Saprea Retreat
What to Expect at the Saprea Retreat
The Saprea Retreat is a free, four-day sexual abuse healing retreat for adult women who were sexually abused at or before the age of 18. Located in Utah, this trauma-informed program is led by our team of licensed therapists and experienced case managers grounded in trauma-informed, evidence-based principles. Survivors learn how trauma impacts the brain and body, practical healing tools, and build supportive connections with women who share similar experiences. The retreat provides a safe, confidential space where survivors of childhood sexual abuse can continue their healing at no cost.
Following the retreat, participants continue their healing through a self-guided online course that reinforces learning and supports long-term recovery.
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Who is the Saprea Retreat Designed For?
This sexual abuse healing retreat is designed for women who are ready for a structured healing experience in a supportive group setting. It may be a good fit if you:
- Continue to feel the long-term effects of childhood sexual abuse and sexual assault.
- Are functioning in daily life but want deeper healing and understanding.
- Are not in immediate crisis and do not require acute mental health intervention.
- Feel ready to learn practical tools for managing triggers, shame and trauma responses.
- Want to connect with other adult women who share similar experiences.
The retreat is educational and skills-based, offering support in a safe and confidential environment. It is not a crisis intervention program, but a structured healing experience for survivors ready to take the next step in their recovery journey.
Submit Your Application
Saprea Specialty Retreats
Saprea’s Specialty Retreats are designed to support survivors from diverse communities by honoring their unique cultural needs and experiences. In partnership with community partners, we offer tailored retreats—like our Kosher Retreats, where all meals and kitchen practices meet kosher standards and ensure every survivor feels safe, respected, and supported in their healing journey.
If you are interested in partnering or attending a Saprea Specialty Retreat, contact us at questions@saprea.org.
How Do I Apply for the Saprea Retreat?
The Saprea Retreat was created to fill a gap: while services existed for survivors in crisis, almost nothing existed for those still feeling the effects of abuse years or decades later. If you have been managing the impacts of child sexual abuse but continue to find it difficult to cope, this retreat may be for you. Below is what to expect when applying and how we ensure this is the right fit.
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Step 1: Confirm Eligibility (Who can attend the Saprea Retreat?)
The retreat is designed for women who:
- Experienced childhood sexual abuse (before or at age 18).
- Can abstain from drugs and alcohol for the duration of the retreat without withdrawal symptoms.
- Function well across multiple areas of their lives.
- Can safely live in a social environment for four days with a group of survivors.
This retreat is NOT a crisis intervention program. Women experiencing significant, untreated mental health symptoms, active substance addiction, or homelessness are asked to seek additional professional support before applying.
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Step 2: Submit an Application
Every application is thoughtfully reviewed to determine whether the retreat is the right fit and timing for each applicant. This screening process is meant to support safety, healing, and overall experience.
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Step 3: Connect With Our Clinical Team
Within one business day of submitting your application, you’ll receive an email to schedule a confidential phone call with a member of Saprea’s Clinical Intake Team.
During the call, you can:
- Ask questions about the retreat experience.
- Talk through your needs and readiness.
- Explore whether now is the right time for you to attend.
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Step 4: Schedule Your Retreat
If the retreat is a good fit at this time, you’ll receive an email with available retreat dates. Saprea Retreats are held year-round, multiple times each month, offering flexibility in scheduling.
What Happens at the Saprea Retreat?
Each day of the Saprea Retreat includes a range of classes, guided activities, and restorative practices, allowing you to participate at your own pace and based on your individual needs.
Throughout the retreat, you’ll have space for:
Trauma Education
Learning the effects of trauma on the brain and body, including stress responses, triggers and emotional regulation. Many survivors find this understanding helps reduce shame and increase self-compassion.
Practical Healing Tools
Practicing evidence-based healing tools and coping skills drawn from common trauma recovery approaches. Tools may include grounding techniques, boundary setting, managing triggers and building supportive routines.
Supportive Community
Connecting with a supportive community of fellow survivors who share similar experiences in a safe, confidential environment. Sharing is always optional, and privacy is respected.
Rest and Restoration
Balance learning with time for reflection and calming practices such as gentle movement, mindfulness and creative activities. The serene canyon setting in Springville, Utah, is intentionally chosen to support rest and renewal.
You are never required to share your story or speak about your experience. Our role is to provide structure, education, and compassionate support—through the 4-day in-person programing and guided online course—so you can engage in healing in a way that feels safe, empowering, and right for you.
Sample retreat schedule
Where is the Saprea Retreat Located?
The Saprea Retreat is located in a peaceful canyon in Springville, Utah, surrounded by the natural beauty of the Wasatch Mountains. This serene, comfortable environment is intentionally chosen to help survivors feel grounded, supported, and at ease. Here, healing unfolds through compassionate learning, calming practices, and time to rest—creating space for reflection and connection.
The Saprea Retreat is fully ADA-compliant, with accessible facilities, accommodations, and programs that ensure all participants can engage safely and comfortably throughout their healing experience.
The exact location of the retreat is kept private for the safety and security of the survivors who attend. Once your application has been accepted, you will receive location details.
From the moment you arrive, every space is created with your comfort, privacy, and safety in mind. Quiet rooms for learning. Cozy spaces for connection. Comfortable places to rest. Shared tables where you can simply be.
Photos from the Saprea Retreat
Additional photography of the retreat location will be shared during the application process to help you better understand the environment and what to expect.
Presentation Room. A welcoming space where participants come together for group discussions, shared learning, and meaningful opening and closing sessions.
Library. A quiet, inviting space for reading, playing games, or sharing meaningful moments with others.
Mindfulness Studio. A light-filled, serene space where participants can engage in yoga and Tai Chi, supporting relaxation and mind-body healing.
Dining Room. A warm, welcoming setting where you can enjoy nourishing meals thoughtfully prepared by our onsite culinary team.
Backyard & Walking Paths. Peaceful, winding paths offer time for quiet reflection, gentle daily walks, and moments of connection with nature.
Entryway. A calm, inviting entrance designed to help you feel welcomed, supported, and at ease from the moment you arrive.
Bedroom Example. A shared room with cozy loft beds and privacy drapes, offering both personal space and opportunities to connect with others in your group.
Bathroom Example. Private and comfortable, designed with your safety and ease in mind.
Phone Room. A private space where you can make and receive phone calls, allowing you to stay connected when needed.
Great Room. A comfortable gathering space where participants can relax, connect, and build community together.
What is the Cost to Attend the Saprea Retreat?
There is no cost to attend the Saprea Retreat. Thanks to the generosity of Saprea’s founders and donors, all retreat programming is provided free of charge, including lodging, meals, and educational services.
We never want cost to be a barrier to healing for survivors of child sexual abuse. The only expense participants are responsible for is travel to and from the designated pick-up locations for the in-person retreat. Our Clinical Intake team will share pick-up details during your pre-retreat calls, including travel options through Salt Lake City International Airport. Once you arrive, everything else is taken care of.
If you’re feeling unsure about applying, know this: The retreat exists because you deserve support, care, and a space to heal—without financial pressure.
Complete Your Application
Who is on the Saprea Retreat Team?
From the moment you submit an application through your arrival at the Saprea Retreat, continuing through the online course, you’ll be supported by a compassionate team of licensed therapists and experienced case managers.
Each member of our team is committed to guiding you through your experience with kindness and empathy. You will interact with specialized teams, all working together to support your healing. Your privacy is deeply respected, and our staff follow strict confidentiality standards and HIPAA-compliant practices to protect your information.
Meet the Team
Contact Us
How Does the Saprea Retreat Help Me Heal?
The retreat was one of the first educational programs of its kind made available to survivors of child sexual abuse. Prior to its launch in 2015, most child sexual abuse treatments were administered via individual or group therapy. Since then, more than 6,000 survivors have attended the retreat and benefited from the uplifting experiences it provides.
The Saprea Retreat has been studied by scholars at Brigham Young University and the University of Michigan, who published their findings in a peer-reviewed study. This study reported that survivors who attended the retreat experienced, on average:
These positive effects were shown to last for at least one year post-retreat participation.
Learn more about the study
What Past Participants Are Saying About The Saprea Retreat
More than 6,000 adult female survivors of child sexual abuse have participated in the Saprea Retreat. For some, participating in the retreat felt like their only hope for healing.
It gave me the opportunity to see myself in a completely different light... flawed and broken but not destroyed.
—Sareta, Survivor
Ready to begin your healing journey?
Apply to the Saprea Retreat
What If I’m Not Ready to Attend the Saprea Retreat?
It is completely okay if you don’t feel ready for the Saprea Retreat. Healing happens at different paces, and there’s no right timeline. Saprea offers a variety of free healing resources designed to meet you where you are right now.
If the retreat feels too big of a step, you may want to begin with one of these options.
Healing Webinar
The Saprea Healing Webinar was launched in 2022 to allow survivors to learn about the impacts of trauma from child sexual abuse and learn tools to apply in everyday life. This free 3-hour educational experience is available to survivors from their own homes.
Learn More
Still have questions? Check out our FAQ, or reach out to our team.
Frequently Asked Questions
Reach Out To Our Team
Leigh Anne
An Experience I'll Never Forget
“Wow - this retreat is a MUST for any survivor of sexual abuse! I have gone to many counselors and been involved in group therapy for over 3 decades, but THIS was a different experience altogether and one I'll never forget.”
Leslie
Life-changing!
“These four days were life-changing! There is so much love and care in all they do, from the educational sessions and activities to the meals and lodging, that you'll come away from this experience with many resources and a renewed ability to handle whatever comes up in your life.”
Elizabeth
A Community of Women Survivors
“Saprea offered something I’ve been looking for all my life, was afraid to need, and never imagined I would find. A community of women survivors who made me feel completely normal for the first time.”
Rachel
Meaningful Relationships
“Saprea retreat was an unforgettable experience that brought so much hope for my life. The staff made me feel comfortable and safe. Made meaningful relationships and will 100% recommend this retreat if you’re searching for healing.”
Esty
Peaceful Atmosphere
“The mountains surrounding the retreat created such a calm, peaceful atmosphere it felt like the world finally slowed down enough for me to breathe. Every single therapist, case manager, and staff member showed such deep empathy and genuine care.”
Tamara
Pampered in a Beautiful Setting
“It's hard to acknowledge all the benefits of being pampered in a beautiful setting, fed delightful meals, surrounded by an educated, passionate staff, experiencing art, movement and mindful experiences that are all woven into providing meaningful ways for you to heal and get to know yourself better!”
Jean
I Have Never Felt so Safe
“I am kicking myself for not having attended the Saprea Retreat sooner. I have never felt so safe, so seen, so understood, and so cared for in all my life. It was so healing and freeing to be surrounded by other women who just 'get it' without having to explain or justify your feelings.”
Marion
Best Choice I Have Ever Made
“I just got back from their retreat. I was nervous at first and almost canceled coming, but it was the best choice I have ever made to help myself. The food is amazing, the classes were insightful and so helpful, and you feel supported and safe with the staff the whole time.”
Janell
Forever Grateful
“My only regret is that I did not attend this retreat sooner. I will be forever grateful for my experience at Saprea. The entire process, every detail was thoughtful, and every moment deeply healing.”
Melissa
Best Decisions I've Made for My Healing Journey
“Attending the Saprea Retreat was one of the best decisions I've made for my healing journey. I was nervous at first, but very quickly relaxed into the experience. I felt taken care of, nurtured, and renewed.”