Southern Nebraska Register
Past traumas often display in various negative emotions, such as anger, shame, and anxiety. The retreat aims to provide tools to confront and heal from past wounds.
Individuals seeking to overcome the burdens of the past are invited to a unique three-day silent retreat, “Healing of Memories,” at Our Lady of Good Counsel Retreat House near Waverly Nov. 1-3.
The retreat will be led by experienced therapist Ian Butler.
Past traumas often display in various negative emotions, such as anger, shame, and anxiety. The retreat aims to help attendees recognize and release emotional blocks, providing tools to confront and heal from past wounds. Butler, who brings more than 25 years of clinical experience and a deep commitment to human formation, will guide participants through meditations, reflections, and practical exercises designed to facilitate healing.
“Many wounds can be healed in just a matter of minutes,” Butler asserted, encouraging potential attendees to consider this retreat as a step toward living fully in the present.
The program will begin with a rosary and Mass on Friday at 7 p.m., concluding with Mass and a lunch on Sunday at noon.
Set on a peaceful acreage near Waverly, the retreat house offers 50 single rooms with private baths, fostering a serene environment for reflection and prayer. Participants in the “Healing of Memories” retreat will receive a complimentary eBook and a worksheet on the healing process.
The retreat is not suited for individuals with unaddressed traumatic wounds. For those needing such support, Butler recommended contacting a trained EMDR therapist – a mental health professional who uses Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy to help patients heal from trauma and other distressing experiences.
Financial assistance is available to ensure accessibility, and attendees are encouraged to consider additional donations to support the retreat’s mission. Transportation from Lincoln and Omaha airports can be arranged upon request.
For more information or to register for the “Healing of Memories” retreat, contact Our Lady of Good Counsel Retreat House at 402-786-2705 or visit goodcounselretreat.org.
Other upcoming retreats at Our Lady of Good Counsel are: “My Lord, My God, My All” led by Bishop Robert Finn with the Knights of the Holy Eucharist Oct. 25-27; “Our Lady’s Promises and Protection” led by Father Elias Mary Mills, F.I., Nov. 22-24; and “There’s Always More with God” led by the Marian Sisters of the Diocese of Lincoln Dec. 6-8.
