Care Without Absorbing the Stress of Others
Empathy is one of your greatest strengths, but without healthy boundaries, it can also become one of your greatest sources of exhaustion. Whether you’re a highly sensitive person, healthcare professional, caregiver, or simply someone who feels deeply, this experiential retreat with psychiatrist and New York Times bestselling author Judith Orloff, MD, will help you strengthen your intuition, protect your energy, and cultivate the emotional resilience to care for others without losing yourself. You’ll leave with practical tools to deepen your relationships, reduce overwhelm, and confidently embrace empathy as a source of healing rather than depletion.
Recommended (but not required) Reading: The Genius of Empathy, Essential Tools for Empaths, and The Empath’s Empowerment Deck by Judith Orloff, MD. Participants are encouraged to bring their own Empowerment Deck or may purchase one at the Center’s bookstore.
Eligible CE credits are available for California-licensed MFTs, MSWs, LCSWs, and Registered Nurses. CE certificates are provided by Dr. Judith Orloff.
Starting at $365 (Tuition) + $643 (Lodging + Meals) plus tax
SAVE! Add a day or two and save 20% off our R&R rates. Select your added day(s) on the Registration page.
Refined Intuition
Learn to distinguish intuition from fear and trust your inner guidance with greater confidence.
Healthier Boundaries
Protect your energy without closing your heart or disconnecting from others.
Stress Resilience
Develop healthier responses to sensory overload, anxiety, and everyday stress.
Emotional Discernment
Recognize unhealthy dynamics and respond with confidence instead of absorbing others’ stress.
Confident Sensitivity
Embrace your gifts as an empath or highly sensitive person while remaining centered and empowered.
Deeper Connection
Strengthen relationships through greater empathy, communication, and emotional awareness.
Feel More Grounded, Connected, and Empowered
Throughout the weekend, you’ll gain a deeper understanding of how empathy and intuition shape the way you experience the world and learn how to work with them as sources of strength rather than overwhelm. You’ll discover how to navigate relationships with greater confidence, distinguish intuition from fear, and care for others without absorbing their emotional burdens. By the end of the retreat, you’ll feel more grounded, emotionally resilient, and empowered with practical tools to support both your own wellbeing and the wellbeing of others in everyday life.
Cultivate presence and inner calm while strengthening intuition and emotional balance.
Explore intuitive guidance through Dr. Orloff’s Empath’s Empowerment Deck while strengthening trust in your inner wisdom.
Practice simple techniques to protect your energy, prevent emotional overload, and replenish your inner reserves.
Share experiences, ask questions, and learn alongside others in a supportive and compassionate environment.
SAVE! Add a day or two and save 20% off our R&R rates. Select your added day(s) on the Registration page.
This experiential retreat offers a well-balanced schedule that combines structured educational sessions with flexible time blocks – ensuring you have ample opportunity to engage in learning while also allowing personal time to explore the retreat center, participate in activities, and enjoy moments of reflection and relaxation.
Check-in Begins 4:00 pm
Dinner 6:00–7:00 pm
Orientation 7:00–7:20 pm
Session 1 7:30–9:00 pm
Breakfast 7:30–9:30 am
Session 2 9:30 am–12:30 pm
Lunch 12:30–1:30 pm
Session 3 2:00–4:00 pm
Free Time 4:00–6:00 pm
Dinner 6:00–7:00 pm
Breakfast 7:30–9:30 am
Session 4 9:30–11:30 am
Room Checkout 11:00 am Luggage may be held at Reception.
Lunch 12:00–1:30 pm
Breakfast 7:30–9:30 am • Lunch: 12:00–1:30 pm • Dinner: 6:00–7:30 pm
Optional activities include
Yoga • Meditation • Kirtan • Bonfire • Labyrinth • Nature Trails
Judith Orloff, MD, is a psychiatrist, intuitive healer, and New York Times bestselling author specializing in empathy, intuition, and the needs of highly sensitive people. Her bestselling books include The Genius of Empathy, The Empath’s Survival Guide, and Thriving as an Empath, as well as the children’s book The Highly Sensitive Rabbit.
Prices include daily vegetarian meals from dinner on the night of check-in through lunch on the day of checkout. (Rates below are per person.)
Ideal for individuals, couples, or friends seeking hotel-style comfort and amenities.
Ideal for friends seeking hotel-style comfort and amenities.
Ideal for individuals, couples, or friends seeking simple surroundings for peace and clarity.
Note Room may contain extra single beds.
Fully furnished 665 sq.-ft. apartment (max: 2 persons)
Note Furniture may vary; each apartment is different.
Fully furnished 995 sq.-ft. apartment (max: 4 persons)
Note Furniture may vary; each apartment is different.
Free activities include
Interactive Nature Hikes
Cooking Demos
Meditation & Movement Classes
Wellness Workshops
Paid activities include
Pottery Classes
Ayurvedic Wellness & Healing Arts Treatments
Take your rejuvenation to another level. Our spa offers treatments and therapies that integrate ancient Ayurveda with contemporary wellness.
Call to check availability during Shankara Ayurveda Spa business hours; seven days a week, 9:00 am–6:00 pm.
For room reservations, Ayurveda Wellness Retreats, and Art of Living Retreat Center (AOLRC) signature retreats, we have the following cancellation policy:
AOLRC reserves the right to cancel a program at any time. If AOLRC cancels a program, you will receive a full refund. Some programs may have special cancellation policies; see individual workshop descriptions. For all other retreats, please be sure to check the registration page specific to that retreat.
Unless otherwise indicated, our programs are open to participants 18 years of age and older.
To encourage a healthy environment, we ask that guests not consume alcohol or meat in our public spaces. However, guests may enjoy these items in their rooms.
Our property is always smoke-free.
Yes, we ask that guests with food allergies simply inform us so we can communicate those needs to our chef. Typically, we label potential allergens such as gluten, dairy, and nuts. You may email us at info@theartoflivingretreatcenter.kinsta.cloud.
Thanks to the cool climate of the Blue Ridge Mountains, air conditioning is rarely needed. For the occasional warm day, there is a fan in each room to help keep you comfortable.
We do have lodging and event venues that are ADA-compliant. Due to the topography of our mountain campus, some are easier to access than others, so please speak to Guest Services (800.392.6870) prior to registering to ensure we can best accommodate your needs. We also have shuttles that run frequently throughout the campus.
We are committed to the safety of our guests and staff. Our mountaintop location and the surrounding areas are spacious, remote, safe, and secure.
You can help!
Transportation Options Between Charlotte and the Center
Hickory Hop Shuttle Service Book online hickoryhop.com The Hickory Hop shuttle goes from Charlotte airport to Boone five times daily. Reservations are required, so book ahead online and be sure to confirm shuttle times coordinate with your travel plans.
High Country Limo 828.898.9595 highcountrylimo.com
Oscar’s Car Service 704.965.5800
Edwardo’s Car Service 704.949.6775
Blue Bird Transportation 828.989.7286 Blue Bird of Boone
Abby Cab 828.475.2988 abbycab.com
Uber or Lyft Book in app on arrival.
Other airports within driving distance from the Art of Living Retreat Center include
Tri-Cities Regional Airport (TRI) in Johnson City, TN (80 miles)
Piedmont Triad International Airport (GSO) in Greensboro, NC (110 miles)
Visit our directions page for more information.
Step into a world where mindfulness meets beauty. Our gallery captures the essence of the Art of Living—from serene moments of reflection to vibrant celebrations of life, wellness, and connection.
SAVE! Add a day or two and save 20% off our R&R rates. Select your added day(s) on the Registration page.
