For many centuries, we've been chased away from our emotions, yet we understand now that emotions are essential to everything we think and every decision we make. Understanding our emotions, then, means understanding ourselves and others -- and our inner and outer worlds -- more fully.
In this weekend exploration of the deep intelligence of your emotions, we'll learn gentle new skills and practices to help us explore what emotions are, how they work, and how to work directly with their wisdom to improve every area of our lives.
What to Expect
In this experiential and contemplative retreat, we’ll discover simple practices to help us identify, work with, and understand the healing genius in all of our emotions.
Practical exercises to help you identify and work with your emotions
Contemplative practices to safely invite your emotional wisdom
Small group activities to share your emotional wisdom
Lecture and reading to support your emotional awareness
Quiet reflection time to ground your learning
Creative play activities to bring your sense of humor and fun into the process
At the conclusion of our retreat, you and your emotions will have new skills, a new language, and new ways to move forward in your life.
Who Should Attend
This retreat is for anyone who wants to understand their emotions and learn how to work with their boundless wisdom to support their physical, intellectual, spiritual, and feeling life. Together, we’ll learn to connect with and listen to our emotions in healing new ways.
Event Details
Check-in: May 7, 2027 starts at 3:00pm, opening session after dinner
Checkout: May 9, 2027 at 11:00am
Resident Cost: $350, includes program, meals, and lodging
Commuter Cost: $290, includes program and meals
A $90 non-refundable & non-transferrable deposit is required to reserve your space.
Registration deadline: April 30, 2027
Scholarship funding is available. Apply here.
About the Facilitator
Karla McLaren, M.Ed.
She is an award-winning author, educator, and social science researcher. Her work revalues even the most “negative” emotions and opens startling new pathways into self-awareness, effective communication, and healthy empathy. She is the founder and CEO of Emotion Dynamics Inc.
She is the author of many books, including The Language of Emotions, The Art of Empathy, and Embracing Anxiety. She is also the developer of the online community EmpathyAcademy.org, and the creator of The Off-Ramp Project podcast.
Traveling to Mercy Center Auburn
We are nestled in the Sierra foothills of Northern California, just minutes from historic downtown Auburn and easily accessible from Sacramento, the Bay Area, and the surrounding region.
BY CAR:
Driving Directions are on our website.
BY TRAIN:
People coming from the Bay Area can take the Capital Corridor AMTRAK train to Sacramento's Valley Station or the Auburn station. From there, you can an Uber/Lift to the retreat center.
BY PLANE:
The Sacramento International Airport is the closest. From there, you can take an Uber/Lift to the retreat center.
Interested in learning about future retreats and events at Mercy Center Auburn?