We invite you to play into being…

Hi! We’re Isabel & Hollis, founders and facilitators behind Creative Women Retreats and Creative People Trainings. We’re long-time colleagues, nature-creatures, and licensed creative arts therapists who started this work to create the kinds of retreat experiences we were always looking for, but rarely found.

Creative Women Retreats offers creative, seasonal, nature-based therapeutic retreats for women seeking a grounding, restorative pause. We provide a welcoming, judgement-free space to take this time, reconnect with the self and others, and enjoy the benefits of supportive community.

Informed by years of clinical and creative practice, our work centers creative expression and time in nature as ways of returning to a more human rhythm. Participants are invited to play into being — to feel more at home in themselves, without pressure to perform, or optimize, or be anything.

We’ve seen how setting aside intentional time like this can open space for clarity and connection. At Creative Women Retreats, we create environments where creativity meets presence, and where women can simply, joyfully, be.

Isabel Shanahan, RDT, LCAT & Hollis Witherspoon, RDT, LCAT

    • Meeting a small group of women from all walks of life

    • A nourishing offering of home cooked, healthy meals—made with love

    • Healing moments spent in nature

    • Group creative arts therapy workshops, activities, gentle yoga/movement, and the opportunity for guided or independent movement & rest. Read more about what to expect here.

    • Thoughtful group sessions built around the needs of each cohort, including time set aside for self-guided art-making, rest, and reflection

    • Gentle yoga for all levels, sound baths, and guided meditations

    • (Seasonal): full moon/new moon or intention-setting ceremony

    • Using the lens of drama therapy, we will offer creative role-playing, music making, and storytelling opportunities per the group’s desires

    • Outdoor activities may include local walks, easy-to-moderate hikes, campfire circles, lake or ocean swimming, horseback riding (retreat-specific), or independent exploration of the natural property

    • We started CWR out of our home base location; A cozy mountain cottage in the lovely mountain artist hamlet of Cragsmoor, in Upstate New York

    • After the success of our West Coast (Oregon) retreat, we are rapidly expanding our out-of-town offerings! Please stay tuned here for upcoming retreats in New York, Oregon, New Mexico, and Costa Rica!

    • While some of our retreats include short day trips, they are meant to be all-inclusive experiences. We stay and meet together at the same location. Folks who wish to find independent housing may join us for the day

    • We work diligently to ensure our retreats are affordable and inclusive without sacrificing quality. Shared accommodations for a one-night retreat (including all meals and programming) start at $600 and go up for longer experiences

    • We offer a BIPOC scholarship for each retreat, as well as early bird pricing, and BYOB (Bring Your Own Buddy) discount

    • Hollis and Isabel are the CWR hosts and facilitators - two nature-loving drama therapists who love supporting women as they tap into their creative strengths, vulnerability, and desired roles

    • Our goal is to offer our retreat attendees a chance to experience the powerful combination of movement, time in nature, and creative, therapeutic expression in a safe, welcoming, and inclusive space. We believe in the power of the collective!

    • All of our retreats are themed and occasionally align with the cycles of the moon to inspire connection to the world around us. We are eager to access the wisdom that these transitions bring.

    • Drawing on our years of experience as artists, performers, therapists, and women, we craft custom workshops for each retreat.

    • Check our ‘Meet’ page to learn more!

  • We could not be prouder of the community we have built through CWR. The glowing (anonymous!) reviews of our retreat experiences speak for themselves…read more here.

A plate of kale salad with lemon slices and croutons, a bowl of tomato soup with basil, and several swatches of fabric and color samples on a table.
A loaf of baked bread on a wooden cutting board in a kitchen, with a bowl of blueberries, a jar of granola, and pineapples in the background.

Nourish

A wooden table with scattered white paper cards labeled with family member roles and emotions, a glass of water, a cup of coffee, writing tools, and a purple mesh fabric with note cards and small rocks on top.
A woman with dark hair wearing a black shirt, sitting at a wooden table in front of a window, looking at colorful artwork. There are art supplies and a jar on the table.
Five women in casual attire posing playfully inside a cozy home, some standing and others sitting on furniture near a window with white curtains, with colorful scarves hanging from the ceiling and a handwritten list on the wall.
Two women with backpacks and water bottles standing on a rocky edge overlooking a valley with green hills and a clear blue sky.

Connect & Create

A neatly made bed with white bedding and two pillows in a bedroom. There are two nightstands on either side of the bed, with a small fan on the left nightstand. A modern wall-mounted light fixture is above the bed, and there are two framed pictures hanging on the wall behind the bed.
People practicing yoga or meditation in a cozy room with a sloped ceiling, soft lighting, and a window.

Restore