Member for

6 years 8 months
Photo
Cover Photo
bergamot blooms in a summer field
First Name
Deborah
Last Name
Haak-Frost
Biography

If you make a reservation for a retreat at GilChrist, you will most likely see my name on the email signature, talk with me on the phone, or see my face when you arrive. I’ve always delighted in being able to connect people with the natural world in ways that allow them to experience their environment deeply and meaningfully. My undergraduate degree in psychology and environmental studies paved the way for this beautiful integration of two passions of mine. The principles of permaculture – earth care, people care, and fair share – also shape my approach to my work. Making rest and retreat more accessible for all is something I try to work toward.

I also do a lot of the behind-the-scenes logistics and administrative work at GilChrist: working with group retreat facilitators, handling billing, managing social media, keeping the website up to date, cataloging the library, and also pitching in with cabin cleaning and feeding the goats.

When I’m not at work, you can find me volunteering in my Three Rivers community, cooking and baking in my kitchen, taking in thought-provoking television and movies with my husband, or daydreaming about grand garden plans for my backyard.

Job Title
Caretaker for Community Engagement
Cover Caption
Bergamot blooms in this summer view from the GilChrist office
Engagement Results Display
Off
Staff Department
Department or Org
GilChrist
Email
dhaak@fetzer.org

This retreat is for women who are tired—not because they’re weak, but because they’ve been carrying too much for too long. If you’re exhausted from the demands of family, work, and the weight of the world, this space is for you.

Over two days, you will be guided through writing, embodiment practices, and deep conversations designed to help you release what drains you, reconnect with what truly nourishes you, and reclaim your energy for yourself—not just for others.

This is not about resilience or pushing through—it’s about allowing yourself to rest, to receive, and to rediscover joy without guilt.

About the Facilitator

Jennifer Joy Jackson is an Integrated Wellness and Transformation Coach, therapist, and empowerment expert dedicated to helping women reclaim their power and create lives grounded in joy, clarity, and self-trust. With master’s degrees in Educational Psychology, Counseling Psychology, and Communication, Jennifer blends her deep academic knowledge with intuitive insight to guide individuals through profound personal transformation.

As the CEO of Metamorphosis Inc., she has spent years empowering clients to break free from limiting beliefs, reconnect with their desires, and embody their fullest, most unapologetic selves. Her approach combines mind-body practices, writing as a tool for liberation, and embodiment techniques to help participants move beyond exhaustion and external demands toward a life of their own creation.

Jennifer’s work is rooted in the belief that you are already whole—and that true transformation happens when you choose yourself, claim your desires, and trust your innate power. With a no-BS attitude and a heart-centered approach, she creates spaces where women can exhale, realign, and rise into the greatness they’ve always had within.

Registration and Lodging Details

First, e-mail Jennifer (click here) or call her at (734) 306-9151 to register for the retreat. Registration cost for the retreat program is $525. Space is limited. Please inquire about options for financial accessibility. 

Once you have registered and paid for the program with the facilitator, Jennifer will direct you to contact GilChrist to reserve your cabin using the online registration form (or by calling the main office at (269) 244-1130 with any questions). Lodging is $60/night per person in addition to the program fee. Participants will check into their cabins between 10:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 8 at a time you communicate via your cabin reservation. Cabin check-out is at 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, March 9. 

Meals and snacks will be provided, so please let Jennifer know if you have any food restrictions.

See the complete GilChrist FAQ for more information about the facility.

Event Type
Start Date
End Date
Join
On
Event Category
Location

GilChrist Retreat Center
52625 Day Road
Three Rivers, MI 49093
United States