Texas Lone Star Rove Summer 2023 Retreat with HHH

Thursday, July 13, 2023 – Facilitator – Erin and Cindy

We will share an overview of what this weekend will look like, introduce our facilitators, and set aside time to briefly tell our stories utilizing an equitable sharing protocol. This “Welcoming in Hygge” session will be a way to get to know each other and set intentions and expectations for our time together.

Friday, July 14, 2023 – Facilitator – Jen Scully

Jen is a licensed counselor in several states, a certified trauma professional, a functional medicine practitioner in training, and a newly minted NPE Coach. She has an acronym soup list of licenses and training credentials (LCPC, LPCC, LPC-MHSP, CCTP, SEP, blah blah blah)… that really just mean she’s passionate about being a therapist.  REALLY passionate! A self described “rabidly passionate” Trauma Therapist. Her heart holds a special place for people who buck the system, and she adores supporting rebel rousers, non-conformists, family scapegoats, and black sheep. Her own traumatized childhood and family system has afforded her a great reverence for anyone brave enough to step outside The Matrix, deprogram from family and societal conditioning, and become a cycle breaker of transgenerational trauma. She believes in the power of making meaning from suffering and that all people can experience post traumatic growth and rediscover their birthright of self authority and personal power. She loves a good challenge and works with lots of clients who are fed up with the broken medical-industrial complex system. Many of her clients have been iatrogenically injured, abused by the system that hurt them, and then gaslit by doctors and psychologists. Her framework of care is holistic and integrative. She has an affinity for all things “outside the box” and incorporates somatics and energy psychology into her work.  She sees herself as a survivor of the human experience (just like her beloved clients) and in 2020 discovered that she is an NPE. Prior to 2020 she was exploring the country, living the van life lifestyle, and working remotely. After her NPE discovery she moved home to Chicago, so she could spend some time getting to know her newfound family. In 2021 she moved to the Red Rocks of Sedona where she could focus on her own NPE discovery healing. She emerged from that work in 2022 refreshed and ready to help other NPEs. She has now settled down in rural Tennessee where she runs a humble private practice, focuses on good old fashioned one-to-one psychotherapy, does some bee-keeping, and enjoys a peaceful and quiet life in the country.

Facilitator – Emma Stevens

Emma Stevens is a U.S. domestic adoptee from birth and has survived layers of trauma that have put her on multiple journeys. She developed the inner strength and courage to surmount the many struggles she faced. Her traumas were born from first being relinquished and then becoming an adoptee who struggled with being forced to wear an impossible mask of playing the part of the “good adopted child.” Her childhood upbringing of an authoritative, cult-like family, predisposed Emma to several more struggles. One of them was falling prey to an exploitative therapist where she unknowingly entered a cultic, one-on-one relationship with her psychologist. Someone who was to help, support, and provide healing – instead, held Emma captive in a psychological nightmare. Because of these past traumas, it’s Emma’s desire to be part of the movement that is dedicated to help bring forth change to the way our world views the needs and support of adopted individuals, as well as bring awareness of the exploitation that can occur by the hands of counselors, therapists, and other healthcare professionals. By sharing her experience of being exploited by her abusive psychologist/social worker, Emma feels strongly to expose and bring light to what an unethical, boundaryless, professional therapy situation may look like. This memoir is Emma Stevens’ second book. Her first was The Gathering Place: An Adoptee’s Story. She has an undergraduate degree in journalism and has completed Master’s level course work in psychology, specializing in Marriage, Family, and Child counseling. She has two adult children and two cat children who she adores.

Facilitator – Eve Sturges, LMFT 

Eve Sturges is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT #103942) in California where she sees clients in her private practice, MagpieLife Psychotherapy.  After her own DNA Discovery, she launched her podcast “Everything’s Relative with Eve Sturges,” where she explores MPE issues with other people who have experienced shocking results. Eve worked hard against adversity to create a thriving existence for herself and strives to inspire the same for others. She uses her writing, her podcast, and her role as an LMFT to share her message that it is possible to “create a life you love with the life you have.”  

Saturday, July 15, 2023 – Facilitator – Carla Barnes, LPC, PLLC

Carla Barnes is a licensed Professional Counselor in Texas, is a therapist and owns a group counseling practice working with children, teens, adults, couples, and families using the Parental Identity DiscoveryTM approach, integrating a combination of EMDR, grief, trauma-informed, attachment, and family system skills to support the NPE. She works with clients to assimilate the unexpected changes in their identity, mood, and family dynamics, increasing coping skills, and self-actualization. Furthermore, Carla first became familiar with misattributed parentage in 2016 with the discovery that she was a NPE herself. What she learned through this unfair experience is that there is hope and healing through this journey. She can be reached at www.carlabarneslpc.com

Facilitator – Lorah Gerald

Lorah Gerald is a Kundalini Yoga Instructor, TIYT(Trauma Informed Yoga therapy) instructor, Reiki Master, Adoptee, Intuitive, and Ordained Minister. She writes and makes videos about her lived experiences with trauma and as an adoptee. She shares these experiences on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and Pinterest as the @theadoptedchameleon. She writes memoir, inspirational, educational, opinion pieces and a blog on her website LorahGerald.com and her social channels. Lorah hopes to help others heal their trauma, adopted or not, by sharing her lived experiences as an adoptee as well as her education in breath work, energy healing and natural intuitive abilities.

Sunday, July 16, 2023 – Facilitator – Erin and Cindy

We will wrap up the Hiraeth Hope & Healing Retreat with an appreciation circle.  As you move throughout the weekend, take note of what others have done to make you feel welcomed, loved and accepted.  

Relax, Renew, and Refresh

Private Sessions with facilitators (optional)

Mediums & Massages (optional)

Monday, July 17, 2023 – Breakfast, clean up, and farewells

*Facilitators subject to change due to unforeseen circumstances* 

We are NOT professional licensed counselors or therapists. These retreats should NOT replace traditional therapy. We are NOT affiliated with any particular group or entity.