Therapist Offers Retreat for Trauma Recovery
By: Alexander Hassel
Updated: December 23, 2012
She's opened up a home in Dearborn where those suffering can find support and peace.
It looks like a normal house, but its owner has other plans.
"It's something where people can come and feel really comfortable and relaxed, and build community," says Theresa Hubbard, the owner.
Hubbard is also a marriage and family therapist who specializes in treating trauma.
She had spent a few years looking for a place to treat trauma in a different way.
"In wanting to start doing more group work to help a larger number of people instead of just one person at a time in my office. I wanted a place to be able to do that," says Hubbard.
Now, she calls the old farmhouse "The Journey Home."
It's a retreat center where those dealing with trauma can heal their minds.
"So far, we've had a yoga retreat, a mind-body rejuvenation retreat, and mostly that type so far. Starting in February, we'll be doing a thriving through cancer retreat."
Right now, Hubbard is focusing on the cancer trauma retreat.
For visitors, healing begins from the feelings they get just walking through the door.
"They'll feel welcome, peacefulness, comfort, and understanding," Hubbard says.
Over a weekend, visitors will relax, feel inspired, and learn how trauma is affecting their health.
Once they learn how trauma affects their mind and body, they'll learn how to deal with it.
"They can use music, or visual, or smells, or taste, or touch, helping them really have a variety of experiences to find out what works for them," says Hubbard.
The center can house up to 20 people.
Men sleep in one part, and women in the other.
Hubbard wants visitors to feel a sense of community.
"Gain empathy and understanding of other people's experience, and to not feel alone. To feel supported, to know that there is someone they can always reach out to," she says.
Hubbard says it's a short weekend with a lot of healing.
Hubbard also wants to add retreats later on for parents who have lost children.
If you're interested or want more information, visit "The Journey Home" website.


