HELD
Nurturing the Creative Mother.
May ‘24 to Feb ‘25
Adelaide Southern Suburbs
HELD is a year long group experience co-created by Emma Holdsworth and Sarah Harney, to support, nurture and encourage creative mothers and caregivers.
Here, you are held.
This is an invitation to craft an experience of motherhood and creativity that feels sustainable to you.
We have co-created something that supports other creative mums, like you, in a new way.
In a way that honours the truth of your season of parenting and supports your ideas, creativity or business offerings. We believe it is possible (and deeply necessary!) to encourage and nurture your creative identity without ignoring your personal approach to motherhood and caring for others.
caring or mothering...
No matter your stage of business, creativity,
You deserve to be held and all of you is welcome here.
Across a supportive 10 months, HELD is an intimate in-person experience that offers a total of 8 retreat days for mothers & caregivers who want to parent with presence in harmony with expressing their creativity and big ideas.
This is a unique mastermind-style group program created and co-facilitated by Emma Holdsworth, a counsellor, doula, parent educator & Mum-of-two and Sarah Harney, a business consultant, creation coach & toddler Mum.
We are also in our own seasons of present parenting and intentional business. We are both deeply experienced in our fields, as well as proactively learning and evolving alongside you. There is no one way of crafting a meaningful life.
Postpartum is forever
Whether you are planning a family, have a baby or older kids, caring for others, whilst caring for yourself, can be tricky.
We acknowledge that no matter what season of postpartum / motherhood you are in, you will face unique challenges and triumphs that deserve a space to be held and honoured.
Whilst deep in care-giving we know that you can also be incredibly inspired and full of creative ideas!
HELD offers you an experience that truly holds you as a responsive, mindful mother (or mother to be or grandmother) AND as a creative, courageous maker.
A space where both things are honoured and held.
Where they are in harmony, not contradiction.
nothing short of brilliant.
The Emma and Sarah collaboration has been
Sarah’s wild creativity and attention to detail coupled with Emma’s therapeutic insights and commitment to deep inner work have resulted in a beautiful symmetry
This is why we work together so brilliantly in HELD.
We’re offering a therapeutic approach and honest acknowledgement of what is true for YOU with a healthy dose of ritual and play, this is a space where all of you is welcome.
Where your mind, your emotions & your ideas will be held, honoured and supported so you can be the human, parent and creator you want to be.
We lead with compassion
over critique.
We will support you to connect with a new version of yourself, the version that you will choose when you feel supported, nurtured and HELD.
Here, in HELD, instinct & shared wisdom come together creating a deeper understanding of yourself and lasting relationships that will carry you through this phase of your life.
There are no systems, rules or expectations here, only an invitation to do this your way.
To break generational patterns.
To question the modern contradictions.
The conflict, the isolation, the depletion.
Emma Holdsworth.
Counsellor ~ Doula ~ Parent Educator.
~ Mother to pre-schooler and tween.
~ Circle facilitator
~ Co-parenting single woman.
~ Therapeutic space holder
~ Sister, Aunty, Daughter
~ Maternal, Infant & family mental health focused
~ Dedicated friend and cheerleader
~ Sandplay therapist.
~ Doing motherhood and business for 10+ years
Sarah Harney.
Business Coach ~ Creative Director ~ Maker.
~ First time toddler Mum
~ Creation & Business Coach
~ Podcast Producer
~ Creative Director, Designer & Tech lover
~ Sister, Aunty, Daughter, Friend
~ Proud Queer woman & ADHD-er
~ Art therapy inspired playful approach
~ Writer, Oracle Card creator & Magazine Editor
~ Doing creative business for 10 years & mothering for 3!
Emma says: "Sarah is a creative genius. She listens deeply to my jumble of ideas, swirls them around in her amazing brain and supports me to bring them to life. Co-facilitating HELD with her in 2023 has been so impactful to the way I work and the women we supported”
Sarah says: "Emma is the most supportive & calming guide. All through my mothering & business journey she has gifted me radical permission to trust myself, my body, my baby and my brain. She is my constant reminder to honour my needs at every step."
The HELD Experience:
Enjoy eight in-person gatherings across a year. Offered as:
~ 3 x 2 day retreats in May, Aug & Nov 2024
Delivered as back-to-back Friday Saturday combos
~ Closing with an extra Lush 2.5 day celebration retreat in May 2025
With options to add accommodation for a full retreat experience or just attend the daytimes.
Plus:
❁ A curated check-in week halfway between in-person sessions
❁ A supportive (but expectation free) private Online space for shared resources & community connection across the year
❁ Thoughtfully curated themes to guide us throughout
❁ And a nourishing HELD welcome kit full of fun treats.
Key ingredients:
Sharing Circles.
Creative expression.
Co-creation.
Nourishing Food.
Play.
Comfy environment.
Mutual care rituals.
Bringing big ideas to life.
And lots of cuppas.
Reimagining a group experience.
And with the nature of our work, there will always be opportunities for consensual counselling and coaching within the group.
We had a mutual desire to create HELD so that we could bring you the benefits of both in one environment.
We have spaced the retreats with the intention of offering a supportive structure through the year, without adding overwhelm.
Proposed Dates for 2024/25:
17 & 18 May ‘24
23 & 24 Aug ‘24
15 & 16 Nov ‘24
21 to 23 Feb ‘25
The 2 day retreats will be tailored to meet the groups needs and themes.
Consecutive days to allow us to sink deeper into the theme/ourselves.
Emma magic: We will sit in circle, group therapy style and experience being truly heard and HELD by each other as we share our personal challenges and joys along with our deeper thoughts on our theme.
We share lunch or you take a break - Do it your way.
Sarah magic: An opportunity to nurture your creative ideas and bring the theme to life through workshop - craft- play .
Flexible timing: To allow things to unfold while respecting your family commitments.
Here you are held.
The Celebration Retreat.
The Celebration Retreat is all about giving mothers the opportunity to attend a retreat, without any of the overwhelming commitments (financial or logistical).
On 21 and 22 May ‘25, we will gather from 9am to 5pm to celebrate the past year and create your sustainable vision for the next season.
We will have workshops, circles, play time and loads of loving support on offer.
Accomodation, meals and after hours activities will be available to book separately so you can create the retreat that works for you and your family.
“I had a fantastic experience hosting my sold out workshop on Saturday.
I felt confident and in flow. People seemed to get a lot out of the sessions.
I have already booked in and started advertising my next one for the end of October.
I'm so grateful for HELD supporting me to get to this stage.”
“My experience throughout HELD so far has helped me to build my skills around discerning how I want to spend my time.
I initially joined HELD to build a business, which I shut down before we started so I reframed and used the sessions to focus on connected motherhood, homemaking and homeschooling, and now, I’m expanding my core business by expanding my family!
I’d call that a success!!! xx”
Kate - Mama of a preschooler - started her therapy biz in 2023.
Stacy - Mum of 3 - committed to growing her family in 2023
approach?
What is our facilitation
Retreat days are open from 9:30am to 4:30pm, with the gently structured sessions facilitated between 10am and 3:30pm with the aim to meet the availability of more mothers and families.
Encouragement and acceptance to embrace motherhood, creativity and business at a pace & style that honours your unique season of life and feels good for you.
There is no pressure here. No judgement or rigid rules. Our desire is to guide and support you toward the versions of you that you choose for yourself and suit you best.
designed to support?
What stage of mothering is HELD
You might be pregnant, trying to conceive or moving toward motherhood and want to prepare emotionally and plan intentionally for your transition into parenting.
You might be in the depths of any season of active mothering and seeking more of an alignment between your role as a mother and other roles that you would like to pursue.
You might have adult kids or other caring roles and are entering your wise woman phase. You have a desire to explore who you are now, while still supporting your family and community.
And what stage of creativity or business
will benefit?
You might be self-employed or run a business and you’re feeling the tension between wanting to do big things with your big ideas in harmony with your style of motherhood.
You might be starting a project or in the creation phase of self-employment and have a desire to get intentional about finding a supportive blend between your multiple identities & goals.
You might be a creative person and feel like you might explode with all the ideas and inspiration that has arisen during the phase you are in and you’re looking for a space to express yourself and your creativity.
You might be
wondering...
LOCATION?
To be finalised. In 2023 we hosted in Aldinga and Yankalilla. We’ll follow that approach in 24/25 in the Southern suburbs / Fleurieu region. We aim to understand your needs before confirming a gorgeous venue to nurture and hold us.
ACCESSIBILITY?
We’ll ensure the space is accessible based on your needs.
CHILDCARE?
If you have babies or little people, we want to help you make it work. We aim to adapt to caring responsibilities, drop offs etc. Let's talk about it.
HOW BIG IS THE GROUP?
Our minimum to go ahead is 6 and our maximum is 8 beautiful humans, balancing intimacy & sustainability.
Dietary requirements?
Of course, just pop them in your joining quiz. We will provide all the food you could possibly want when you are with us.
SENSORY NEEDS?
Absolutely, let us know in the joining quiz and we’ll do our best to ensure you’re as comfortable as possible.
Got more questions? Email us at: held@held-retreats.com
Here you are held.
payment options.
Pricing and
❁ Includes all 8 retreat days
❁ Fully catered lunches & snacks
❁ A curated check-in week halfway between in-person sessions
❁ Private HELD Online space for resources & community connection
❁ You are welcome to pay in full or via monthly recurring invoices.
If you require a different payment plan setup, let’s chat about options for you.
To secure your spot in the 2024/25 experience, we ask that you pay a $100 deposit. This is then deducted from your total investment. Therefore the remainder will be $2900 or 15 x $195 commencing Feb, Mar or Apr 2024.
If you have questions or hesitations before committing to the deposit, you’re welcome reach out and we can chat through with you.
HELD
happens next?
What
Joining a facilitated group program can bring up big questions for you and we’d love the opportunity to chat through them with you in a gentle, pressure/judgement free way.
You’re welcome to reach out via email: held@held-retreats.com
Or Instagram DM: @held_retreats
Or Text / voice message: Emma ~ 0401 356 584 or Sarah ~ 0457 205 107
Ready to book your spot? What an honour, we can’t wait to hold you in 24/25. Click here, to pay your $100 deposit via Stripe and get started.
Yay! Next we’ll send you our Welcome Quiz to get all the info we need to curate a HELD experience that meets your needs. Then you can relax and we’ll get in touch late March ‘24 with the rest of your welcome info!
We’d be honoured
to support you.
If you are looking for an encouraging & energising space to reimagine your next season of present parenting and creative business, this is it.
All of you, is welcome here.
With so much love,
Emma & Sarah x
We are fortunate to live and carry out our work on Kaurna land, where sovereignty was never ceded. This land always was, and always will be Aboriginal land. We also acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia & their connections to land, sea and community.
We believe in the inherent dignity of everyone: all races, ethnicities, genders, sexual orientations, bodies, abilities, ages, classes and religions. We seek to make all our spaces places of belonging.
PHOTOGRAPHY: By Cheeky Kookaburra. Website Copyright ©️ HELD and HELD Retreats 2024. Presented by Emma Holdsworth and Sarah Harney.