Grief & Moving Forward

Grief rarely follows a straight line. For many people, the early shock of loss softens over time, but that does not necessarily mean life feels easier. Instead, a different kind of difficulty can begin. You may find yourself caught between the life you had and the life you are now expected to live, unsure how to move forward without feeling as though you are leaving someone behind.

Many people notice that grief begins to show up in quieter but still significant ways. There may be guilt when you laugh or enjoy yourself, reluctance to make changes at home, difficulty letting go of belongings, or a sense that the world has moved on while you are still trying to catch up. You may also find yourself feeling stuck in familiar thought patterns, overwhelmed by certain dates or places, or surprised by how suddenly grief can rise up again.

This retreat has been designed for those who are no longer in the immediate aftermath of loss, but who are still finding the transition into this new phase of life difficult. It offers a gentle, structured day to help you better understand grief, make sense of what is happening in the mind and body, and begin exploring how life can grow around loss without losing connection to the person who has died.

Our Grief & Moving Forward Retreat combines clear, accessible explanation with guided reflection, supportive discussion and restorative practices. Throughout the day we explore grief from both a psychological and neurological perspective, while also introducing frameworks that can help participants make sense of this transitional stage.

The retreat is divided into four guided sections:

🌿 Understanding Grief

Exploring the science of grief, including why the brain still expects the person to be there, why certain habits and patterns remain, and why grief can continue to feel so present long after a loss.

🌿 Making Sense of the Transitional Phase

Looking at some of the less openly discussed parts of grief, including guilt when happiness returns, difficulty letting go of belongings, the fear of moving forward, and the challenge of adapting to a different life.

🌿 Connection, Memory and Meaning

Exploring how to stay connected to the person who has died in a way that feels comforting rather than painful, including the importance of making space to remember, honouring continuing bonds, and understanding that moving forward does not mean forgetting.

🌿 Moving Forward with Support

Drawing on solution-focused ideas to help participants recognise what is already helping, where small shifts are possible, and how to begin building a life that can hold both grief and hope.

Alongside the teaching and reflective elements, the day also includes gentle movement and grounding practices designed to help regulate the nervous system and release some of the physical heaviness that grief can bring.

Locally sourced refreshments are included, allowing space to pause, rest and feel looked after throughout the day.

The retreat closes with a quiet candle-lighting reflection, offering a simple moment to remember the person you have lost and acknowledge the connection that remains. Each guest will receive a candle to take home with them.

This retreat may be helpful if you are living with grief that still feels active in your life, even though time has passed. It is particularly suited to people who are beyond the immediate aftermath of a bereavement and are struggling with the quieter, more complicated stage of adapting to life after loss.

It may be especially supportive if you are finding it difficult to move forward, feeling guilt when life begins to feel lighter, holding on to belongings because letting go feels too painful, or noticing that grief still rises unexpectedly in ways that are hard to understand.

Above all, this retreat offers something many grieving people are rarely given: time and space to pause, reflect, feel understood and begin considering what it might mean to carry grief while still slowly building a meaningful life around it.

The Barn Wellbeing Retreat Centre, Brailes, OX15 5JH
10am - 4pm

£45 including retreat & refreshments
Book Now: https://gymcatch.com/app/provider/9235/events/8959876

Our retreats are grounded in the latest developments in health science and mind-body medicine. We draw on current research in mental and physical well-being to help participants understand how the brain, body, and nervous system interact.

By combining these insights with holistic therapies such as mindfulness, breathwork, movement, and relaxation, we create a powerful, restorative experience that supports healing on every level.

This is not simply a day of meditation and advice — it’s a space where science meets self-compassion, and where you’ll leave feeling informed, empowered, and more connected to your body than ever before.

This retreat is guided by Kate Robbins and Sorcha O’Flynn, combining practical, evidence-based approaches with deep experience in bereavement support.

Kate Robbins

Kate is the Integrated Health & Wellbeing Lead at The Barn, with over a decade of experience supporting clients with chronic pain, fatigue, anxiety and emotional overwhelm.

Her work focuses on helping people understand what is happening in the body and mind, using a grounded, practical approach that offers structure without pressure. She brings a calm, steady presence to the retreat, creating a space where participants feel supported and gently guided.

Sorcha O’Flynn

Sorcha is a Solution Focused Therapist and certified social worker with extensive experience supporting individuals through loss, trauma and emotional difficulty.
Her background includes bereavement support within hospice settings and mental health services. She brings a warm, compassionate approach, helping people make sense of their experience while gently supporting them to move forward.

Working Together

Together, Kate and Sorcha create a space that is both supportive and forward-looking, helping you feel understood while exploring how life can begin to grow around grief.