Whispers of the Soul Retreat
CO-HOSTED BY NATALIE GUTIERREZ & ERICA SANDOVAL
July 22nd - 26th, 2026
Casa Andes, Filandia, Quindío, Colombia
This retreat in the heart of Colombia is for Social workers, therapists, postpartum doulas, mental health practitioners, who give so much to others. It’s a time to rest, to reconnect with your heart, and to feel renewed. In the beauty of nature, you’ll be held, supported, and nourished. This is your moment to receive—to give yourself the care and space you so often offer others. Come back to your life and work with more energy, clarity, and love. You deserve this time.
Over five transformative days, you'll engage in group discussions and immersive experiences while learning how to weave mindfulness, self-care, and collaboration into your business model creating a sustainable and fulfilling practice.
Leave feeling inspired, empowered, and ready to build a soul led career with your values while serving both yourself and your clients.
reconnect, recharge, renew:
A sanctuary for those who care for others
Step Into Purpose and Freedom
Envision a Heart-Centered Practice:
why we created this retreat
This retreat is a sacred container designed for communities of color to courageously excavate what we carry- not to dwell in pain, but to awaken our connection to power, presence, and purpose. Drawing from the transformative work of The Pain We Carry by Natalie Y. Gutiérrez, LMFT, we will guide participants through practices that help illuminate how pain is held in the body, mind, spirit, and ancestral lineage- and how it can be alchemized with intention, compassion, and community.
At the heart of this retreat is the understanding that our burdens- cultural, intergenerational, personal- have shaped us, but do not define us. Through somatic awareness, internal inquiry, creative expression, and spiritual practice, we will learn to witness our pain with dignity, reclaim our stories with clarity, and renegotiate our relationship to power, belonging, and self.
this immersive experience is for those who
Are Looking For a Sacred Pause to Receive
This retreat offers a rare and intentional space where you, the caregiver, get to be cared for. It’s a chance to step away from the demands of service and receive the rest, nourishment, and presence you deeply deserve.
Reconnect with Your Essence and Purpose
Held in the ancestral lands of Colombia, you’ll be guided back to your inner knowing. Through nature, ceremony, and community, you’ll remember why you began this work and reconnect with your heart’s mission.
Build a Sustainable Path Forward
Through guided experiences and soulful reflection, you’ll explore tools and practices that support long-term emotional, mental, and energetic sustainability in your work—so you can continue serving with clarity and fuerza.
Community of Like-Hearted Souls
You’ll be surrounded by a powerful group of peers who get it—people walking similar paths of service. This space is one of mutual support, deep listening, and inspiration. You are not alone.
A Transformational Experience in Nature
Held in the breathtaking beauty of Colombia, the land itself becomes a co-facilitator—grounding you, awakening your senses, and reminding you of the medicine of slowing down and living with intention.
what's included in the retreat
Four Nights in Filandia, Quindío, Colombia: Immerse yourself in the heart of the Coffee Axis region, surrounded by breathtaking nature.
Guided Excursions: Sacred walks, and cultural outings to connect with the land and its rich heritage. Family constellation sessions with an experienced facilitator & curandera
Tranquil Retreat Accommodations: Share a cozy stay in a beautiful villa surrounded by the lush landscapes of the Andes.
All-Inclusive Local Meals: Enjoy fresh, organic, vegetarian meals inspired by ancestral Colombian traditions, prepared by a private chef and cooks. Dietary preferences and allergies are accommodated.
Sacred Practices: Participate in cacao circles, ancestral rituals, energy-cleansing practices, and altar settings.
Spirit Work & Ceremony: We will create intentional ceremonial spaces to honor our ancestors, call in guidance, and be with all present. Through altar work, meditation, rituals, we invite spiritual support into the process.
Guided Writing & Reflection: Using reflective prompts inspired by the book, you’ll explore: the cultural and personal burdens you carry, how they shape your relationships with yourself and others and what it would mean to live from your true Self with intention. Writing becomes a tool of liberation- turning what was hidden into spoken truth and channeling creative expression.
Mind-Body Connection: Daily body movement, breathwork, meditation, and integration practices to harmonize body, mind, and spirit.
Mentorship Sessions: Learn from experts on how to create a sustainable, impactful, and purposeful life.
Transportation: Round-trip transportation to and from Pereira Airport, as well as to all activities during the immersion.
Conscious Networking & Community Building: Connect with like-minded professionals and explore new possibilities together.
Integration & Support: Access a private group chat for post-retreat integration, sharing, and continued connection. Retreat materials and an self-care tools to use at home.
Embodied Activation: As we enter the Year of the Horse, a time symbolizing clarity, empowerment, forward movement, and authenticity, this retreat invites you to re-root in your truth and step into your power with intention.
Local Notes:
Airport: Matecaña International Airport (PEI) — flights into Pereira are the most convenient; private transfers can be arranged to the villa.
Transfer time: Typical drive times in the Coffee Region are about 30–60 minutes depending on exact location; private transfers to nearby towns (e.g., Salento/Filandia) are common to arrange. Expect ~45–60 min if traveling nearby.
Weather: July in Filandia is warm and can have increased cloud cover and rain; bring light rain layers and breathable clothing. Average highs ~26–28°C (mid-70s–80s°F), with variable showers in the month.
Essentials: Comfortable shoes, lightweight rain jacket/poncho, insect repellent, reusable water bottle, journal, items that ground you (photos, crystals, oils), and layers for brisk evenings. We'll provide a full packing guide post-registration.
Health and Accessibility: The retreat involves light hiking at altitude (bring altitude meds if sensitive). Please share dietary restrictions, allergies, or access needs at signup. We try our best to adapt with care and creativity to hold you fully.
what to expect
DAY 1 - July 22
Guests arrive and are welcomed into Casa Andes. This day is devoted to settling into the space, resting, meeting one another, and gently arriving in body, mind, and spirit. There will be time to orient to the land, the retreat container, and the days ahead.
Light Refreshments upon arrival
Dinner by Private Chef
Recommendations: Festive colors
We begin by turning toward grief with tenderness and reverence. This day includes reflection, ceremony with grief, and guided support from a Colombian elder through limpias and plant medicine. We will also engage in an exercise from The Pain We Carry exploring where burdens live in the body and what they have to say.
Morning Light Movement
Breakfast
Energy Cleansing (Limpias by Elder Ludivia Bueno)
Lunch
The Pain we carry workshop, Facilitator Natalie G
Light Dinner At Casa Andes
Recommendations: Comfortable attire, yoga pants, light shawls
DAY 2 - July 23
This day is dedicated to constellation work, offering an opportunity to explore family dynamics, inherited patterns, and the unseen loyalties that shape our lives. Through this work, participants are invited to witness what has been carried and what is ready to shift.
Morning Light Movement
Breakfast
Snacks during break
Constellation closing session
Early Dinner at Casa Andes
DAY 3 - July 24
We continue weaving practices from The Pain We Carry alongside Erica’s supports integration with sound bath. This day supports deeper reflection, embodiment, and integration, with space for insight, connection, and rest.
Morning Light Movement
Breakfast
Local Artisanal and conscious shopping
Dinner in town
DAY 4 - July 25
welcome to our luxury villa
A sanctuary in the middle of the breathtaking Andes mountains, offers an unparalleled retreat in the heart of Colombia’s Coffee Region. Just under an hour from Matecaña International Airport in Pereira, this hidden gem blends luxury, comfort, and nature, creating a tranquil escape for those seeking relaxation and rejuvenation.
Surrounded by lush landscapes, rolling coffee fields, and panoramic mountain views, the villa is a private haven where elegance meets serenity.
meet our guides and facilitators
Erica P. Sandoval, LCSW, SIFI
Erica Priscilla Sandoval is an award-winning mental health practitioner, speaker, executive coach, entrepreneur, podcaster, philanthropist, and author.
Erica is the Executive Director of Siembra Today, a women-run, BIPOC-led nonprofit devoted to providing accessible mental health and wellness support through narrative storytelling, books, workshops, healing circles, conferences, and social media campaigns. Siembra Today’s goal is to destigmatize and promote mental health and wellness for the Latino/a/x/e and BIPOC community, so that they can plant seeds of hope for themselves and future generations.
Erica is also the founder and CEO of Sandoval Psychotherapy Consultation—known as Sandoval CoLab—which provides talk therapy, ketamine-assisted psychotherapy (KAP), and holistic offerings. She is the creator of the book series Latinx/e in Social Work, personal narratives available in both English and Spanish that amplify the voices of Latinx/e social workers.
Erica holds a Post Master’s in Clinical Adolescent Psychology and a Master’s in Social Work from New York University, Silver School of Social Work. As a proud immigrant from Ecuador, her passion is fueled by supporting her community.
Natalie Y. Gutiérrez, LMFT
Natalie Y. Gutiérrez, LMFT (she/her), is a trailblazing Puerto Rican licensed marriage and family therapist whose work bridges mental health, cultural healing, and social justice. She dedicates her practice not only to Boricua resilience, but to empowering survivors of complex trauma, especially in communities of color. Drawing from her own roots, she addresses layered traumas: racial injustice, ancestral pain from colonization and displacement, historical wounds like those from colonization, enslavement, natural disasters, multigenerational cycles of grief, and everyday interpersonal betrayals. Her approach champions a “liberation-centered” path that honors cultural specificity and collective freedom.
As an international keynote speaker, Natalie masterfully integrates communal storytelling to decolonize mental health, reclaim power lost to oppression, grief and reclamation spiritual ceremonies, somatic rituals, and ancestral veneration into practice- emphasizing reconnection with la tierra (the earth) as a deep source of healing. Her transformative books, The Pain We Carry (2022) and its companion The Pain We Carry Workbook (2025), have transformed how people of the global majority process inherited trauma. Her voice has amplified marginalized narratives across outlets such as NPR, HipLatina, The Washington Post, LA Times, Latino News Network, Born This Way Foundation, Poderistas, and more. Her work ripples outward, influencing curricula at institutions, inspiring a new generation of therapists of color.
Ludivia Bueno Velasco, Holistic Therapist
Her medicine is a journey of self-discovery, honoring her roots and ancestors to strengthen family and community bonds. She is an artisan of the human weave, creating spaces that become portals for soul growth and spiritual connection.
The blessings of recovering ancestral memory are offered in altars and ceremonies of gratitude to Mother Earth, beating with the universal heart.
Ludivia was born in Quinchía, Colombia, a place where the sacred mountains, the Apus, connect us with the essence of the Earth.
With her wisdom, Ludivia honors her ancestors and guides you through her medicine: a path of self-discovery that strengthens your connection with your family and your community. She is a true “artisan of the human fabric,” creating spaces gatherings and retreats—that open portals for spiritual connection and the growth of the soul.
Ludivia offers the blessing of ancestral memory through ceremonies of gratitude to Mother Earth.
A journey to live with wisdom, kindness, and to reconnect with the medicine that lives within you.
There are many ways to live with wisdom and kindness;
discovering our medicine is the beginning of a world of possibilities.
“When one of us heals, we all heal.”
your investment in this transformative experience
This Immersion is an investment in yourself, to empower you with the mentorship, tools, and clarity to build a purposeful, thriving business while nurturing your well-being.
Shared Room:
$2,999
(Deposit $500)
Reach us at erica@sandovalcolab.com, and info@natalieygutierrez.com or message 347-903-5063. Or book a call.
Total investment: $2,999 payment plan available
Deposit & payment: $500 non-refundable deposit to hold your place; balance due 30 days before retreat.
Installment Plan: Pay in three monthly installments of $833, with an initial $500 deposit required at registration.
Full Payment: Receive a $100 discount when the total program fee is paid in full at the time of enrollment.
Bring a Friend Discount: Receive $250 off your fee for each friend you refer who enrolls in the program.
Seed Money Opportunity: We are offering a $500 grant to qualifying participants. This grant reduces the total program cost to $2,500.
To learn more about eligibility requirements and apply for the grant, please fill out our interest form. Additional details will be provided after submission.
By joining this immersive experience, you are saying YES to building a purposeful life, YES to prioritizing your well-being, and YES to aligning your work with your passion—because you deserve to thrive while making an impact.
Disclaimer: Full refund minus $100 fee if canceled 60+ days before start. 50% refund 30-60 days out; no refunds within 30 days. Travel insurance is strongly recommended. Assist 365 is one commonly used travel insurance.
Flights, travel insurance, and personal joys/expenses are yours to bring and not included.
This retreat is not recommended for individuals who are pregnant or experiencing health issues.
Snacks and off the itinerary meals and alcoholic beverages not covered.
PARTIAL PROCEEDS WILL GO TOWARDS SIEMBRA TODAY.