The Rage of Hormones

Using Education and Anger Work to Empower Clients Navigating Peri/Menopause

a retreat for mental health professionals

General Details

Scenic rural landscape with rolling green hills, a small pond, trees, a fence, and a gravel road, in warm sunlight.

Date: Thursday 9/17/26 - Sunday 9/20/26

Location: The Barn @ Rock N’ Refuge Retreat, McEwen, TN

CEs hours available: 15 CE hours (NBCC ACEP No. 7477)

  • These hours will include lecture, group discussions, experiential segments, practicing and applying skills, etc.

Cost: $1500 for private rooms, $1250 or $1175 shared spaces

  • Cost includes: CEs, lodging, food & drink, & supplies. Flexible payment options are available.

    • Concerning payment plans, a deposit has to be placed to reserve your spot and it has be paid in full by 9/1/26. If you have questions or this is of interest, please reach out.

Presenters: Katie Casey, LPC-MHSP-S, Holli Ellis, LPC-MHSP, and Rebecca Wilson, LPC-MHSP

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Logo for Approved Continuing Education Provider NBCC, featuring a globe with interconnected lines inside a circle.

Additional Information

Location & Lodging: The retreat will be located at The Barn @ Rock N’ Refuge Retreat in McEwen, TN. This barn is perfectly set up with retreats in mind — having a large dining table, multiple gathering spaces, sleeps 10+, and is on acres of land perfect for exploring! You can see pictures of the hiking trails, garden, horse stalls, pond, and more in the gallery below.

Cost: Cost is determined based on your preference for a shared or private bedroom. Here are the room options:

  • 3 private bedrooms: 1 king and 2 queen beds

  • 1 shared room, with a bunk bed (double size)

  • 2 separate loft spaces: 1 with 2 beds & 1 with 4 beds

  • Flexible payment options are available. Contact to learn more!

  • If you are signing up with someone else and would like to share a private room or shared space together, please contact me

Meals & Snacks: Registration cost covers all meals, snacks, & drinks for the weekend. Upon registration you will be emailed a short survey which will include questions around food allergies & diet needs.

CEs Hours: 15 CE hrs. Participants must be present during all parts of the schedule that do qualify for CEs and complete the learning evaluation at the end of the training (Sunday) to receive credit. No partial credit awarded. Abundant Hope Therapy has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7477. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. Abundant Hope Therapy is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.

  • Please see the schedule below to see the parts of the schedule that do and do not qualify for NBCC credit.

Learning Objectives:

  1. Describe the key hormonal shifts that occur during perimenopause and menopause and their potential impact on the body

  2. Explain the complex interplay between hormonal changes, trauma, and mental health symptoms during peri/menopause

  3. Identify common mental health concerns that arise during peri/menopause

  4. Recognize how common symptoms of peri/menopause may impact the process of therapy

  5. Discuss the bidirectional relationship between hormonal fluctuations and emotional regulation during peri/menopause

  6. Recognize how peri/menopausal hormonal changes can differentially impact mental health in neurodivergent individuals

  7. Create trauma-informed treatment plans, that specifically address possible challenges in therapy for women in peri/menopause

  8. Outline how to accessibly use psychoeducation as an intervention with this population

  9. Utilize at least three interventions to help clients develop somatic awareness of anger and other emotions

  10. Apply IFS techniques to explore the impact of peri/menopausal hormonal shifts on internal parts and self-energy

  11. Incorporate DBT skills to improve emotional regulation and distress tolerance

  12. Identify the impact of navigating the healthcare system during peri/menopause on a client’s mental health symptoms

  13. Recognize the potential impact of client’s shame-based thoughts around their symptoms during peri/menopause

  14. Outline the therapeutic value of expressing anger during peri/menopause

About the presenters:

  • Katie has been in the field for over 10 years. Through various experiences within inpatient, short and long-term residential settings, rehabs, and outpatient settings, Katie has honed her specialties to working with those with PTSD, chronic pain/illness, and other helping professionals. She has extensive expertise in EMDR, mindfulness skills, DBT skills, and other somatic-based interventions. Katie is passionate about helping both clients and professionals connect the body and brain to foster healing.

  • Holli has lived and worked in the Nashville, TN, area for 10 years. She holds a Master's degree in Counseling and Human Development earned her LPC-MHSP licensure in December 2015. Through Befriending Our Bodies, Holli is committed to helping all individuals ease their nervous systems. Holli is mindful of the oppression faced by BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and people in larger bodies and works to dismantle these barriers. In addition to individual therapy, Holli incorporates yoga, Reiki, and bodywork into her practice.

  • Rebecca has over 13 years of experience in the mental health field and has worked across a variety of clinical settings. She specializes in complex trauma and PTSD, addiction, eating disorders, and personality disorders. Rebecca has received extensive training in EMDR, Somatic Experiential (SomEx) Therapy, Internal Family Systems (IFS), Brainspotting, Psychodrama, and other experiential modalities. She is deeply passionate about integrating a range of therapeutic approaches to support healing from a holistic mind, body, and spirit perspective, tailoring her work to meet the unique needs of each individual client.

Specifics including address, directions, arrival times, and other important information will be sent out after registration.

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A scenic lakeside with a wooden dock and a small shelter, surrounded by green trees and grassy areas, under a clear blue sky.
A wooden deck with picnic tables and a pergola, overlooking a river, with green hills and trees in the background at sunset.
A scenic rural landscape with rolling green hills, a winding gravel road, a small pond, and a line of trees under a clear sky.
A group of horses grazing on a grassy field with trees in the background and a blue barn on the right side.
A rural farm scene with raised garden beds, a small pond, and trees in the background. The garden beds are being watered by a hose.
Interior of a wooden stable with several animal stalls, a wooden cart, and a chair in the background, with sunlight streaming in.
Interior view of a rustic living room with wooden walls, ceiling, and floor, featuring leather and patterned armchairs, a wooden coffee table, a brown couch with pillows, a lamp, and a spiral staircase leading to a loft area.
Interior of a wooden cabin with high ceilings, a staircase leading to a loft, wooden floors, walls, and a door with a black heart-shaped decoration, windows on the right side letting in natural light, and a wall sign that reads "Joy follows gratitude
A cozy bedroom with wooden walls and ceiling, a large bed with a pink comforter, gray and white pillows, and a nightstand with a lamp. There is a mirror and a teal dresser at the end of the bed, a window covered with beige curtains, and a ceiling fan
A wooden deck by a pond with a green metal roof, a hammock, a life preserver, and lush green trees in the background.
A rural property with a large house, barn, and surrounding green fields, near a small body of water.
A large barn with green metal roof and black and brown wooden siding, surrounded by a dirt yard, fenced garden beds, and green fields with a winding pathway, set against a background of trees under a clear blue sky.
A hand-drawn map of Rock 'N Refuge, featuring trails, landmarks like a play fort, pond, barn, and cabins, with icons indicating vehicle restrictions, loop trails, and notable locations.

Thursday

General Schedule

  • Arrive & check in

  • Welcome group exercise

  • Welcome dinner and Introduction to the weekend

  • Fire pit & Experiential Practice*

    • Led by Holli Ellis, LPC-MHSP, Katie Casey LPC-MHSP-S, Rebecca Wilson, LPC-MHSP

    • Learning Objectives:

      • Outline how to accessibly use psychoeducation as an intervention with this population

      • Utilize at least three interventions to help clients develop somatic awareness of anger and other emotions

    • Content: Experiential practice of mindfulness exercises via fire pit, eating exercise, and guided practices

Friday

  • Breakfast

  • Session 1: Theoretical Frameworks*

  • Led by Holli Ellis, LPC-MHSP

    • Learning Objectives:

      • Describe the key hormonal shifts that occur during perimenopause and menopause and their potential impact on the body

      • Identify common mental health concerns that arise during peri/menopause

    • Content: Presentation slides, handouts, and group discussions to assist

  • Session 2: Experiential and Practical Application*

    • Led by Rebecca Wilson, LPC-MHSP

    • Learning Objectives:

      • Explain the complex interplay between hormonal changes, trauma, and mental health symptoms during peri/menopause

      • Recognize how common symptoms of peri/menopause may impact the process of therapy

      • Discuss the bidirectional relationship between hormonal fluctuations and emotional regulation during peri/menopause

    • Content: Presentation slides, handouts, and group discussions to assist

  • Lunch

  • Session 3: Emotional Regulation and Practical Skills*

    • Led by Katie Casey, LPC-MHSP-S

    • Learning Objectives:

      • Discuss the bidirectional relationship between hormonal fluctuations and emotional regulation during peri/menopause

      • Recognize how peri/menopausal hormonal changes can differentially impact mental health in neurodivergent individuals

      • Incorporate DBT skills to improve emotional regulation and distress tolerance

    • Content: Presentation slides, handouts, and experiential practice to assist in lecture and group discussion

  • Dinner

  • Session 4: Exploring Emotions*

    • Led by Holli Ellis, LPC-MHSP

    • Learning Objectives:

      • Recognize the potential impact of client’s shame-based thoughts around their symptoms during peri/menopause

      • Outline the therapeutic value of expressing anger during peri/menopause

      Content: Experiential and mindfulness practices

Saturday

  • Session 5: Skills & Interventions Deep Dive *

    • Led by Katie Casey, LPC-MHSP-S, Rebecca Wilson LPC-MHSP, Holli Ellis, LPC-MHSP (1 large group session led by all presenters)

    • Learning Objectives:

      • Incorporate DBT skills to improve emotional regulation and distress tolerance

      • Utilize at least three interventions to help clients develop somatic awareness of anger and other emotions

      • Outline the therapeutic value of expressing anger during peri/menopause

      • Outline how to accessibly use psychoeducation as an intervention with this population

    • Content: Presentation slides, handouts, videos, experiential practices, and group discussions to assist in lecture on the topic

  • Lunch

  • Session 7: IFS Focused Exploration of Emotions, Hormones, and Self*

    • Led by Rebecca Wilson, LPC-MHSP, Katie Casey LPC-MHSP-S, Holli Ellis LPC-MHSP

    • 3 smaller Activities will occur during this time, all participants will break into small groups & rotate through each

      • “Who is your angry teenager”

      • “Identifying the anger to be released”

      • “Identifying the part that holds back the anger”

    • With the Learning Objectives of:

      • Outline the therapeutic value of expressing anger during peri/menopause

      • Recognize the potential impact of client’s shame-based thoughts around their symptoms during peri/menopause

      • Apply IFS techniques to explore the impact of peri/menopausal hormonal shifts on internal parts and self-energy

      • Utilize at least three interventions to help clients develop somatic awareness of anger and other emotions

    • Content: Handouts, group discussion, expressive arts, mindfulness, and experiential practice

  • Dinner

  • Session 8: Anger Release

    • Led by: Katie Casey LPC-MHSP-S, Holli Ellis, LPC-MHSP, Rebecca Wilson, LPC-MHSP

    • Learning Objectives:

      • Outline the therapeutic value of expressing anger during peri/menopause

      • Utilize at least three interventions to help clients develop somatic awareness of anger and other emotions

    • Content: Experiential Practices

Sunday

  • Breakfast

  • Session 9: Treatment Planning & Integration*

    • Led By Katie Casey, LPC-MHSP-S, Holli Ellis, LPC-MHSP, Rebecca Wilson, LPC-MHSP

    • Learning Objectives

      • Outline how to accessibly use psychoeducation as an intervention with this population

      • Identify the impact of navigating the healthcare system during peri/menopause on a client’s mental health symptoms

      • Create trauma-informed treatment plans, that specifically address possible challenges in therapy for women in peri/menopause

    • Content: Teaching and discussion with the aid of handouts on the topics

Upon registration you will be emailed a short form that will include questions about accommodations, among other questions. Please fill that out completely as that will help the presenters formulate the hands on practice and application to meet everyone’s needs! If you have any questions about accommodations or specific activities, please email with any concerns.

* These are the only times where you have the opportunity to receive CE credits. All other activities scheduled are not available for NBCC credit.

Register Here