In times of tragedy, healing can feel like an impossible journey. Recognizing the need for long-term recovery and a deeper focus on empowering trauma survivors, the Colorado Healing Fund (CHF) is proud to host the first-ever Restoration Summit in November 2025. This four-day event in the Colorado Rockies will provide a safe, trauma-informed space for survivors, families, and professionals to rest, recover, and reconnect through holistic healing and community support.
Held in the beautiful Colorado Rockies, the Restoration Summit aims to provide participants with an opportunity to step away from their everyday lives and immerse themselves in a supportive, trauma-informed community. As the first of its kind, the summit’s importance cannot be overstated. It is designed not only to provide immediate relief but also to support long-term healing by empowering individuals, offering healing modalities, and creating lasting connections.
Learn more about why trauma-informed approaches are crucial in the healing process by visiting our blog on What Is Trauma-Informed Care.
Creating a Safe, Trauma-Informed Space for Healing
For many survivors of critical incidents, there is often no space to process their trauma in peace. The Restoration Summit offers an escape from the constant reminders and demands of daily life. This intentional space is dedicated to empowering trauma survivors, giving them the time, care, and compassion needed to begin genuine healing. Nestled in the serene Colorado Rockies, attendees will be immersed in a nurturing environment designed to foster healing, growth, and connection. Here, participants will find a safe space where they can share their stories, gain insight, and start rebuilding the emotional resilience needed for long-term recovery.
By offering free food, lodging, and therapeutic services, the summit ensures that finances or logistics are not barriers to receiving care. This commitment to accessibility helps ensure that those who need support most are not left behind.
Explore the benefits of offering trauma survivors a safe space to heal: The Importance of Safe Spaces for Healing
Holistic Healing: Mind, Body, and Spirit
The Restoration Summit is rooted in a holistic approach to healing, addressing the needs of the whole person—body, mind, and spirit—while empowering trauma survivors to reconnect with their bodies and restore balance. Critical incidents affect not only our emotional well-being but also our physical health. Therefore, the summit integrates diverse therapies designed to restore balance and promote recovery.
- Outdoor Therapy and Group Processing:
One of the most powerful aspects of the summit is the use of outdoor therapy paired with group processing and discussion. Being surrounded by nature, away from the pressures and noise of everyday life, can provide immense therapeutic benefits. The natural beauty of the Colorado Rockies creates a peaceful setting for individuals to explore their trauma, express emotions, and engage in meaningful group discussions with others who understand their experiences.
Read more about the benefits of nature-based therapy: Nature Therapy for Trauma Recovery
- Yoga and Sound Healing:
Physical healing is a crucial component of the summit. Yoga will be offered to help participants reconnect with their bodies, release tension, and promote relaxation. Complementing the yoga sessions is sound healing, which uses vibrations from instruments like gongs, chimes, and singing bowls to encourage relaxation, relieve stress, and restore emotional balance.
Learn about the therapeutic power of yoga for trauma survivors: Yoga for Trauma Survivors
- Art Therapy:
Art therapy allows participants to express their emotions through creativity, providing a non-verbal outlet for the complex feelings that can arise after a critical incident. Whether through painting, drawing, or other forms of creative expression, art therapy helps participants process their trauma in a way that words often cannot. It also offers a pathway to reclaiming a sense of control and agency over their healing journey.
Read about the benefits of art therapy for trauma recovery: Art Therapy and Trauma
- Massage Therapy:
Each attendee will receive a massage as part of the summit experience. Massage therapy has been shown to reduce stress, improve circulation, and alleviate physical tension. By incorporating this therapeutic service, the summit ensures that attendees receive both emotional and physical care, enhancing their overall experience.
Explore how massage therapy supports emotional and physical healing: Massage for Trauma Relief
A Focus on Empowerment and Restoration
The Restoration Summit is not just about managing trauma—it’s about empowering trauma survivors to rebuild hope, resilience, and purpose after critical incidents. The goal is to restore hope, build resilience, and equip individuals with the tools they need to navigate the road ahead. By connecting with others who have shared similar experiences, participants will realize they are not alone in their journey.
Empowerment also comes through the integration of mental health support and the opportunity to learn about ongoing resources. By engaging in group therapy and processing sessions, survivors will gain insights into their own healing and learn how to take the next steps in their journey toward restoration.
The summit also emphasizes the importance of building lasting relationships and creating a community of support. Attendees will leave not only with the tools and techniques to cope but also with meaningful connections that will continue to support their recovery.
Empowering Survivors and Professionals Affected by Critical Incidents
The importance of the Restoration Summit lies in its ability to address the needs of both victims and professionals impacted by critical incidents. While the first summit focuses on those directly affected by violence and critical incidents, future summits will alternate between victims and professionals—first responders, healthcare workers, and mental health professionals—who play an integral role in supporting survivors.
Both groups need healing. First responders and professionals often bear the emotional burden of trauma without the resources to address it, which can impact their own well-being and ability to provide ongoing care. By offering specialized summits for both victims and professionals, CHF ensures that everyone impacted by critical incidents receives the support they need to heal, grow, and continue their work in a healthy and sustainable way.
Learn more about the needs of first responders: The Mental Health of First Responders
Why This Summit Matters for Colorado’s Healing Community
The Restoration Summit represents a monumental step forward in the way we approach recovery from critical incidents. It brings together various healing modalities—outdoor therapy, yoga, sound healing, art therapy, and massage—into a transformative experience that fosters both personal growth and community connection.
In addition to providing vital support and empowerment, the summit creates a lasting impact on the participants’ lives, equipping them with the tools to heal in a holistic way. It allows survivors to process their grief and trauma in a safe, welcoming environment and restores a sense of hope and connection to the larger community.
The Restoration Summit is not just an event—it’s the beginning of a new way to approach trauma recovery. It embodies the Colorado Healing Fund’s mission to provide long-term support, empowerment, and healing for those affected by critical incidents.
How to Get Involved in the Restoration Summit
As we prepare for this monumental event, we encourage you to learn more about the Restoration Summit and consider how you can help. Whether through donating to the summit fund, volunteering your time, or sharing information about this vital initiative, your support helps CHF continue empowering trauma survivors and building a stronger, more resilient Colorado.
To learn more about the Restoration Summit or to get involved, visit Colorado Healing Fund. You can also donate to help CHF continue empowering trauma survivors and supporting communities across Colorado.
According to SAMHSA’s Trauma-Informed Approaches and Programs, effective trauma-informed care emphasizes safety, trust, collaboration, and empowerment — key principles that guide the Colorado Healing Fund’s mission to support and empower trauma survivors on their journey toward restoration.