ALOHA RETREAT

June 28 – July 4, 2026

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR HEALERS & HELPERS

Kona, Big Island Hawai’i

Sunset over a calm beach with rocks in the foreground, a cityscape along the coast, and mountains in the distance under a colorful sky.

🌺 Continuing Education Credit

Participants may earn up to 12 CEUs:

3 hours – Ethics and counselor self-care

3 hours – Burnout prevention and professional sustainability

3 hours – Reflective practices for counselor wellbeing

3 hours – AA.NH/PI cultural humility and panel discussion

Career Zen Retreat for Therapists

A professional development retreat in Hawaii for counselors and therapists who want to restore their nervous system and reconnect with what matters most.

This is for you if you’re feeling:
Burnt out. Disconnected. Compassion fatigued. Wondering, “How long can I keep doing this?”

What you’ll leave with:
More clarity, steadiness, self-trust, and a sustainable plan for your next chapter.

Free 20-min call

Interested in learning more? Reach out anytime for a chat with Lynn!

Three women jumping and smiling in the shallow ocean water at the beach during daytime, with overcast sky.

A person sitting on a beach under a thatched tiki hut, facing the ocean during sunset. The person is in a beach chair, surrounded by a blanket, bag, and a mat, with the sea and a cloudy sky in the background.

People practicing yoga or meditation on a wooden deck with a lush garden and trees in the background, and a table of colorful glass cups in the foreground.

A woman with dark curly hair smiling, with a sunset sky and tropical plants in the background, wearing a white shirt with black patterns and a white flower in her hair.

A scenic sunset over the ocean with colorful pink, purple, and blue sky, distant mountains, and a coastline with some buildings, rocks, and gentle waves.

A sea turtle on the sandy beach near the water's edge.

A group of children and adults gather around a man holding a large sea turtle. The man appears to be examining or treating the turtle, while the children watch with interest. The setting looks like an educational or conservation event.

Group of six women sitting indoors on the floor, some with hands in a prayer position, one wearing a panda hat, with a book titled 'The 30 Day Career Cleanse' and panda-themed clothing.

A woman sitting cross-legged on rocks near a body of water, smiling, with one arm raised above her head in a yoga or meditation pose, under a blue sky with some clouds.

Two women taking a selfie in front of a pink cherry blossom tree inside a storefront, with one woman holding an iced coffee drink.

Group of smiling women taking a selfie on a rocky beach at sunset.

Two women sharing ice cream at an outdoor event, smiling, with food trucks and tents in the background.

Group of five smiling people in a restaurant, taking a selfie together. The background shows artwork, books, and decorations on the walls.

Two women, one with sunglasses and another with dark curly hair, harvesting pink and white flowers from a woody shrub outdoors on a sunny day.

A group of women practicing yoga on a beach with ocean waves and a clear blue sky, sitting on colorful mats and raising their hands in a yoga pose.

Two women practicing yoga on beach mats on sandy shore near ocean with palm trees, one is wearing a purple tank top and the other a black tank top with glasses, in a tree pose.

Two bento boxes filled with various Japanese dishes, placed on a white cloth on the ground outdoors, with grass and leaves visible in the background.

Who this retreat is for:

Counselors, social workers, psychologists, and mental health professionals

Helpers experiencing burnout or compassion fatigue

Helpers questioning career options or workload sustainability

Helpers seeking reflective professional development in a restorative setting

Helpers who want to immerse themselves in AA.NH/PI culture and ceremony

Our Daily Rhythm

Morning Grounding:

Healthy breakfast
Choice of morning stretches on the beach or sleeping in
Professional Development Session:
Career sustainability and workload alignment
Burnout and compassion fatigue awareness
Ethical self care and professional responsibility
AA.NH/PI cultural conversations for compassionate care
Professional identity and long-term direction

Afternoon Exploration:

Unstructured time to follow your rhythm. Rest, swim, journal, explore the island, or simply do less.
Most lunches and dinners are on your own.

Evening Integration:

Daily group check-in.
Restorative yoga for deep nervous system recovery.
Sacred silence observed 9pm-9am.

Meet Lynn, your facilitator

I’m a holistic career coach, yoga and meditation teacher, wellness author, and retreat leader. I was born in Austin to Chinese parents who came to the U.S. as international graduate students. Growing up as a first-generation Asian-American in Texas shaped me in ways I still carry with gratitude. It gave me a deep understanding of what it feels like to search for belonging, and a genuine compassion for anyone who wants to feel seen, accepted, and celebrated.

A few years ago, while caring for aging parents and navigating a demanding workload, I took a much-needed vacation to Hawaii. I expected rest. What I found was something deeper. My nervous system softened almost immediately, and I could finally hear my own inner wisdom again.

That trip became the beginning of my own Career Zen evolution. Today, I live and work part-time in Hawaii, surrounded by a community that feels like family. Being on this island was never planned, but it was part of my natural unfolding. My goal is to help you naturally unfold into your own magical journey.

A woman sitting on a colorful towel at the beach during sunset, wearing a floral shirt and olive green pants, with a flower in her hair, reaching out with her right hand and looking to her left, clouds in the sky, and the ocean in the background.

And Sakara, your tour guide

Full of joyful love, holistic wellness, and a spirit for adventure, Sakara is returning to the Big Island just for our retreat! Having lived on the Big Island previously, she knows all the hidden treasures this sacred land holds and is excited to share her love of paradise with y’all.

The Big Island holds so many different landscapes—each one with its own energy, rhythm, and story. Lush rainforests on the Hilo side, the quiet power of the volcano, windswept cliffs at the southernmost point of the United States, and beaches in shades of white, black, and even green.

Two women smiling and taking a selfie on a beach during sunset, with cloudy sky and rocks in the background.

Free 20-min call

Learning Objectives

By the end of this retreat, participants will be able to:

Identify ethical considerations related to counselor wellbeing, including impairment, burnout, and professional responsibility.
Recognize early signs of burnout and compassion fatigue and reflect on personal and systemic contributors.
Apply reflective practices that support self-awareness, emotional regulation, and professional clarity.
Examine boundaries, pace, and sustainability as ethical components of counseling practice.
Increase cultural humility by exploring AAPI cultural perspectives related to work and life.
Enhance cultural sensitivity when working with AAPI through observation and reflective learning.

This program is intended as professional development and continuing education. It does not constitute psychotherapy, diagnosis, or clinical supervision.

RETREAT INVESTMENT

Your retreat investment includes your stay at our Kona retreat home for the full retreat experience, plus all scheduled Career Zen sessions and wellness programming. Price ranges from $1,500-1,850 for the week, depending on the accommodations you select. Because of local connections, Career Zen is able to offer this retreat for half the usual cost of a wellness retreat in Hawaii. There is also a luxe bedroom option for those who need extra pampering!

Group of six people smiling and posing for a photo outdoors, with palm trees in the background, some wearing hats and sunglasses, in a tropical or beach setting.

Two people standing on the beach at sunset, forming a heart shape with their arms, facing the ocean with a colorful sky and clouds in the background.

🌿 Blue Zones Wellness Field Trips!

In Kona, wellness is a way of living. It moves through the ocean, the food, the art, and the people. You will feel it in the wind, in the meals we share, in the rhythm of each day. These field trips and wellness experiences are included in this retreat as part of your journey to reconnect with yourself.

A woman wearing glasses and a striped shirt holding a cookbook titled 'The Blue Zones American Kitchen' at a restaurant. She is smiling and making a peace sign with her hand.

🎨 Tess Villeagas Rumley: Creativity as Self-Care

Tess is a gifted artist whose work reflects intuition, beauty, and spirit. Her art gallery is featured inside the King Kamehameha Hotel and welcomes you into an inspiring space filled with color and soul. Her collection includes her own original pieces as well as artwork created by elder artists. Many of these artists have continued creating well into their later years with devotion and heart. When you choose to purchase from this gallery, you are uplifting a lifetime of artistic expression and offering support to those who have dedicated their lives to sharing their vision.

Tess will guide us through her creative process and show us how to reconnect with our own inner artist. She teaches transformational shifts, which she calls Mindset Upcycling. Her passion and lifelong career as an artist are reminders that we all carry a unique form of beauty, and that creativity is one of the most direct ways to express purpose.

A wooden bowl of salad with cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, avocado, and onions on a dining table with floral and gold-trimmed plates.

🍵 Zen Life with Yumi: Purpose in Every Step

Yumi is a Japanese medicine practitioner, environmental advocate, organic farmer, and lifelong student of healing and harmony. As a young woman in Japan, she was the Greta Thunberg of her time—fearless, passionate, and deeply committed to ending wars and saving the planet. Her activism began decades ago, and her mission continues today as she teaches people how to heal their bodies through nourishing food.

Homemade macrobiotic lunches and dinners are available each day of our retreat. Simply reserve your spot and Yumi will customize her delicious meals to optimize your health! Lunch is $20 and Dinner is $30. You can come early and learn how to prepare the meals, or simply enjoy the prepared foods and brilliant conversations.

A table with a tray of Japanese cuisine including soba noodles, assorted fried vegetables, green onions, mashed potatoes, and pickles, along with bowls of dipping sauce and broth.

Fried chicken pieces on a white floral plate with green leaves. To the right, a decorative plate with sliced raw meat and colorful bell pepper strips. Part of a salad with lettuce and tomato is visible at the bottom right corner. A blue beverage bottle is in the background.

A group of people sitting around a dining table, smiling and enjoying a meal together in a cozy home setting. The table is set with various dishes, bowls, and plates, with a bowl of salad in the center. There are pink flowers in a vase as a centerpiece, and the background shows bookshelves and framed pictures.

Close-up of a smiling woman with dark hair pulled back, wearing a red top and a large shell necklace, standing in front of a bronze sculpture of three women and a buffalo, with greenery and flowers in the foreground.

Turtle Independence Day

Close-up of a person holding a turtle on a towel, with jewelry visible on their hand.

Hawaiian ceremony on beach with leis, traditional clothing, and palm trees.

Four women in red skirts and green leafy headpieces perform a dance on a sandy beach with an ocean and groups of people in the background.

My favorite event of the year and it’s my dream to share it with you!! Every July 4th, Hawaiʻi honors “Honu Independence Day,” releasing young sea turtles back to the ocean. This sacred Hawaiian ceremony celebrates freedom, renewal, and “mālama ʻāina” a return to one’s true nature.

As the capstone of our week together, it symbolizes your own growth, abundance, and the courage to begin a new chapter with aloha. You will get up close and personal with this endangered species, learn about their growth and care, and send them off with a special Hawaiian blessing!

ACCOMMODATIONS

Your Asian-inspired home for the week is a peaceful Kona sanctuary designed for rest, reflection, and island comfort. Nestled in the city, short drive to the ocean and surrounded by the beauty of Hawaiʻi, our retreat house offers cozy shared spaces, tranquil bedrooms, and outdoor areas perfect for sunrise tea, journaling, or stargazing under the Hawaiian sky.

Enjoy a relaxed, intimate setting with:
• Comfortable private or shared rooms
• Inviting common spaces for connection + community
• Outdoor lanai for meditation, conversation, tea
• Easy access to beaches, local markets, and island adventures

🌺 Upstairs: Community Connection

The upstairs level is the heart of our retreat where we gather, learn, and nourish body + soul. Here you’ll find our main meeting space, a bright and welcoming kitchen and dining area, and cozy seating for group discussions and tea.

Upstairs Rooms with one shared bath:
• Queen Bedroom – $1,850 (reserved)
• Full Bedroom – $1,750 (reserved)

Upstairs Room with private bath:
• Luxe Queen Bedroom for 2 with ensuite and lanai access– $1,850/person (reserved)

🌴 Downstairs: Cozy Cocoon

The downstairs level offers a more laid-back, family-style vibe, perfect for grounding and rest. This floor includes its own kitchen, living space, bathroom, and two bedrooms, providing a more private home-away-from-home feel. (Ideal if you have special dietary needs and want a separate kitchen space)

Downstairs Rooms with one shared bath:
• Queen Bedroom – $1,700 (reserved)
• Twin Room – $1,500 each (reserved)

ADDITIONAL ACTIVITIES

As part of your transformative journey, you’ll have the opportunity to deepen your experience on the Big Island with optional activities that allow you to explore, connect, and grow. Embark on these experiences with a zen mindset and an open heart.

Gorgeous Beaches- Choose from black sand, green sand, white sand, and lava rocks.
Scenic Drives- Experience 8 of the 13 world climate zones, all on this one island.
Kona Coffee Tours- Visit a farm to learn how this unique bean is grown, harvested, and roasted.
Botanical Gardens- A gorgeous peace sanctuary that holds sacred secrets and symbols.
Nighttime Manta Ray Snorkeling – Kona is the only place to snorkel with these majestic creatures!
Cloud Forest Sanctuary – Reconnect with nature in this tranquil, lush ecosystem.
Volcano National Park – Feel the earth’s lava energy for an unforgettable live experience!
Stargazing at Mauna Kea – Gaze at the heavens from one of the clearest night skies in the world.

Beach scene with kayaks on sandy shore, palm trees, lush greenery, thatched hut, and blue sky.

✨ What’s Included:

Your retreat tuition is thoughtfully curated to offer a seamless, restorative, and elevated experience:

Continuing Education Certificate

KOA Airport pickup to retreat home
6 nights / 7 days boutique accommodations in our private Kona retreat home
Daily breakfast & refreshments with local island touches
Daily mindfulness – morning beach stretching and meditations, and evening restorative yoga
Career Zen workshops & guided coaching with Dr. Lynn for clarity and fulfillment
Meaningful community experiences in an intimate, supportive group setting
AA.NH/PI cultural immersion to better understand the counseling needs and wellness perspectives of this diverse population
Turtle Independence Day experience to celebrate growth and new beginnings
KOA Airport drop off from retreat home

🚫 What’s Not Included

To give you freedom and flexibility, the following are not included in your retreat tuition:

Airfare to and from KOA
Rental car (share cost by carpooling with retreat friends)
Lunches, dinners, and optional island excursions

Ready for Paradise?

THIS RETREAT IS ACCEPTING A WAIT LIST. FILL OUT THE FORM BELOW FOR MORE INFORMATION.

VENMO DEPOSIT