Detoxing From Divorce

For women moving on from their marriages, a special retreat is giving them new strength

- Nannette Holliday

Fiona’s voice breaks, her bottom lip quivering, as she reads from her son’s letter. “Dear Mum, thank you for being the ideal mum and dad to me since Dad left. I love you both, but admire, respect and love you more for raising me in a loving home where you never called Dad names, even though he deserved it.”

When Fiona has finished, another woman begins to share her deeply personal story of separation. There’s barely a dry eye in the room and more boxes of tissues are placed on the tables for the attendees at Australia’s first Detox Your Divorce retreat.

Then it’s time for a break before the all-female participants learn strategies that will help them take the next steps in their lives.

“Navigating separation and divorce amicably is my priority,” explains organiser Cassandra Kalpaxis. “And hopefully keeping women and children away from the courts as much as possible.”