Hi!  I’m Kristin Bemis, founder of Recess Retreats and owner of East Dallas Counseling.  I’ve spent my career as a registered play therapist, first at a large pediatric hospital in Dallas and then in private practice.  Play was easy for me in my twenties, and I loved being with kids as a teacher, babysitter, and therapist.  As I’ve moved further into the decades of my career, my life, and my time as a mom, I noticed that playful spirit (and let’s be real, my energy in general) has taken a nosedive.  I began planning more time away from the office in an attempt to head off what had all the tell-tale signs of serious burnout. 

I took a much-delayed two-week European vacation with my husband for a milestone anniversary.  It was an unforgettable trip.  However, if I’m being honest, both the planning stages and the pains of returning to reality were arduous and stressful.  Despite taking the most vacation days since maternity leave a decade ago, I didn’t return to my clinical work with my cup filled.  I then realized it would take a different type of break to replenish my therapeutic battery and my ability to play.

So what did I need? I realized I wanted to create retreats for women with enough flexibility for each person to decide what her nervous system might need each day.  I wanted to provide an experience where every detail was taken care of to relieve her mental load and provide a true respite. I wanted to cultivate a pocket of time for play - a recess.

I want to take you someplace where you will enjoy a thoughtfully curated itinerary that includes quiet time, connection, good food, perhaps a glass of wine (or two), moments in nature, movement, and options for therapeutic experiences to ground yourself. Play is essential to our well being and I want to help us all make more time for it. When we were kids recess was a space for you to relax however you saw fit. Let me create that space for you again - come join me at a Recess Retreat.