Significant Others and Spouses (SOS) Retreat
|
An Overview of the SOS Program
Significant Others and Spouses (SOS) is a six-day healing retreat designed specifically for current or former partners, spouses, and widows of emergency responders. It is a place to step away from the constant demands of home and work and focus, perhaps for the first time in a long time, on your own healing. Throughout the week, participants engage in guided conversations, personal reflection, peer support, and practical skill-building. You gain insight into how the stress of first responder work impacts relationships and family systems—but more importantly, you begin to understand your own patterns, pain, and resilience. Retreats are intentionally small, limited to six participants, creating a safe and deeply supportive environment. Many who attend describe it as a turning point—a place where isolation is replaced with connection, confusion with clarity, and hopelessness with renewed strength. Participants leave with healthier coping tools, improved communication skills, deeper self-awareness, and a peer network that continues long after the retreat ends. How To Know If The SOS Program Is Right For You SOS may be a good fit if you are experiencing depression, anxiety, sleep difficulties, isolation, relationship stress, grief, or simply feel overwhelmed and unsure how to cope with daily life. You may feel like you have lost yourself in the process of trying to hold everything together. You do not have to be in crisis. You do not have to have the “worst” story. You only need a willingness to look inward and consider that you, too, deserve care and support—even if previous counseling or medication hasn’t fully helped. Who We Are/How to Connect with SOS SOS is staffed by experienced first responder partners, licensed mental health clinicians, and a non-denominational chaplain. Every member of the team volunteers their time—clinicians close their practices, peers use vacation or comp time, and chaplains step away from their regular roles—because they believe deeply in this work. They have lived it. They understand it. And they care. Our team is committed to creating a compassionate, respectful, and inclusive space where every participant feels seen, heard, and valued. If you would like to attend SOS, call for an initial intake interview, which takes 30–60 minutes, to determine if the retreat is a good fit for you. Call (415) 721-9789 to speak with our Intake Coordinator. Interested in hearing about SOS from a past client and current peer? Please read "Learning to Love Ourselves, A Composite Narrative" by Jennifer Geiger, EdD, MT-BC. You can also read her full dissertation at https://www.proquest.com/docview/2777434889. |
Retreat Dates
SOS programs are currently offered four times per year. Participation in SOS begins with a confidential intake process. Placement is based on several factors, and wait times may vary. To protect the privacy and safety of participants, retreat dates and locations are not published. Contact us for more information. Retreat Cost and Payment Please call (415) 721-9789 for the most current retreat cost. Recognizing that SOS clients typically don’t have access to work-related funding sources, FRSN underwrites a substantial portion of the program cost for SOS. The remaining cost may be partially covered by a scholarship for those with financial hardship, thanks to our generous donors. Private insurance generally does not cover our programs. Visit our Scholarships page for more information. Testimonials
When I went through the program as a client I thought I was there to learn how to fix my First Responder husband. What I learned was I needed to fix myself. This helped me tremendously in my relationship with my husband and family. ~ SOS client …my life has always been about taking care of everyone else. …SOS allowed me to look forward, take care of myself and focus on me for once.
~ SOS client This has been a life altering experience. I am deeply grateful. …The people are beautiful souls. …Their work is transformational.
~ SOS client |