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What will we do at a GTLYW Workshop or Retreat?The workshop offers a 'distraction-free space’ to focus on you and/or your relationship for an extended period of time. It also gives you the opportunity to explore the key principles of Imago and the Imago Intentional Dialogue processes. Participants will be invited to do written exercises, guided imageries and practices with their partner that are designed to explore how their past impacts their present behavior. Each participant is encouraged to partake in these activities in a way that makes sense for them. The workshop is intended to help you and your partner create the safe space needed to restore and/or deepen the connection you have. Partners will also have time to connect with each other and have fun! For more detailed agenda, please see our questions, "What is a sample GTLYW Workshop Agenda?" and "What is a sample GTLYW Retreat Agenda?", under "The Workshop Experience" and "The Retreat Experience" sections, respectively.
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I want to attend a GTLYW Workshop or Retreat, but my partner does not. What should I do?This is a relatively common occurrence and we think it makes total sense that in many relationships, one partner may be ready to attend a GTLYW Workshop while the other partner may not want to have anything to do with it. There are many unique reasons for this, but here are three suggestions we can offer to the partner who wants to attend the workshop: 1) Ask your partner if he/she/they is willing to attend our FREE, live monthly webinar "Becoming a Conscious Couple: Intro to the Imago Intentional Dialogue". These webinars are a chance to get to know the workshop presenters, Trish and Emily, while also dipping a toe into the work of Imago! If your partner isn't quite ready to attend, you may join the webinar by yourself for some more information. Please note that webinar attendees may choose to leave their video cameras off. This may make it more comfortable for some. To register for a webinar, go to www.wholefamilynj.com/webinar 2) Ask your partner if he/she/they would be interested in speaking with one or both of the presenters, Trish and Emily. We are always happy to have a video or phone chat with prospective workshop attendees. We know attending the workshop is a big investment of time, money and effort. Plus, the idea of a therapy-ish (though please remember this is NOT therapy) weekend may not, at first, appeal to everyone. We want to answer any questions and do all that we can to help possible participants feel comfortable before they register. 3) If your partner just isn't there yet, we highly recommend reading, Keeping the Love You Find, by Harville Hendrix, Ph.D. and Helen LaKelly Hunt Ph.D. This is the individual's guide to Imago work and it's a great place for one person to begin! We will also be offering Keeping the Love You Find Workshops for individuals, so please stay tuned! Email us at info@wholefamilynj.com with any questions.
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We can't make it to the whole workshop (we have to come late or leave early), can we still register?We try to work with minor disruptions, such as participants coming in a bit late or needing to leave a bit early to catch a flight back home on Sunday. If there is a circumstance that you are trying to navigate such as this, please contact us at info@wholefamilynj.com to make arrangements with us. With that said, we strongly recommend doing all that you can to be in fully present and in attendance for the whole duration of the workshop weekend. We know it is a lot of time and we also believe your relationship is worth every bit of the effort!! Please remember that it is important to make prior arrangements so family or business matters do not interrupt you once the workshop begins. Your partner and your relationship deserve your undivided and uninterrupted attention. We are very aware that this is a BIG ask for many people. We invite you to try your best to dedicate this time to your relationship. After you do all that needs to be done, we invite you to notice what happens. It may be magic!!
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What can I expect to get from a GTLYW Workshop or Retreat?The goals of a GTLYW Workshop are: To provide you with the opportunity to spend a distraction free weekend focused on your relationship. To demonstrate how your conflicts, and frustrations are predictable and even necessary aspects of a committed partnership. To present, demonstrate and practice essential relational tools that will help resolve conflicts and improve communication. To clearly show the steps necessary to increase safety and reduce reactivity. To help you learn what makes your partner feel loved. To send you home with a jointly created vision of what your ideal relationship will look like and knowledge of the tools necessary to take you on the journey to a safe and passionate marriage or partnership. To co-create individual and relational roadmaps that lead to the relationship of your dreams!
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Is GTLYW group therapy for couples?No, definitely not! Though participants will have the benefit of hearing other couples and seeing that they are not alone in their relationship challenges, this is not group therapy. Attendees are never required to share any personal information. Participants are invited to introduce themselves and there will be opportunities to volunteer for demonstrations, as well as to ask questions and give feedback about experiences with the exercises, but sharing is always optional. Also, please read the above question, "What is the difference between GTLYW and IRT?" to receive information about the difference between an educational workshop, which is what GTLYW is, and couples therapy.
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What is a Getting the Love You Want (GTLYW) Workshop?Getting the Love You Want® Couples Workshops are based on the theory and exercises described in the NY Times Bestselling book, of the same name, which was written by Harville Hendrix, Ph.D. and Helen LaKelly Hunt Ph.D. The GTLYW workshop helps attendees to learn the concepts and skills they need to co-create a safe relationship, experience and sustain deep connecting, and experience joyful aliveness. These skills include 1) learning a new way to talk; 2) removing all negativity (i.e. shaming, blaming, criticizing and judgement), and 3) practicing daily connecting behaviors which activate the innate healing powers of intimate partnership, transforming conflict in any relationship to connecting. Create your dream relationship by restoring or renewing the passion and hope to your relationship!
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Who are the workshop presenters?Trisha Sanders and Emily Robins are both Licensed Clinical Social Workers, with Advanced Certification as Imago Relationship Therapists and Workshop Presenters. This means not only are we fully licensed mental health practitioners, we have also completed hundreds of hours of training specific to Imago Relationship Therapy and presenting GTLYW Workshops. We have also met the supervision requirement for all certifications and continue to be active in the Imago Relationships North America (IRNA) community. All this ensures you are receiving an authentic experience in line with what Harville Hendrix, PhD and Helen LaKelly Hunt, PhD created.
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What's the difference between a GTLYW Workshop and a GTLYW Retreat?The content of the GTLYW Workshop and GTLYW Retreat is identical. The difference, which is reflected in the price, is that the retreat offers amenities and lodging options.
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What topics are covered in a GTLYW Workshop or Retreat?Some of the topics covered in the lectures include: learning all the steps of the primary communication tool we use, the Intentional Imago Dialogue why we are attracted to who we are attracted to in romantic relationship what really underlies the conflicts we tend to have over and over again with our intimate partners how to restructure conversations about frustrations so you can actually have a helpful discussion that leads to growth and healing how our past/childhood experiences affect current behavior how our brains and central nervous system can interfere with effective communication how to incorporate or re-incorporate FUN into our relationship how to create a guiding relationship vision
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Is a GTLYW Workshop really worth the cost?We have to give a resounding "yes" to this question. The workshop includes over 18 hours of content, which includes mini-lectures, dialogue practice, written exercises, guided imageries and more! All of this is guided by two Advanced Certified Imago Relationship Therapists, Trisha Sanders, LCSW and Emily Robins, LCSW. Plus, here is a list of some of the benefits you can receive from attending a workshop: Saving your marriage or relationship may be the best investment you can make. You prevent future problems and issues by learning how to address conflicts. You leave knowing how to navigate communication issues. A workshop is roughly equivalent to 12-24 weeks of therapy. You discover that other couples are working through similar issues. You give each other an enormous gift by spending a weekend creating the relationship you DO want. You leave feeling restored and reconnected. You learn to work as a team. You learn to model a healthy, happy relationship for your children. You will be able to apply what you learn into all the relationships you have in your life. You will get a big return in your relationship for your investment of time and money. We recommend giving the GTLYW Workshop or Retreat as a holiday, birthday or anniversary gift!!
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I see with my registration, I get one free after the workshop virtual couples group. What's that about?By Sunday evening on a GTLYW workshop or retreat weekend, participants often find themselves in a joyful, connected state, ready to consciously dive into the work of relationship, eager, hopeful and ready to create the relationship of their dreams!!! Then, they go home... Back to work, responsibilities, kids, pets, chores, bills, to-do lists and all of the life stresses we encounter day to day. And all the tools they learned over the weekend have a tendency to fade away. The old habits that are wired into our brain kick in and the hope of a new way begins to fade. However, it's not all doom and gloom. The GTLYW workshop presenters, Trish and Emily, know that with conscious dedicated attention to the relationship and continued practice of the Imago tools, sustainable transformation can totally occur. In order to support participants of the GTLYW workshop or retreat in achieving this goal, a monthly follow-up group, Conscious Connected Couples, is offered. There is a $100 charge to participate in the group each month (bundles are offered for 3 groups for $225), but to help set up attendees for success, each couple receives a free registration for one group following the weekend.
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What is Imago Relationship Therapy (IRT)?Imago Relationship Therapy (IRT) is a type of couples counseling, developed by Harville Hendrix, Ph.D. and Helen LaKelly Hunt Ph.D, that helps partners improve their communication, reduce conflict, and strengthen their connection. IRT aims to help partners become more empathetic and understanding by exploring how each partner's past experiences affect current behavior. The therapy also focuses on using conflict as an opportunity for growth and healing.
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What is an "imago"?"Imago" is the Latin word for "image". When we say "imago", we are referring to the unique picture of what love looks like for each individual person. It is through our interactions and observations, along with the implicit and explicit messages we receive from the external world (caregivers, family members, siblings, media, society, culture, etc.), that our "imago" is created. When we grow up, we unconsciously look for our "imago" match. This is someone who has the potential to help us re-create both the positive and negative environment of our childhood. It is with this person that we have the ability, through conscious partnership, to create a roadmap of our individual and relational growth.
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What is the difference between GTLYW and IRT?Getting the Love You Want (GTLYW) is based on the same theory and exercises that informs Imago Relationship Therapy (IRT), which is all developed by Harville Hendrix, Ph.D. and Helen LaKelly Hunt Ph.D. However, GTLYW is an educational experience that teaches participants about Imago theory and how it can be applied to help participants begin to create a conscious partnership. Participants will privately practice scripted exercises using the primary communication tool of IRT, the Imago Intentional Dialogue. During the practice, if needed, participants will be able to receive guidance from Certified Imago Relationship therapists, but therapists will only help participants stay within the structure of the scripted exercise, therapists will not work to deepen the content. This is a key difference between an the workshop and therapy. Though GTLYW Workshops are not therapy, the results are comparable to 4-6 months of couples therapy. This is because partners who attend the workshop commit to spending an entire weekend focused on their relationship and they receive vital information about what has brought them together, what can drive them apart and what can repair the ruptures that inevitably occur between people in relationship. When all this is combined with necessary communication skills, in an environment intentionally created to foster connection, true transformation can occur!
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My partner and I are on the brink of divorce, is it appropriate for us to attend a GTLYW Workshop?Yes, we frequently have partners who attend a GTLYW Workshop as a last ditch effort to save their relationship. The workshop teaches the tools needed to heal the hurts that may occur over the course of a relationship. The workshop also helps participants get a clear, concrete understanding of what each partner needs to do to grow into a more mutually satisfying partnership. Though the workshop is NOT therapy, attending the workshop can provide the benefits of attending 4-6 months of couples therapy, so it is a great step towards restoring a relationship that may be on the rocks. With that said, if you and/or your partner is considering a break up or divorce, please have appropriate expectations that relationship healing takes time and commitment. While attending a GTLYW Workshop is wonderful place to start, partners who truly want deep repair will likely benefit from follow up after the workshop with a couples therapist.
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Is the GTLYW Couples Workshop better for people who are in a newer relationship or is it better for partners in a more established relationship?This workshop is appropriate for partners at ANY stage of their relationship and who have been together for any length of time. GTLYW is a skills based program that teaches the tools needed for deeper, more effective communication. It also helps each partner understand what they are bringing into the relational space so they can begin to make more conscious decisions to help build their dream relationship. This approach will benefit partners who have been together for just a few months and who are looking to build a firm foundation, while it also helps couples who have been together for years, or even decades, to enhance their skills to communicate and connect like never before!
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I see that GTLYW is a "Couples Workshop", can I still attend if my relationship is a throuple, triad, polycule or other non-traditional relationship?Absolutely! Historically, GTLYW has been coined as a "couples workshop," as compared with the other Imago offerings, including the Keeping the Love You Find Individuals Workshop and the Connected Parents, Thriving Kids Parenting Workshop. We understand that calling GTLYW a "couples workshop" may feel exclusionary to some relationships and we truly apologize for that. It is not meant to exclude anyone! In GTLYW, the primary communication tool we teach is called the Imago Intentional Dialogue and even if the relationship has multiple partners, each Dialogue takes place between two partners, or a couple of partners, at a time (though other partners may witness the Dialogue). This approach can still benefit the entire throuple, triad or polycule. While we completely welcome partners in polyamorous or ethically non-monogamous (ENM) relationship, if you would feel safer in a workshop only with others in polyamorous or ENM relationships, please contact us at info@wholefamilynj.com.
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Is GTLYW welcoming, safe and affirming for members of the LGBTQ+ community?Yes! GTLYW is appropriate for partners of all genders and sexual orientations. We aim to create a truly welcoming and safe environment for all. We are always trying our best and we are also imperfect humans. We are very open to feedback if, in the process of trying to create safety, we unintentionally create harm. We invite opportunities to repair any ruptures we may create and to learn even better ways of meeting the needs of all of our attendees. Please note that there are LGBTQ+ only GTLYW Workshops offered by other wonderful presenters. If you are interested in attending one of these workshops instead, please contact us at info@wholefamilynj.com for a referral.
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If my relationship is going well, should I consider attending the GTLYW Workshop?Absolutely! We love when partners come to us to further deepen the already great thing they have. Our workshop provides tools that can be useful for anyone in a romantic relationship, as well as an environment in which deep healing and growth can happen. When partners who are in a good place in their relationship attend our GTLYW workshop, they leave even more connected and more fully alive. We encourage giving the GTLYW workshop or retreat to your partner for an anniversary or holiday gift! What better way to celebrate a wonderful relationship than committing to a connecting weekend together?!
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For lunch and dinner breaks, is there food nearby?Yes! In both New York City and Saddle River, NJ, there are many options to choose from, including fast food, restaurants, grocery stores and corner shops.
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What is a sample GTLYW Workshop Agenda?Friday (6 PM-9PM): Evening Workshop: Introductions for Presenters, Participants & to Imago Dialogue Exercise (in private) Imago Theory The Art of Mirroring Guided Imagery Saturday (9 AM-7 PM): Morning Workshop: Exploring the Connection of Past Experiences to Current Behavior Dialogue Exercise (in private) Lunch Break Afternoon Workshop: Restructuring Frustrations Enhancing the Positive Some optional homework Sunday (9 AM-6 PM): Morning Workshop: Relationship Vision Dialogue Exercise (in private) Lunch Break Afternoon Workshop: Obstacles to Connection Closing Ceremonies Head home more connected and joyfully alive than when you arrived!
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Where is the GTLYW Workshop located?In 2025, we are offering the GTLYW workshop-only (retreats are offered at a different location please check under, "The Retreat Experience" heading for more info) at one of two locations, one in NYC and one in Saddle River, NJ. Our NYC workshop is offered in a lovely yoga studio that is a part of Moving Body Resources at 112 West 27th Street, Ste. 400, New York, NY 10001. The main space is perfect for mini-lectures and there is room to stretch out! We have chairs, yoga mats, blankets, bolsters and backjacks for your convenience. This space also offers some other private areas that participants have the option of using for exercises. We host our New Jersey workshops at the Residence Inn Saddle River at 7 Boroline Rd, Saddle River, NJ 07458. The hotel is a charming meeting space and, though lodging is not included in registration, we do offer discounted room rates for those who choose to stay at the Residence Inn for the weekend.
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What should I bring to a GTLYW Workshop?Please wear casual / comfy clothes. It’s the weekend! Consider bringing layers as the temperature of each space is rarely suited for every participant. In the yoga studio, participants will be asked to remove their shoes. If you choose, you may bring slippers or house shoes to wear. Please bring refillable water bottles so you can stay hydrated using the filtered water provided. Also, please consider bringing your own comfy folding beach/camping chair. Seating is provided, but if you have a chair, blanket or pillow you like, you are welcome to bring it. You are free to bring snacks or specialty foods or drink (e.g. oat milk for coffee). You are welcome to bring whatever you need to make the weekend as comfortable and safe as possible for you. Please bring your sense of curiosity, your open heart and leave any judgment for yourself or others at the entrance. You won’t be needing it at all. We’re busy creating a super-safe-negative-free zone.
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What is included in the cost of the GTLYW Workshop?The workshop cost includes manuals and tuition for both partners, plus the teaching, guidance and support of two Certified Advanced Imago Relationship Therapists for the duration of the weekend. Snacks and coffee/tea are also provided during the workshop.
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Should I get accommodations nearby for the weekend or should I go home each night?If you live close enough to a workshop location, you may choose to commute back and forth each day. However, we strongly recommend arranging nearby accommodations for the NYC workshop and staying onsite at the Residence Inn Saddle River (for a discounted rate, with breakfast included!) for our northern NJ workshop. The experience of immersing you and your partner in a relationship bubble for the weekend is priceless. A discounted room rate is available at the Residence Inn Saddle River, which also includes breakfast. We plan to offer a discounted room rate in NYC for future workshops, but have not yet finalized this arrangement with any local hotels.
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I have food restrictions, will there be snacks suitable for me?We always have gluten-free snack options available. If you have any food allergies or restrictions, you can let us know after you register for the workshop. You are welcome to bring your own snacks with you if that is more convenient.
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What is included in the cost of the GTLYW Retreat?You get everything you get included in the GTLYW Workshop cost: The workshop cost includes manuals and tuition for both partners, plus the teaching, guidance and support of two Certified Advanced Imago Relationship Therapists for the duration of the weekend. Snacks and coffee/tea are also provided during the workshop. PLUS: Two meals per day per participant 3-Night/4-Day Stay at Seminary Hill 1 Yoga Class 1 Couples Game Night Hiking, Nature Trails and access to the grounds If you pick the Cidery Package, a Tasting for Two at the Seminary Hill will be included.
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What is a sample GTLYW Retreat Agenda?Thursday (4PM-9 PM): Registration Evening Workshop: Introductions for Presenters, Participants & to Imago Community Dinner (provided) Friday (8 AM-3 PM): Morning Yoga Arrive & Continental Breakfast (provided) Morning Workshop: Dialogue Exercise (in private) Imago Theory Lunch (provided) Afternoon Workshop: The Art of Mirroring Dialogue Exercise (in private) Free Time for Hiking, Nature Walks, Relaxation and More Tasting for Two at the Cidery (for couples who registered for Cidery Package) Dinner (on your own) Saturday (9 AM-3 PM): Breakfast(provided) Morning Workshop: Exploring the Connection of Past Experiences to Current Behavior Dialogue Exercise (in private) Lunch (provided) Afternoon Workshop: Restructuring Frustrations Enhancing the Positive Free Time for Hiking, Nature Walks, Relaxation and More Dinner (on your own) Sunday (9 AM-3 PM): Breakfast (provided) Morning Workshop: Relationship Vision Dialogue Exercise (in private) Lunch (provided) Afternoon Workshop: Obstacles to Connection Closing Ceremonies Free Time for Hiking, Nature Walks, Relaxation and More Dinner (on your own) Head home more connected and joyfully alive than when you arrived!
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What is the difference between the Cidery Package and the Dry Package?The only difference is that the Cidery Package includes a Cider Tasting for Two at the Seminary Hill Cidery and the Dry Package does not. If one partner is interested in adding on a tasting for one, please contact info@wholefamilynj.com to inquire about availability.
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What will I get from attending the GTLYW Babymoon?Let's be honest, having a new baby is an incredible thing AND many challenges inevitably come along with parenthood. It's unavoidable. And these challenges can really have a negative impact on a couples' relationship. This babymoon experience will give partners the communication skills and relational tools that are needed to navigate whatever bumps come up in the road ahead so they can stay connected, work together and enjoy the journey of becoming parents! This is also an extraordinary opportunity to get customized information to help parents get clear on the vision they have for how they would like to enter into parenthood, along with the tools to make it happen. Flexibility and knowing not all things go as planned may be one of the first lessons as a new mom or dad, but being prepared, knowledgeable and having the tools to able to work as a team can do wonders for whatever challenges arise!
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What are the lodging accommodations like for the GTLYW Retreat?Accommodations at Seminary Hill are at the beautiful Boarding House (Lower House Apartments #7 or #8) and include a private bedroom with private bathroom. Guests will also have access to shared common living space with other retreat participants. For more information, you can visit: https://www.seminaryhill.co/apartments
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What should I bring to a GTLYW Retreat?Please wear casual / comfy clothes. It’s the weekend! Consider bringing layers as the temperature of each space is rarely suited for every participant. Please bring refillable water bottles so you can stay hydrated. Seating is provided, but if you have a chair, blanket or pillow you like, you are welcome to bring it. You are free to bring snacks or specialty foods or drink (e.g. oat milk for coffee). You are welcome to bring whatever you need to make the weekend as comfortable and safe as possible for you. Please bring your sense of curiosity, your open heart and leave any judgment for yourself or others at the entrance. You won’t be needing it at all. We’re busy creating a super-safe-negative-free zone.
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Where is the GTLYW Retreat located?We are excited to be offering our Catskills Retreats at Seminary Hill, located at 43 Wagner Ln, Callicoon, NY 12723. For more info, check out: https://www.seminaryhill.co/
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What will I get from attending the GTLYW Babymoon?Let's be honest, while having a baby is a very special time and so many wonderful things can come along with it, there are also challenges that inevitably come up as well. It's unavoidable. These challenges can have a negative impact the the parents' relationship with one another. Since you can't avoid the hardships, learning how to respond to them is key. That's just what you will get at the workshop!! Partners will learn communication skills and relational tools that will help them navigate whatever bumps may arise in the road ahead. This will allow you and your partner to support one another and enjoy the journey of parenthood! In addition to all you will get to support you and your partner, this ultimate babymoon will also give you just what you need to support your growing family. You will receive the extraordinary opportunity of working with a certified birth doula, both in an informative group setting, and in a private planning session that will give you a customized birth plan so that you can be as prepared, knowledgeable and ready as you can be to create the birth experience you want. Lastly, let's not forget that you will also get the much needed rest, relaxation and restoration you and your partner need. It's a bonus that you'll be getting it amongst the beauty and majesty of Lake Erie!!
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What are the lodging accommodations like for the GTLYW Babymoon?Participants who attend a Getting the Love You Want Babymoon will receive accommodations at SunCliff on the Lake. You can find more details about the suites at https://suncliffonthelake.com/suites/
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Who should attend a GTLYW Babymoon?This is the ultimate babymoon experience and we think it is beneficial for all expectant parents! The transformation of going from a family of two to a family of three (or more with multiples!) is significant and it creates a major shift in family dynamics. Taking time to prepare partners BEFORE baby's arrival is invaluable. If you and/or your partner have already experienced bumps in your communication and connection, the workshop can help you repair and reconnect before the added stresses that come along with new parenthood begin. The babymoon is also a great fit for parents who are interested in exploring what it's like to work with a birth doula!
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Should I rent a car for the babymoon?Yes, it is strongly recommended that you rent a car when attending the babymoon. Salto Retreat Center, where the babymoon is hosted, is about a half mile from the accommodations at SunCliff. While walking is possible, it is a bit of a challenging walk, so driving is encouraged. Also, there are many nearby things to see and do, including visiting Niagara Falls! Having a car will allow you to enjoy these things in your free time.
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Can you tell me more about the doulas?We are so honored to have the support of both Gina Durant and Amelia Varney for this ultimate babymoon experience! This amazing mother/daughter doula pair will be supporting the workshop participants in different ways. Gina runs the Salto, the retreat center where the babymoon will be hosted. She will bring her knowledge, warmth, care and bright personality to creating just the environment we need to support each participant over the weekend. Amelia will bring her expertise and exuberance to lead the group and individualized doula support that all participants will receive. To learn more about Gina and Amelia's vast experience, please read below! More About Gina: Life Cycle Doulas and Buffalo Doula Collective founder Gina Durant was a birth and postpartum doula in Buffalo supporting over 200 families in WNY hospitals, birthing centers, and home births. It was the births of her three children that led her to doula world and the belief that every family deserves respectful and personalized evidence-based support and care. Her passion for creating a standard for doula professionalism, and the need to expand on what she had learned when she trained inspired her to create the Life Cycle Doulas training and certification program in 2014. As a trained Centering Healthcare Institute facilitator and Evidence Based Birth®️ instructor, Gina offers group model birth planning sessions to families seeking support. She is a co-leader of the WNY chapter of the International Cesarean Awareness Network (ICAN) and offers a community wide VBAC support group providing resources and support to families seeking a vaginal birth after a cesarean section. She facilitates the WNY Doula Support Group offering Life Cycle and local doulas a sense of community, commiseration, continuing education and guidance. In 2023 she moved to Derby N.Y. on Lake Erie which has become home to Salto, a training and retreat space where she hosts birth and postpartum trainings, continuing education opportunities, and babymoon retreats. More About Amelia: Originally from Buffalo NY, Amelia Varney was raised by a full spectrum doula and educator. She began her work as a postpartum doula in 2019 after Certifying through Life Cycle Doulas and she is now based in Brooklyn NY. Amelia is passionate about mindfulness, spirituality, and somatic healing. Being born and raised in the doula community, she gained an acute understanding of the value of professional nonjudgmental support through powerful life changes. Her goal when supporting people is to nurture and empower them through the transitions, grief, and joy that come along with the postpartum time in order to embrace the present moment, no matter what it holds. Her practice centers around the understanding that holding space for challenges while lovingly supporting each family will ease the transition for both parents and babies. Her non-judgmental, open minded support has assisted new families, helping them to thrive and not just survive. Along with her postpartum certifications, she has attended trainings for childbirth education, breastfeeding support, birth doula training, and certified as a Girl Talk instructor. She facilitates Life Cycle Doula trainings, offering a module on communication skills, holding space, self care, and the day to day expectations and considerations for postpartum doulas. She also hosts birth workshops and manages Buffalo Doula Collective, LLC, matching doulas with families and mentoring new doulas. She will be a certified lactation counselor in May of 2025. In her free time she enjoys yoga, long walks in Prospect Park, and getting together with friends for craft nights. Amelia believes that when doulas and families are cared for, well informed, and given the support they need, they can overcome all obstacles, and create a beautiful foundation for a healthy family connection.
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Why is a babymoon important?The transition from a family of two to a family of three (or more!) is an incredible thing and you can't truly imagine what it's like before you are actually living it on the other side. But what you can know for sure is that your life will never be the same! This change isn't a bad thing, however, honoring this precious time with your partner to celebrate and prioritize your relationship is an absolute gift.
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I want to make the most of this babymoon, what else can I do in the area?There are a variety of fun places to go and things to do nearby. Here is a list of some of the top attractions: Take a visit to Niagara Falls Drive the Peace Bridge into Canada - Toronto is a day-trip away (remember to bring your passport)! Check out Canalside, Buffalo’s waterfront destination for history, scenic walks and biking, and good food Stroll through the Buffalo AKG Art Museum (seriously world class!) Walk around Allentown and Elmwood Village-Buffalo’s art and historical district for great food, music, architecture and shopping Catch a Buffalo Bisons game (and enjoy a Sahlen's hot dog) Visit Frank Lloyd Wright’s architectural masterpieces-Buffalo has two! Graycliff is lovely and just one mile from Salto Grab a "beef on weck" sandwich and original Buffalo wings at Anchor Bar
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What is your cancellation policy?If you cancel more than two weeks before the workshop, you will receive a refund, less a $100 admin fee or you may transfer registration to a future workshop. If you cancel two weeks or less prior to the workshop, no refund will be issued, but you will receive a credit. No refund will be given for "no shows" or if you do not complete the workshop. The presenter is not responsible for any travel arrangements. If the presenter cancels the workshop, a full refund for the workshop/retreat cost will be made. The presenter is not responsible for any travel arrangements.
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We want to attend a GTLYW Workshop or Retreat, but we can't quite cover the cost up front, what should we do?We do not turn anyone away, so if you are interested in attending a GTLYW Workshop or Retreat, please contact us at info@wholefamilynj.com to inquire about payment plan options.
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How do I register for a GTLYW Workshop or Retreat?Please register for a GTLYW Workshop or Retreat at www.wholefamilynj.com/workshop. If you have any questions, please contact us at info@wholefamilynj.com.
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What payment options are available?We accept credit/debit card, Venmo, Zelle or Check. If you want to pay by ,Venmo, Zelle or Check after completing the registration form, click 'Pay Now' and choose 'Manual Payment' on the next screen. After you pay by your preferred method, please email info@wholefamilynj.com to confirm payment receipt.
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