❋

June through October  |  $200

Cultivate Cohort 2026:
Mental Health Professionals

Register

A Restorative Retreat for Mental Health Professionals

June–October 2026 · Greensboro, NC

If you’re a mental health professional feeling the weight of burnout or imbalance, Cultivate offers a much-needed pause. This 5-month program is a space to rest, reflect, and reconnect—with yourself and a small community of fellow mental health professionals who truly get it.

Once a month, we’ll gather in Greensboro for a half-day retreat filled with simple, nourishing practices like creative writing, meditative walking, collage, gentle yoga, and embodied play. Between sessions, you'll meet one-on-one with another participant to deepen connection.

Through this experience, you’ll:

Learn how to truly rest and care for yourself
Create a healthier rhythm between work and life
Discover everyday practices that support your body, mind, and spirit
Renew your energy for the healing work you do
Build a supportive community that lasts beyond the program

Cost: While the full value is over $1,000, generous donor support allows us to offer the program for $200. Full and partial scholarships are available—just let us know on your application.

Space is available for 12 participants. Come rest, reconnect, and reclaim your joy in your work.

Go to the bottom of this page to fill out an application. We are so excited to see you in June.

Testimonials

“As the Executive Director of a small nonprofit with a big mission and a mom to two active, elementary-aged kids, finding time for rest and self-care often felt impossible. Joining the Cultivate Cohort program from Inner Ground was a transformative experience. The program gave me the precious space and time I desperately needed to learn new ways to rest and practice self-care.

Inner Ground brought in amazing teachers who guided us through a variety of practices and techniques, helping us find ways to be more at ease in our daily lives. Through these guided sessions and the supportive community we built together, I discovered practical strategies I could weave into my hectic routine. I keep some of the tools from our time together on my desk as a reminder that these practices are always accessible, even on the busiest of days.

This program has not only helped me recharge but also reminded me of the importance of prioritizing my well-being. I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to participate in the Cultivate Cohort. It has made a significant difference in my life, enabling me to better serve my family and lead my nonprofit with renewed energy and focus.”

-Emily, 2024 Cohort participant

“The Cultivate cohort for nurses came along at just the right time for me. Less than a year before, I had made the difficult decision to leave the bedside due compassion fatigue and extreme burn out in post-COVID times. A big part of my identity had been tied into being a direct-care nurse, and I was no longer sure of who I was or how I fit into the world.

Cultivate was one step in the journey back to myself. Sharing the contemplative practices with other nurses who "got it" allowed me to stretch, grow, and heal in ways I could not have envisioned on my own. I have since found new fulfillment in a different nursing role providing support and education to young families. I am filled with gratitude for this experience and hope that the Cultivate program can continue to provide a safe and healing space for those in helping professions to connect with Spirit and replenish their souls' reserves.”

-Julie, 2025 Cohort participant

Cultivate Schedule

Location
Christ United Methodist Church
410 North Holden Road
Greensboro, NC

Second Friday of the Month

June 12
July 10
August 14
September 11
October 9

Monthly Gatherings
8:45-9:15: arrivals
9:15-10:00: opening circle
10:00-11:30: facilitated practice
11:30-noon: rest
noon: lunch
12:45-1:30: closing circle

The success of this program is greatly impacted by the faithful participation of each member of the Cohort. Participants are expected to attend all monthly retreat gatherings and to meet with another participant (30-60 min) in between the retreats. Cohort members will receive materials to support their engagement with a variety of restorative practices throughout the duration of the Cohort and beyond - nurturing a healthy rhythm of life and work.

Meet Our Facilitators

Vicky Furlow

Vicky Furlow is a Veriditas Labyrinth Facilitator and teaching artist who finds inspiration in leading group contemplative practices. She has introduced a diverse range of participants to walking meditation. Vicky loves to help others discover their innate creativity through the labyrinth experience and in SoulCollage® groups.
Emily McCollum

Emily McCollum is a Greensboro, NC-based artist who finds creating to be one of the best ways to connect deeply with herself, others, and the world around her. Emily studied psychology and art and has a master's in counseling. In addition to creating her own art, Emily enjoys working with others to use art to connect with their inner wisdom and support their health and wellness.
Jacinta V. White

Jacinta V. White is a poet, facilitator, and coach. She’s the founder of The Word Project, where she has spent the past 20+ years facilitating creative workshops for those looking to use poetry and art as catalysts for self-discovery and healing. She is also the founder and publisher of the international quarterly, Snapdragon: A Journal of Art & Healing, and is the author of Resurrecting the Bones: Born from a Journey through African American Churches & Cemeteries of the Rural South.
Jerry Cunningham

Jerry Cunningham, RYT, and co-owner of TYI, was found by Yoga in 1995. His 200-hour certification was with Lillah Schwartz at Lighten Up! Yoga Center in Asheville, NC. He completed his 500-hour certification, graduating from TYI's Yoga Vidya in March 2008. Jerry has enjoyed numerous classes and workshops with a variety of teachers and Yoga styles. He blends those different styles with his own, believing that Yoga is for everyone, even those with tight bodies and limitations such as his own!
Lyn Koonce

Lyn Koonce is a facilitator, educator, and performing musician who specializes in unlocking creativity through music and embodied group experiences.
Lyn’s work is deeply informed by her global studies in improvisation, including training with Bobby McFerrin, Music for People, and Música do Círculo in Brazil. These experiences shape her signature methodology, Circle Sounds - an interactive, music-based process that blends rhythm, movement, and improvisation to foster trust, communication, creative collaboration, and a deeper sense of presence within groups.
Monica Citty Hix

Monica Citty Hix is the Founding Director of Inner Ground, Inc. She is passionate about cultivating space where folks can discover community, explore a rich palette of practices and nourish their body, mind and spirit. Monica is an experienced facilitator whose background in music, art and spiritual formation enlivens the circles she convenes.