Restoring Clarity and Purpose in a Frenzied World

Weekend Retreat JANUARY 8-10, 2027 at The Art of Living Center in Boone, NC

Wake up to your life — it belongs to you
A phone-free, clinically informed weekend retreat led by licensed psychotherapist Claire Dennis, designed to cut through distraction and restore clarity, agency, and self-trust.

registration is open

Learn more about Claire here

rediscover your direction

Ever feel like there's another life path for you but feel trapped in your current one?

Like you're too busy, too stressed, too distracted to even hear yourself think?

Constant demands, noise, and chaos have a way of pulling us away from our own clarity.

Over the course of a weekend retreat led by licensed psychotherapist Claire Dennis, you’ll reconnect with what you actually want in life—and understand what's been getting in the way. Set within an all-inclusive resort in the Blue Ridge Mountains, this retreat offers a rare, distraction-free space away from constant obligations, digital noise, and the onslaught of life—so you can rediscover what actually matters to you. Through evidence-based experiential therapeutic exercises (using activities and visuals that go beyond talking), thought-provoking prompts, and carefully facilitated group conversations, Claire guides you toward greater clarity, self-trust, and a sense that you are in the driver’s seat of your life.

Arrive feeling overwhelmed by the noise and demands of everyday life.
Leave with clarity, direction, and the confidence to act on what you already know inside.

Let’s explore what that looks like, together.

what to expect

Over the course of three days, Claire uses clinically informed prompts and experiential therapeutic methods to help you uncover what’s been missing—your needs, your direction, and your sense of agency. Experiential work goes beyond talking and our conscious knowledge (knowing better!) through visuals and activities to accelerate and deepen your insight. Through dynamic therapeutic tools, you’ll strengthen your connection to your inner wisdom, helping you clarify who you are and what you really want. You’ll leave with insights you can actually use—and strategies to help you make real changes in your daily life.

*Please note, the phone-free structure is a deliberate clinical choice—it's what makes the depth of this work possible. You’ll be encouraged to turn off your phone for the weekend so that you can be fully present for the retreat. Cell phones are a complicated and powerful tool that can often serve as an impediment to our self-discovery. A landline will be available for emergencies. *

Accomodations

The Art of Living Retreat Center is set amidst 380 acres of pristine forest high up in the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Enjoy vast open skies, magnificent panoramic views, three complimentary delicious vegetarian meals daily, and a nurturing and relaxing environment. They offer a range of comfortable rooms starting at $675 - read details about the rooms here. Cost includes the entire experience - room, food, amenities, and workshop.

The retreat center also houses an Ayurvedic Spa; you are welcome to book any offerings during your weekend for an additional cost.

Find information about directions to their facility, in Boone, NC, here.

NEED MORE INFO BEFORE DECIDING?

Read through our FAQs below or sign up to receive more details by email.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

This retreat is designed for anyone who feels too busy, distracted, or stuck to hear themselves think — whether you’ve been on autopilot, you feel like you’ve lost a part of yourself, or you just feel foggy and stuck in life. No prior therapy experience or mental health background is required.
No, this retreat is not a substitute for individual or group therapy. Claire is a licensed psychotherapist, and the methods she uses are grounded in evidence-based practice, but this is a structured group experience focused on self-reflection and clarity, not clinical treatment. If you're currently working with a therapist, this retreat can complement that work. If you've been on the fence about therapy, this is an opportunity to do meaningful work with a clinical professional.
Constant access to our devices can be a barrier to self-reflection. Stepping away from it, even briefly, is part of what makes the depth of this work possible. A landline will be available for emergencies, and you'll have the option to check in with family or caregivers during free time if needed.
Not at all. You get to decide how much you share and with whom. The experiential work is designed so that you can reflect privately and you don't need to disclose anything to the group to get real value from the weekend.
This retreat focuses on structured, activity-based work facilitated by Claire — visual exercises, prompts, and techniques drawn from evidence-based therapeutic practice. These approaches are designed to reveal insights that talking alone often doesn't accomplish.
Absolutely. You can choose to attend the retreat with a friend, partner, family member, etc. Whether you want to share your insights with each other or just have a buddy for your free time — it’s totally up to you and all are welcome!
Everything. Your room, three meals daily, all sessions with Claire, and access to the center's amenities, which includes hiking trails, steam room, exercise room, and the grounds. Packages start at $675. (For context, a single hour with a licensed psychotherapist typically runs $200 or more. This is a full weekend, all-in, with meals and housing included.)
Yes — Claire offers a complimentary call for anyone who wants to get a better sense of her approach, ask questions, or figure out whether this is the right fit. Reach out at claireadennis@gmail.com or 919-622-4096 to set one up.