At a retreat

You walk the journey alongside.

You aren’t a plus-one. You register as an attendee in your own right, on the same form as your First Responder, and the weekend is built for both of you.

On Saturday the groups split. First Responders meet with peer support and clinician leads. Significant others meet with their own peers, other partners who have lived with the same job, and have access to the clinician leads. They’re discussion groups where each of you has a room of your own, so both of you can speak freely.

If you’re both First Responders, you register together as a couple on the same form, and each of you gets the support you need.

956significant others and partners have attended since 2019
38%of everyone who has walked into a retreat
$0for either of you. You pay for the drive.

“What I came to realize after the event, it was his way of telling me, ‘I need help.’”

Wife of a corrections lieutenant

“I had my bags packed, ready to leave my husband as soon as we returned home from the retreat. Now I’m going to work on my marriage and myself.”

Retreat attendee

“It was so good to feel welcomed at the retreat from the moment we walked in, meet other spouses in the same boat and feel understood, rather than invisible.”

Spouse of a retired firefighter/paramedic, Indiana

A resource for the two of you

A First Responder spouse on what the retreat changed for her

Questions to consider together.

Conversation starters, for a quiet evening or a long drive. There’s no right order and no need to get through all of them.

  1. How are we doing as a couple?
  2. What has been the hardest part of the First Responder profession for our family?
  3. What do I need from you when you come home after a difficult shift?
  4. What do you need from me?
  5. How can we make time for our relationship?
  6. When should we consider seeking additional support?

Come to a retreat together. One form registers both of you, and your First Responder needs to know you’re registering as a couple and want to come. We don’t accept surprise registrations, or any where one person doesn’t know what they’re signing up for. Use two different email addresses so we can make sure you both know you’re registered, and so we have a backup if a message doesn’t go through when we send final instructions or have a question.

Register for a retreat

More for families

← FamiliesBack to the sectionFor ParentsFamily life, and what your kids are feelingQuestions Kids May HaveAnd ways a parent might answerFamily ResourcesSupport beyond the retreat weekend