March 27 - April 1, 2026 | Costa Rica | Limited Spots

You've Fought for Your Children in Every Court. Now It's Time to Fight for Yourself.

A 6-day retreat for alienated parents ready to release the trauma that’s consuming them so they can finally heal, reclaim their life, and show up whole when reconnection comes.

Let’s call it what it is. This isn’t “co-parenting conflict.” This isn’t “the kids just need time.” This isn’t something you did wrong.

Your narcissistic ex waged a war and your children were the weapons.

Through lies, manipulation, and a relentless campaign of erasure, they turned your kids against you. They rewrote history. They made you the villain in a story you didn’t write.

And the courts? The therapists? The system that was supposed to protect your family? They didn’t see it. Or they didn’t care. Or they were manipulated too. Now you’re living in a nightmare that no one understands.

You’re grieving children who are still alive. You’re being erased from lives you gave everything to build. You’re carrying a wound that has no name because society doesn’t have language for what’s been done to you.

And it’s destroying you.

Be honest with yourself for a moment. How much of your day is consumed by this?

The obsessive thoughts. The replaying of conversations. The rage that comes out of nowhere. The grief that hits you in the grocery store, at work, in the middle of the night.

You can’t sleep. Or you sleep too much. You can’t focus. Your work is suffering. Your other relationships are strained – because how can anyone understand what you’re going through?

You’ve tried therapy. You’ve tried support groups. You’ve tried pushing through.
But the wound isn’t healing. It’s festering.

Here’s what no one tells you:

The trauma of alienation doesn’t live in your mind. It lives in your body. It’s in your nervous system – stuck in fight-or-flight, scanning for the next attack. It’s in your chest – the tightness that never goes away. It’s in your gut – the knot that’s been there so long you’ve forgotten what normal feels like.

You can’t think your way out of this. You can’t fight your way out of this.

You have to release it.

The Hardest Truth About Healing From Alienation

I'm going to say something you might not want to hear. Your healing cannot depend on your children coming back.

I know. That feels impossible. Maybe even like a betrayal. You've fought so hard. You've sacrificed everything. The thought of "moving on" feels like giving up.

But here's what I've learned in 20 years of reunification work: The parents who heal, truly heal, are the ones who do the inner work REGARDLESS of what happens with their children.

Not because they've given up hope. Not because they've stopped loving their kids. Because they refuse to let a narcissist destroy TWO generations.

Your ex already took your children. Don't let them take YOU. The rage, the grief, the obsession, the trauma - that's you being destroyed. Slowly. From the inside.

And here's the painful irony: The more consumed you are by the trauma, the harder reconnection becomes. Your kids, when they're ready, need to come back to a parent who is whole. Grounded. At peace. Not drowning in the wound.

Your healing isn't giving up on them. Your healing is the most powerful thing you can do for them.

Enroll Now

Imagine Being Free From the Weight

Close your eyes for a moment. Imagine waking up and your first thought isn’t about the alienation.
Imagine going an entire day without the obsessive replay of what happened.
Imagine feeling peace, real peace, even though nothing external has changed.
Imagine having energy again. Focus. Presence. Imagine being able to laugh. To feel joy. To remember who you were before this nightmare started.
Imagine your other relationships healing because you’re no longer drowning.
Imagine your children coming back to a parent who is whole, grounded, and at peace, not broken by what was done.
This isn’t fantasy.
This is what’s possible when you release the trauma instead of carrying it. When you take back the parts of yourself that the alienation stole.
When you refuse to let a narcissist define the rest of your life.
This is what happens at The Sacred Return.

Why 6 Days Can Shift What Years of Fighting Couldn't

You’ve done everything the “right” way. The attorneys. The custody evaluations. The parenting coordinators. The therapists.

And maybe you’ve made progress. Or maybe you’ve just been drained – emotionally, financially, spiritually. Here’s what the system doesn’t address:

The trauma in YOUR body.

You can win every court battle and still be destroyed by what this did to you. You can get your children back tomorrow and still carry the wound for decades.

The legal system addresses custody. It doesn’t address what happens to a parent’s nervous system when they’re systematically erased from their children’s lives. That requires a different kind of work.

Plant medicine is different. It doesn’t talk ABOUT your trauma. It talks WITH it. It bypasses the thinking mind, the part that’s been spinning for years, and goes directly to where the wound lives.

In your nervous system. In your body. In the cellular memory of every attack, every lie, every moment of grief.

In ceremony, people access emotions they’ve been suppressing for years. They release what they’ve been holding. They find peace that no amount of fighting could create. Not because anything external changed.

Because something internal finally released.

This Retreat Was Built by Someone Who Understands

There are plant medicine retreats all over Costa Rica.
Most of them are beautiful. Many are safe.
But almost none of them understand what you’re carrying.
Try explaining alienation to someone who’s never lived it. The blank stares. The well-meaning but useless advice. The subtle implication that maybe you did something to cause this.
You won’t have to explain anything here.
The Sacred Return was created by someone who has spent 20 years in the trenches of alienation — helping parents navigate narcissistic exes, fight for their children, and heal from the trauma.

You’ll be in a container that understands:
The specific grief of being erased.
The rage of injustice that has nowhere to go.
The exhaustion of fighting a system that doesn’t see you.
The guilt of moving forward while your children are still gone.
The hope that never fully dies, no matter how much it hurts.

You won't have to prove your story.

You won't have to defend yourself.

You won't be judged.

You’ll be held. By people who get it. In a container designed for exactly what you’re carrying.

"I've Spent 20 Years Fighting Alongside Parents Like You"

Dorcy Pruter is a transgenerational trauma specialist, medicine woman, and the creator of the D.O.R.C.Y. Method™ – a five-step framework for breaking inherited family wounds at the source. With over 20 years of experience in family systems and 6+ years facilitating plant medicine ceremonies, Dorcy brings a rare combination: lived wisdom from both sides of the family wound – as a formerly alienated child and a reunification expert – and direct ceremonial experience in helping people release what understanding alone cannot reach.

Dorcy’s path to this work is personal. She grew up as the scapegoat in a narcissistic family system, left home at 18, and spent years trying to think her way out of patterns she could name but couldn’t shake. It wasn’t until she discovered plant medicine that she accessed the body-level release that decades of self-work and understanding couldn’t provide. That experience became the foundation of everything she teaches.

As the Founder and CEO of the Conscious Co-Parenting Institute, Dorcy has spent two decades reuniting alienated parents with their children – coaching thousands of families and training judges, attorneys, therapists, and Guardian ad Litems across the U.S., Canada, and internationally. A court-approved expert witness in multiple jurisdictions, she is widely recognized as one of the foremost reunification coaches in the world. Clinical psychologist Dr. Craig Childress has called her “the best trauma recovery specialist on the planet for complex trauma and child psychological abuse.”

Through her own healing journey – as a formerly alienated child, a divorced co-parent, and a woman who broke the cycle in her own lineage – Dorcy discovered that the wound behind alienation, estrangement, and narcissistic family dynamics is the same wound: childhood programming installed during moments of pain, loss, and unconsciousness that runs silently across generations until someone is brave enough to go to the source.

Breaking the Cycle is that journey.

What You'll Experience...

BEFORE THE RETREAT

Unhook through Illuminate (30-Day Pre-Work)
Your transformation begins a month before you arrive. Through Dorcy's proprietary Higher Purpose Mastery preparation program, you'll map your inherited fears and beliefs, identify the default patterns running your daily life, and set personalized ceremony intentions. You'll also have a private 1-on-1 session with Dorcy to identify your Inherited Role - the survival identity your childhood programmed into you - so you arrive already excavated, not starting from zero.

DURING THE RETREAT

6 Days on Sacred Land
Each day follows a rhythm of morning teaching, afternoon experiential practice, and evening ceremony or integration.

Dorcy will personally guide you through the D.O.R.C.Y. Method (Discover–Own–Release–Create–Yield) and the UNHOOK™ framework - a somatic tool for releasing the guilt, fear, and role-based hooks that keep you tethered to inherited patterns. You'll learn to locate the specific childhood moments that installed your programming, understand what you decided about yourself in those moments, and release those decisions at the body level through three progressive plant medicine ceremonies.

AFTER THE RETREAT

90-Day Integration
The retreat opens the door. Integration is where you walk through it. Dorcy's structured 90-day program gives you daily sovereignty practices, self-guided processing tools, Fear-Based Action cleanup exercises, and two live group integration calls. You'll have access to the Integration Vault - a complete library of teachings, guided practices, and frameworks - plus the community of people who shared this experience with you.

You'll work in pairs and small groups with others who share your wound. You'll rehearse real-life boundary scenarios, so your nervous system is prepared - not just your mind. And you'll build a personal Breakthrough Roadmap documenting your entire journey: who you were, what you released, who you're becoming, and what you're taking home.

Everything You Need to Release the Trauma - In One Immersive Week

The 6-Day Sacred Return Immersion
Value: $15,000

The complete retreat experience: opening ceremony, multiple plant medicine ceremonies, daily integration circles, closing ritual. You’ll be guided by Dorcy and a team of experienced facilitators who understand trauma-informed care – and who understand alienation.

Pre-Retreat Preparation Protocol
Value: $997
Your transformation begins before you arrive. 30 days of preparation including: Medical screening and intake, 1:1 prep call focused on YOUR specific situation, dietary guidelines and physical preparation, intention-setting exercises, nervous system regulation practices, processing exercises to prepare you for ceremony

Private Charter Flight
Value: $1,500
No buses. No long drives after an international flight. You'll fly by private charter from San José directly to the retreat campus. Arrive rested and ready.

Luxury Accommodations
Value: $3,000 - $7,000 (based on selection)
6 nights in Costa Rica's most beautiful healing sanctuary. Choose from river domes, jungle bungalows, private suites, or exclusive villas.

Gourmet Plant-Based Cuisine
Value: $1,800
Every meal prepared by a private chef - nourishing your body for ceremony and integration.

Daily Somatic Integration
Value: $1,500
The medicine is just the beginning. Each day includes: Morning breathwork and movement, integration circles, embodiment practices to anchor what's releasing, rest and reflection time.

The Integration Vault
Value: $497
90 days of post-retreat support: Audio meditations for continued healing, journaling prompts for integration, somatic practices you can do at home, resources for when old patterns resurface.

2 Post-Retreat Integration Calls
Value: $500
At 2 weeks and 6 weeks post-retreat, you'll join a live group call with Dorcy. These calls are where breakthroughs become permanent shifts.

6 Months Sovereign Soul Collective Access
Value: $600
Ongoing community and monthly calls with Dorcy. You're not alone after the retreat ends.

Emergency Integration Support
Value: $1,000
Private Community Access to Our Team for Retreat attendees.

Days

Nights

Total Value

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Your Investment in Yourself: Starting at $7997

This is for you if...

You're an alienated parent carrying trauma that's consuming your life

You've been through the courts, the attorneys, the system — and you're exhausted

You understand that your healing can't wait for your children to come back

You want to release the rage, grief, and obsession so it stops controlling you

You feel called to plant medicine as a path to deep healing

You're ready to reclaim yourself — regardless of what happens externally

You want to show up whole and grounded for your children when reconnection comes

You refuse to let your narcissistic ex destroy you too

This is NOT for you if...

You're looking to process your custody case or strategize about your ex — this is healing work, not legal work

You're not willing to do the 30-day preparation protocol

You have certain medical conditions that contraindicate plant medicine

You're currently in active crisis or psychosis

You want to bypass the hard emotions — plant medicine requires you to feel everything

You're hoping this will "fix" your children or make them come back — this is about YOUR healing

You're not ready to take responsibility for your own transformation

DON'T JUST TAKE OUR WORD FOR IT

Hear What Past Participants Have to Say...

Meet Our Facilitators

Taylor Toepke
Gifted Medicine Woman and Co-Facilitator.
Taylor brings the perspective of someone who grew up within prolonged family disconnection and emotional rupture, and who has spent years engaged in deep ceremonial and integrative healing work.
Her path includes working closely with Dorcy to unwind trauma patterns, reclaim agency, and translate insight into embodied, day-to-day life. This lived experience allows her to attune deeply to participants who are navigating grief, confusion, or identity disruption rooted in family dynamics.
Taylor’s presence in the container reflects grounded empathy, nervous-system awareness, and calm attunement. Her role is centered on participant care, emotional regulation, and integration support before, during, and after ceremony.

Dorcy Pruter
Intuitive Shaman, Modern Day Medicine Woman/Head Facilitator
Dorcy is the founder of the Church of Soul Illumination and the lead facilitator of this work. For over a decade, her professional focus has been on trauma, identity repair, family systems, and high-conflict relational healing, supporting parents, adult children, and professionals navigating profound family rupture and recovery.
Her work bridges structured psychological insight, nervous-system awareness, and ceremonial practice. Dorcy is known for her emphasis on preparation, containment, and long-term integration rather than peak experiences or spiritual bypassing. She does not approach the ceremony as an isolated intervention, but as part of a broader healing arc that requires responsibility, maturity, and real-world application.
Dorcy’s facilitation style is clear, grounded, and relationally attuned. She holds firm boundaries, prioritizes participant safety, and centers agency and consent at every stage of the process. This work is an extension of her long-standing commitment to helping individuals repair internal and relational fractures, not escape them.

Rob Pruter
Gifted Medicine Man and Co-Facilitator
Rob brings lived experience, steadiness, and relational maturity to the ceremonial container. He was raised in a family system marked by deep dysfunction and chronic relational rupture, and later found himself navigating profound breakdowns in his own family relationships.
Through years of intentional healing work, Rob restored trust and connection with his children and undertook the deeper, often overlooked work of repairing the co‑parenting relationship itself. In the final chapter of his former partner’s life, he showed up with presence, compassion, and responsibility, supporting both her and their children with care and integrity as she transitioned.
Rob’s facilitation is grounded, non-performative, and relationally attuned. His role centers on safety, containment, and modeling what repaired attachment, accountability, and emotional presence look like in real life, not just theory.

Choose Your Container

Every accommodation includes the identical Sacred Return experience. The only difference is where you rest. Click through the galleries to experience the beauty of these unique spaces.

Jungle Bungalows
Tucked along the jungle pathway leading to a private waterfall, these six Jungle Bungalows offer the perfect balance of comfort and nature. Bali-inspired interiors showcase natural finishes and thoughtful details, while the spacious bathrooms feature rainforest-view showers and a soaking tub for deep relaxation. All bungalows are double occupancy!

2 Twin beds

430 sq. ft. of living space

Private jungle deck

Soaking tub with rainforest views

Air conditioning

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Geodesic River Domes
Nestled along the edge of a private river, these six Geodesic River Domes draw inspiration from sacred geometry. Each dome offers a unique blend of modern comfort and natural immersion, where the gentle rhythm of flowing water harmonizes with the vibrant sounds of the rainforest. All domes are double occupancy!

2 King beds

480 sq. ft. of living space

Private jungle deck

Open-air shower with rainforest views

Air conditioning

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Potoo House
An architectural treasure imported from Bali, the 180-year-old Potoo House spans two levels of open-air jungle luxury. Upstairs, a King bed and cozy twin invite restful nights with sweeping views of the Pacific Ocean and rainforest canopy. Downstairs, enjoy your own plunge pool and a private space ideal for spa treatments or quiet reflection. The Potoo House is best for couples or close friends as you get access to the whole villa. Two people max!

1 King bed + 1 Twin bed

300 sq. ft.

Ocean & rainforest views

Wraparound sun deck

Private cold plunge pool

No AC | Fans + open-air design for natural ventilation

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Jogolo House
At the far edge of the property, perched dramatically on the cliffside, rests Jogolo — a 170-year-old home from the Java Islands. Rich in history and artistry, this one-of-a-kind sanctuary features intricate hand-carved architecture, a writer’s desk for reflection, and an open-air Balinese shower. Jogolo offers both soul and comfort, surrounded by the beauty of the rainforest and ocean. The Jogolo House is ideal for couples or close friends, as it offers access to the entire villa. Two people max!

SOLD OUT

1 King bed

480 sq. ft.

Ocean & rainforest views

Wraparound sun deck

Private cold plunge pool

No AC | Fans + open-air design for natural ventilation

Enroll Now

Ready to Break the Cycle? Let’s Talk.

If you have questions about the Breaking the Cycle Retreat or want to explore whether it’s the right fit for you, schedule a call with one of our strategists. This is a supportive conversation to help you understand the retreat experience, what to expect, and how it can support your personal healing journey.

Travel Information

Your high-class retreat experience begins the moment you land in San José, Costa Rica. From there, you’ll be escorted to a private aircraft, reserved exclusively for you and fellow retreat participants.
Enjoy a scenic 15-minute flight to Quepos, where our friendly team will greet you. From the landing strip, you’ll be transported in SUVs for a 30-minute drive up the mountain to our retreat campus. Your baggage will be delivered directly to your accommodation – no stress, no hassle.

Before You Go

A valid passport is required and must be valid at least six months after the retreat ends.

Three weeks prior to departure, you will need to supply your up-to-date flight information.

If you plan to arrive before the retreat begins, we’ll provide trusted recommendations for hotels and transportation.

Arrival & Departure

Plan to arrive at San José International Airport (SJO) no later than 7:30 am on arrival day.

You’ll transfer to the San José Domestic Airport by 8:45 am for our charter flight to Quepos.

On departure day, you’ll return to San José International Airport at 11:30 am. Please book your international departure with at least a three-hour buffer for check-in and security.

Frequently Asked Questions

Your Common Questions… Answered

Will this retreat help me get my kids back?

I need to be direct: This retreat is about YOUR healing, not about changing your children or your ex.
We won’t be strategizing custody cases. We won’t be planning reunification tactics. We won’t be processing what your ex did. We’ll be releasing the trauma YOU are carrying.

Here’s what I know from 20 years of reunification work: the most powerful thing you can do for your relationship with your children is heal yourself.

When you show up healed, not reactive, not desperate, not consumed, everything shifts. Including, often, the relationship.

But that’s a byproduct, not the goal. The goal is YOUR freedom.

I feel guilty focusing on myself when my kids are still alienated.

I understand. This guilt is common, and it’s part of what keeps you stuck.

Here’s the reframe: Staying consumed by the trauma doesn’t help your children. It just means the narcissist is destroying two generations instead of one.

Your healing isn’t abandoning your kids. It’s modeling what it looks like to reclaim your life from abuse. It’s becoming the whole, grounded parent they’ll need when they’re ready.

I've never done plant medicine. Is it safe?

Yes, when done properly. Safety is our highest priority.

Every applicant goes through medical screening. Certain medications and conditions are contraindicated, and we take this seriously. Our facilitators are experienced in trauma-informed care. We have medical support available.

The preparation protocol exists specifically to ensure you’re ready.

I'm still in active litigation. Can I attend?

Yes, as long as you understand this retreat is not about your case.

We won’t be discussing legal strategy, processing your ex’s behavior, or planning your next court move.

If you can set that aside for 6 days and focus purely on your own healing, you’re welcome.

If you’re in acute crisis and can’t separate from the legal battle, this might not be the right timing.

Is the flight to San Jose Costa Rica Included?

No. You are responsible for your flight from your home airport to SJO airport and back home.

What about health screening?

Every participant completes a comprehensive intake that covers physical, emotional, and mental health. Each application is carefully reviewed by our facilitators to ensure safety, readiness, and alignment with the retreat container.

What if I change my mind about plant medicine?

Sovereignty is at the heart of this work. Your choice is respected at all times during the retreat. You are free to step back, pause, or opt out of any part of the process without judgment. Participating in the plant medicine ceremony is not required to attend the retreat.

Who are the facilitators?

Our team is composed of trauma-informed coaches and medicine stewards with decades of combined experience. Dorcy Pruter is the head Shaman, Taylor Toepke, and Rob Pruter and a local Costa Rican Shaman. They are deeply trained in holding safe, intentional space and guiding participants through transformational plant medicine ceremonies.

Do I need prior plant medicine experience?

No. We welcome both first-time and experienced participants. Our facilitators meet you where you are, providing guidance, education, and support every step of the way.

Will I be around other alienated parents, or is this mixed?

The Sacred Return serves people healing from narcissistic family trauma – that includes both alienated parents AND adult children who are healing from narcissistic parents.

You might be wondering: “Will I be in a room with people who were alienated FROM their parents?”

Here’s what I’ve found: there’s profound healing when these groups share space. Adult children understand what your kids might be carrying. You understand what they went through. There’s empathy, not conflict.

And everyone in that room understands narcissistic abuse. No one will judge you or assume you’re the problem.

What about dietary needs?

All meals are plant-based, prepared with intention, and can be tailored for allergies or sensitivities. Nourishment is considered part of the medicine, supporting your body’s ability to heal and integrate.

What if I have medical conditions?

Every participant completes thorough health screenings and consults to ensure safety. Our team carefully reviews each application to assess readiness and alignment, with your well-being as the top priority.

What is not included?

Round trip flight between your home airport and San Jose International Airport.
Pre-retreat lodging is not included.
Specialty coffees, elixirs and smoothies from the hotel outside wellness bar.
Spa Treatments
Gratuities for Imiloa Staff.

Do you recommend travel insurance?

We do recommend purchasing travel insurance for your peace of mind. Click here for details.

Do you have a refund policy?

Refund & Cancellation Policy
We understand that life can be unpredictable, and sometimes plans change. Because hosting a retreat requires significant planning, preparation, and upfront costs, we have established the following refund policy:
90+ days before the retreat start date: You may cancel your reservation and receive a 75% refund of your payment.
61–89 days before the retreat start date: You may cancel your reservation and receive a 50% refund of your payment.
30–60 days before the retreat start date: Cancellations during this window are non-refundable, but your spot may be transferable to another participant upon approval.
Less than 30 days before the retreat start date: No refunds will be issued.
All cancellation requests must be made in writing via email.
In the unlikely event that we must cancel the retreat due to unforeseen circumstances, you will receive a full refund of all payments made to us. Please note we are not responsible for travel costs, airfare, or any expenses outside of retreat registration.

Your Ex Already Took Your Children. Don't Let Them Take You.

You’ve been fighting for years. Fighting in courts. Fighting for time with your kids. Fighting against a system that doesn’t see what’s happening. Fighting just to survive.
You’re exhausted. Depleted. Running on fumes. And somewhere in all that fighting, you lost yourself.
The person you were before this nightmare started – they’re still in there. Buried under the trauma, the grief, the rage, the injustice.
It’s time to bring them back.
Not by fighting harder. Not by winning the next battle. By healing.
By releasing the trauma that’s consuming you.
By refusing to let a narcissist define the rest of your life.
The Sacred Return is your doorway back to yourself.
6 days in Costa Rica. Plant medicine. A container that understands exactly what you’re carrying. And on the other side: freedom.
Not because your children came back. Not because your ex was held accountable. Not because anything external changed.
Because YOU changed.
Because you took back the parts of yourself that were stolen.
Because you became whole again, and whole is who your children need you to be.

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