Racheal's Rest

Racheal's Rest has retreat center in North Georgia. We have the potential of helping 6-8 ladies/children per week, 50 weeks per year. This is a minimum total of 300 people per year. Over a period of 10 years, it could change 3,000 lives and that many families. For the next generation, that is multiplied many times over.

Racheal's Rest is engaged in programs that are non-sectarian and benefit a broad base of the community. We welcome "all walks of life". We attempt to NEVER turn anyone away due to lack of funds for our retreats. We would like to have a "healthy" retreat scholarship fund. It costs and average of $1200 per participant and $1500 per child and non-offending female parent/guardian.

Dr. Karen McDonald currently leads all retreats in North Georgia and provides group and private counseling at her private practice in Kennesaw, GA. Dr. Karen is a board-certified Christian Counselor through the Georgia Board of Examiners for Christian Counselors and Therapists. She is also a trauma specialist and sees adult, teen and child clients ages 3 and up. Karen grew up with domestic violence and sexual abuse on a daily basis. She survived and developed a passion for helping others find restoration from abuse. Because she has struggled through her own journey of recovery, she knows how much courage and determination it takes to overcome the fears, shame and guilt, spiritual confusion, relationship issues, and parenting difficulties survivors face. Furthermore, she has wisdom, training and skills to pass along techniques to those who are ready to change their lives.

Connection with other survivors of sexual abuse is a vital component of healing. Racheal's Rest retreats provide survivors with a safe, supportive environment in which to start or continue their journey to emotional health.

EDUCATION: A large part of Racheal's Rest is helping the participants understand how their past has influenced their current reality and how it will impact their future if they let it. Changing the message of shame is vital to healing.

PLAY: One of the greatest needs some survivors have is the need to learn to play, to relax and to take time to care for themselves. Therefore, a huge component of our program is recreational therapy. While it may look like a vacation to some, it is actually work for a lot of participants. Some were never allowed to play, others feel guilty if they are not doing something productive, and still others are so overwhelmed with responsibility and obligations that they don't or can't take time for themselves.

CONFIDENCE BUILDING: When people grow up without love and safety, they learn the world is not a safe place. In an effort to counteract the danger around them, they become overly cautious of getting hurt. This limits their willingness to try new things and to find their own voice. Many adults have never learned to ride a bike or swim. One of our tried and true methods from past retreats for adults is to walk over an unused but safe and sturdy railroad trestle over the Toccoa River in North Georgia. It restores a sense of balance to their whole person as they conquer fear and have a sense of accomplishment.

RELAXATION: The role of water at Racheal's Rest is a MUST! Water is meant to be soothing, but for many survivors it is frightening instead. Many never felt safe, even in the womb, our first water experience. Currently, retreats are held near the Sandy Bottom Canoe Launch area in Blue Ridge, Georgia, because it is very shallow and accessible at the river's edge. Those who are terrified of water can sit on lawn chairs at the edge and not feel threatened by the rushing water. Others who are more adventuresome can tube down the river or climb on the rocks. Survivors learn from, and are encouraged by, other survivors.

BODY IMAGE: Many survivors have a distorted view of themselves. Being “clumsy" or “accident prone" describes many survivors who are not in touch with their physical bodies. With children, we use group games and individual activities that help them connect with themselves.

We have helped a countless number of women and children and will continue to do so with a little help from our current and NEW partners! Thank you for your consideration!

Once upon a time, there was an old man who used to go to the ocean to do his writing. He had a habit of walking on the beach every morning before he began his work. Early one morning, he was walking along the shore after a big storm had passed and found the vast beach littered with starfish as far as the eye could see, stretching in both directions.

Off in the distance, the old man noticed a small boy approaching. As the boy walked, he paused every so often and as he grew closer, the man could see that he was occasionally bending down to pick up an object and throw it into the sea. The boy came closer still and the man called out, “Good morning! May I ask what it is that you are doing?"

The young boy paused, looked up, and replied “Throwing starfish into the ocean. The tide has washed them up onto the beach and they can't return to the sea by themselves," the youth replied. “When the sun gets high, they will die, unless I throw them back into the water."

The old man replied, “But there must be tens of thousands of starfish on this beach. I'm afraid you won't really be able to make much of a difference."

The boy bent down, picked up yet another starfish and threw it as far as he could into the ocean. Then he turned, smiled and said, “It made a difference to that one!"