 due November 8, 2025
Registration
Space in each workshop is limited, so register now. 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?
For our out of town guests, we recommend a few local hotels. For those who live in the area, we still advise that it is best to stay at a hotel. This is not required, but will assist you in temporarily unplugging from the busyness and stress of regular life.
Embassy Suites by Hilton East Peoria Riverfront Hotel & Conference Center
Peoria Marriott Pere Marquette
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 Hotel
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 Hotel
Sunday
9:00 am - Breakfast
9:30 am - Morning Session (breaks as needed)
12:00 pm - 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.