is the guest house Project a counseling service?
While we have a list of counselors we recommend in the Atlanta area and online, we do not offer professional counseling services. We love to walk alongside women, listen to their stories and hold space for grief, pain, and hope. We are able to offer recommendations for further resources and paths to healing.
do you provide some immediate help for a woman in crisis?
Yes.
A phone call with one of our team members
A care package sent in the mail with all of our resources
Referrals to betrayal trauma counselors and support groups
Some important things to know about The Guest House Project
We often are her first phone call when she is thrust into the world of betrayal and doesn’t know where to turn.
We are able to offer resources and point someone in the right direction. This is a huge part of what we do.
They receive a care package from us, referrals to online support groups, therapists and / or betrayal trauma coaches in their area, and an invitation to attend a retreat, and then they are added to our prayer list.
We love to set a table figuratively and literally for women to taste and see that the Lord is good. We make space for them to encounter God in the midst of the deepest suffering. We have seen God’s immense faithfulness in meeting each woman in a deeply personal way, and giving her hope for her future in His hands.
what part of the journey of healing is the retreat created for?
The Retreats are focussed on respite and spiritual nourishment, connecting women to God’s love for them. We have curated a space where our ladies receive tools through our wonderful spiritual directors, to deepen their relationship with God while in the midst of betrayal.
Both respite and spiritual nourishment are essential through every point in this journey. And so we welcome ladies who have only recently discovered the betrayal in their marriage, and ladies who began this journey many years ago, and are looking for encouragement in their relationship with our Heavenly Father.
When a woman reaches out to register for a retreat, one of our team members will have an intake call with her, to work through the best timing of a retreat experience according to her specific situation.
How are retreats advertised?
On the website, social media, word of mouth, and organizations with whom we partner.
How is a retreat structured?
It is a three night retreat, with both morning and evening sessions hosted by a spiritual director, where women are walked through Scripture and are given spiritual tools to connect with God in their pain.
Each session we begin with worship
We enjoy restful mealtimes together around a large dinner table, with home-cooked food
Afternoons are for rest, creativity, time alone with God, one on one sessions with spiritual directors or Guest House team members
An art workshop is offered during the retreat for each group, as well as time for hiking or walking, visiting the local area, swimming or kayaking (depending on location), and sometimes a gentle exercise class is available.
will you be offering a retreat for men? (i.e. for moms and sons, dads and sons, dads and daughters?)
We are prayerfully considering what we could offer for men who have been betrayed, teenage boys who are living with betrayal in their families.
Does the Guest House offer retreats for teens?
Yes! We offer a separate Mother-Daughter Retreat option that teen girls can attend. This retreat hosts mothers that have experienced betrayal trauma and their teen / young adult daughters (high school to early college age). We focus on bonding, nourishment, rest and community aspects. Teen girls have the option to participate in a girls’ group for processing and age appropriate resources. Mothers have the option to participate in an adult group for support. Expressive art and fun is incorporated along with the meals, spiritual direction and more. This retreat upholds the same privacy policies as other Guest House retreats.
How much do retreats cost per person?
For 2025, our retreats will cost $500 - $900 per person.
Retreat costs vary based on location and which room option you select. Some locations offer additional private cottage options, which cost higher than individual room rates.
Overall, we intentionally try to keep our retreat fee low for guests, with an understanding that going through betrayal may cause a ripple effect of many stressors for a family. We are grateful for our partners, donors and alumni that give to our mission. Generous donations also give us the opportunity to provide a scholarship option for some retreats. Churches are welcome to sponsor one of their members for a retreat.
What are typical topics discussed?
Lament
How God meets us in our sorrow and pain
The Fatherhood of God
Beloved-ness as a child of God
God and attachment theory
The role of creating beauty in healing
The ministry of presence
The role of worship in healing
Beauty from brokenness
Hope and a future
Is the Guest House a physical place?
Yes, and Not Yet.
Yes: We do have a Respite Room for women to use for personal overnight retreats. One woman can stay 1-2 nights, for respite, during a disclosure, or simply to rest. Please see our Respite Room page to book a stay.
Not Yet: For our larger retreats, we are currently renting large homes or retreat centres for each retreat weekend.
Our long term vision is to own a physical space - a large home which could accommodate up to 20 over-night guests on a regular basis. In addition we would like to use the space for support groups, one-on-one meetings and gatherings of women for workshops, supper clubs and counselling appointments. We cannot wait to see what God has in store for a permanent spot for The Guest House!
Please join us in praying for God’s provision of spaces, funds, and His direction for a future space.
How can churches and organizations partner with the Guest House Project?
We love working in partnership with churches and organizations both locally and online.
Churches - (inclulding Bible Study groups, small groups, mission teams, care teams, Sunday Schools, women’s ministry groups, and eldership teams) -
We are always eager to come and share more of our work: what is doing through The Guest House Project, about betrayal trauma and its effects on the family, how to join in the broader network of betrayal trauma care through local therapists, spiritual directors, online groups, and The Guest House Project.
Providing sponsorships to retreats for women in your church can make a huge difference.
Advocating for those in the midst of betrayal and the resulting trauma is one of the most powerful ways to care. See: “My Eyes Were Opened: One Pastor’s Story on Care for Wives” Caitlin McCaffrey, Harvest USA 2024 Edition
Counselors and Therapists -
We work in partnership with many therapists, counselors, spiritual directors, coaches and support groups who specialize in betrayal trauma - local, regional, or online. We do this through referrals.
Offering sliding scale payments for The Guest House alumni, and others in situations of betrayal trauma can be a hugely beneficial way to support a family or individual going through betrayal.
Some organisations we partner with -
We also love partnering with a local girls groups and others that assist with the retreat prep.
If you would like to partner with The Guest House Project in any way, please reach out to us. We would love to meet with you!
What are the various ways to support The Guest House Project?
Prayer Support
If you would like to receive our newsletters and join our prayer team, please email us and you will be added to our team
Advocacy and Sharing the Needs
Sharing the needs of women and families in betrayal trauma with others is incredibly powerful.
Drawing in others who would be or could be interested in the work of The Guest House Project and other such organisations is another way to extend the knowledge and support of families in betrayal trauma.
Financial Support
As a NPO we raise our own support to enable this work. If you would like to partner with us financially:
Please follow this link to the various donor options (monthly or annually, general donations, retreat scholarships, rest boxes, follow up, salaries, or ‘other’.
Reach out to us if you would like to meet up for further discussions on support. It would be a joy to meet with you.
The Guest House Project Amazon Wish List ( This includes items for retreats, events, follow up care, rest boxes, resource-care, and our Respite Room)
Retreat Support
If you enjoy baking or cooking, and would like to use your gifts to serve our ladies in that way, please do reach out to us! We have some wonderful women who will come and cook for us on retreats, or donate meals or baked treats for our events. If you would like to join this team, please get in touch! It would be a delight to have you!
There are always many practical things to be done around retreat time. If you have extra time, and would love to lend a hand in any way, we would love to have you with us as we get everything ready for our ladies.
If you have any other ways that you love to care, and would love to reach out to us to talk further, please do so - we would love to meet with you.
Therapeutic, Legal, Financial, Medical, Educational, and Vocational Assistance
Offering sliding scale payments or pro bono work for women who are suddenly in a position where they require independent professional help and insight.
Homes / Retreat Centres to Rent
We are always looking for affordable spaces to host our retreats which are large enough to accommodate all our ladies, as well as our volunteers. If you know of any such places, please do get in touch with us.
A Permanent Home
Our long term vision is to have a permanent home for The Guest House Project, a retreat space which will enable us to increase the number of retreats we offer.
We cap the number of women we take at one retreat to 22 max, to maintain the intimacy and safety of the group. Because of our capped retreat numbers, we have a waiting list. This is the reason why our own space is still at the forefront of our long-term vision. By increasing the frequency of retreats, and care for more women.
how can i be a better friend and support someone going through betrayal trauma?
Your presence, sitting with them in their pain, being willing to listen and keep listening is the most significant way to care for a friend. Offering a non-judgemental space for them is hugely important.
Reading and educating yourself more about betrayal trauma, may also help you to grow in understanding and how to support them. If you are looking for resources, please see Be Broken Ministries, Pure Sex Radio, Hope After Betrayal, Harvest USA, and Intimate Deception, by Dr. Sherri Keffer as a helpful starting point.
For some, the journey of healing from betrayal trauma can be a long road to travel. Having supportive people come alongside those living in this lengthy healing process is invaluable.
Asking - how can I support you at this time?
What are specific ways men can be supportive of the guest house project?
To support or come alongside a husband in his healing process.
To advocate for the needs of men / women / families in betrayal within the church, and educating others to the realities and complexities of this trauma.
To come alongside the family and offer practical help (mowing the lawn, etc).
Offering prayer support, giving financial and / or practical support to The Guest House Project, as well as other organizations caring for individuals and families in betrayal trauma or sexual brokenness.
We have included this link in a previous question above, but we realise the significance of what is shared in this article, and how helpful it can be to men wanting to know how to help and care.
- See: “My Eyes Were Opened: One Pastor’s Story on Care for Wives”
Caitlin McCaffrey, Harvest USA 2024 Edition
“We are all broken.
That’s how the light gets in.”