A Roadmap to Finding Your Abandoned Self
Step Away from Survival Mode & Create a Life That Feels Like Your Own
Find My Book OnlineDate & Time:
Sunday, February 21, 2027 9:30AM-4:00PM
Location:
Wildflour and Fields Studio (664 Golf Club Road, Unit 3), Hamilton, Ontario
Somewhere along the way, many of us lose ourselves.
Not because we choose to, but because life asks so much of us. We become caregivers. We navigate grief. We survive difficult relationships. We put everyone else’s needs ahead of our own.
We spend years simply trying to make it through each day.
And somewhere beneath the responsibilities, expectations, stress, and survival mode, the parts of ourselves that once felt joyful, creative, confident, and free become harder to recognize.
A Roadmap to Your Abandoned Self was created for that version of you.
Inspired by my memoir, Finding My Abandoned Self, this one-day therapeutic retreat is designed to help you slow down, reconnect with what truly matters, and reclaim parts of yourself you may have lost or simply given away.
Because healing isn’t only about recovering from what happened to you. It’s also about discovering who you’ve become because of it and choosing how you want to move forward.
Is This Retreat Right for You?
This retreat was created for anyone who feels they’ve been surviving rather than truly living. You may see yourself here if:
- You’ve spent years putting everyone else’s needs before your own
- You’re feeling emotionally exhausted, disconnected, or overwhelmed
- You’re navigating grief, burnout, anxiety, narcissistic abuse recovery, or a significant life transition
- You’ve lost confidence in yourself or struggle to recognize who you are anymore
- You find yourself constantly saying “yes” when you really mean “no”
- You’re ready to stop simply coping and start living with greater intention
You don’t need to have all the answers before you arrive. You simply need the willingness to pause and make yourself a priority.
Meet Your Facilitator,
Salvina Castiglione, R.S.W., B.S.W., B.A
This retreat is deeply personal to me.
Throughout my own life, I’ve experienced profound grief, years of caregiving, relationship challenges, betrayal, and the difficult work of rebuilding after loss.
Like many people, there was a time when I became so focused on surviving that I lost touch with the person I was beneath all the responsibilities and pain.
That journey inspired me to write Finding My Abandoned Self and to create this retreat.
Today, after more than 35 years as a Registered Social Worker, I’ve learned that healing isn’t about becoming someone entirely new. It’s about understanding how life’s experiences have shaped you, honouring them with compassion, and creating a future rooted in your values rather than your wounds.
That is the journey we’ll begin together.
What To Expect
Every part of this retreat has been intentionally designed to help you slow down, reflect, and reconnect with the life you want to create.
An Understanding of Your Nervous System
Discover how chronic stress, grief, trauma, and prolonged survival mode affect both your mind and body, while learning practical strategies to regulate your nervous system and cultivate greater emotional resilience.
Heal Emotional Wounds
Through guided therapeutic exercises and thoughtful reflection, you’ll gently explore the experiences that have shaped your life while creating space for self-compassion, emotional healing, and personal growth.
Create Healthy Boundaries Without Guilt
Healthy boundaries aren’t about pushing people away—they’re about protecting your peace. Together, we’ll explore how clearer boundaries create healthier relationships and a stronger connection with yourself.
Rediscover Purpose & Joy
Healing isn’t only about letting go of pain. It’s also about making room for joy, curiosity, creativity, and the parts of yourself that may have been waiting quietly beneath years of responsibility and survival.
Guided Reflection & Creative Exploration
Through journaling, mindfulness, visualization, and creative therapeutic activities, you’ll begin identifying what truly matters to you—and the life you want to intentionally create moving forward.
Connection & Community
One of the greatest gifts of the day is realizing you aren’t alone. Surrounded by others on similar journeys, you’ll experience meaningful conversations, shared understanding, and genuine encouragement in a warm, supportive environment.
Your Investment
$289
This retreat is an investment in your emotional well-being, your future, and the life you’re ready to create. Your registration includes:
- A full-day therapeutic retreat experience
- Guided nervous system regulation and mindfulness practices
- Therapeutic facilitation by Salvina Castiglione, Registered Social Worker
- Guided journaling, reflection, and creative healing exercises
- Continental breakfast, lunch, refreshments, and snacks
- A thoughtfully curated gift bag
- A complimentary follow-up Zoom session
- An official receipt for the therapeutic portion of the retreat that may be eligible for reimbursement through your extended health benefits
- A copy of my book
Spaces are intentionally limited to create a supportive, intimate experience for every participant.
The Most Important Relationship You'll Ever Build Is the One You Have With Yourself
Life has a way of changing us—sometimes gently, and sometimes profoundly. But no matter where your journey has taken you, it’s never too late to become more connected to the person you’ve become and the life you want to create.
If you’ve been longing to slow down, breathe deeply, and finally make space for yourself, this retreat is your invitation.