Read & Reconnect
Genetic Counseling Retreat
Presented by The Ōnda Collective and The CEU Shop
—SOLD OUT—
Marina Grand Resort
New Buffalo, MI
Wednesday, October 15th-
Friday, October 17th, 2025
Content begins at 3 PM,
ends at 2 PM
The 2025 Retreat is sold out.
Add your name to the waitlist & we’ll reach out if a spot opens.
Thanks for your interest!
Can’t make it this year?
WHY, HELLO PARADIGM SHIFT!
Step away from the usual and into a refreshing retreat designed just for genetic counselors. Cozy attire, time to read The Let Them Theory, crisp fall walks along Lake Michigan, professional wellness tools, creative expression, and meaningful conversations await!
We’ll slow down, reflect, and explore practical strategies to move through stress, burnout, & imposter syndrome — while strengthening confidence, clarity, & well-being.
You’ll return to your life and work rejuvenated, aligned, reconnected & ready to ripple that energy forward!
THE DEETS:
APPROVED for up to 23.3 contact hours/ 2.33 Cat 1 CEUs
Cost: $485 without the book or $525 including the book
(NSGC fee included in both prices)
Included add-ons: swag bag, one dinner, one lunch, book exchange, bikes to borrow
Lodging not included, group rate starting at $239/night at Marina Grand Resort, 855-606-3669 (use code GCRETREAT)
Optional add-ons: (schedule independently) spa, yoga, ice cream hotline 😉
“I find that traditional CEU opportunities are not applicable to my career in industry sales. It was great to see a business emphasis for the retreat. I’m going on the retreat with two other friends/colleagues and making a girls trip out of it. Looking forward to staying in the villa with friends and not having to get dressed up!”
Angie Darnell, MS, CGC (retreat attendee)
To avoid duplicate credit from our stand-alone programs, NSGC has asked that we submit separate CEU certificates for each retreat section. The three sections are:
The Let Them Theory book (10.6 hours, approved by NSGC)*
You can read it before (starting now!), during, or after the retreat. Complete by Dec 1, 2025 for your certificate in 2025. Reach out if you prefer to complete this & get your CEUs in 2026 for this activity only.
Wellness That Works Series (up to 10 hours, approved by NSGC)**
Daniela will be presenting ~7 hours of this live during the retreat which will include hands-on workshop activities & breakout sessions
You will have the opportunity to watch the other 3 hours on demand (5 question quiz per hour) after the retreat to get up to 10 hours total! Complete by Dec 1, 2025.
Retreat Only Content (2.7 hours, approved by NSGC)***
In-person talk from Rising Kites Founder Danielle Grandholm & viewing of Crip Camp documentary. Complete by Dec 1, 2025.
*The National Society of Genetic Counselors (NSGC) has authorized The CEU Shop to offer up to 1.06 CEUs or 10.60 Category 1 contact hours for the activity Book Club – The Let Them Theory. The American Board of Genetic Counseling (ABGC) will accept CEUs earned at this program for the purposes of genetic counselor recertification.
** The National Society of Genetic Counselors (NSGC) has authorized The Onda Collective to offer up to 1 CEUs or 10 Category 1 contact hours for the activity Wellness That Works: Essential Tools for Modern Genetic Counselors. The American Board of Genetic Counseling (ABGC) will accept CEUs earned at this program for the purposes of genetic counselor recertification.
***The National Society of Genetic Counselors (NSGC) has authorized The CEU Shop & The Onda Collective to offer up to 0.27 CEUs or 2.70 Category 1 contact hours for the activity Read & Reconnect Genetic Counseling Retreat 2025. The American Board of Genetic Counseling (ABGC) will accept CEUs earned at this program for the purposes of genetic counselor recertification.) for each of the three programs that make up the retreat.
“When I saw the opportunity to attend this retreat, I signed up without hesitation. For years, I had longed to carve out time for something like this, but the competing demands of work and home always seemed to take precedence. Knowing the retreat offered CEUs silenced the guilt that often comes with doing something just for myself. With that weight lifted, I know I can be fully present at the retreat, savoring the time without any lingering pressure to be somewhere else or doing something “more productive.”
Brynn Persky, MS, CGC (retreat attendee)
Meet Your Retreat Hosts
Daniela Young, MS, CGC
Founder, the Ōnda Collective
I'm Daniela, a board-certified genetic counselor and founder of The Ōnda Collective. After 15 years in reproductive genetics, I made a bold choice—my family and I left our American life behind for a yearlong adventure around the world.
That journey transformed my perspective. I began to see our society's relentless pace and obsession with productivity not as admirable, but as a threat to the human spirit and our ability to hear the quiet callings within ourselves. I also recognized how much we have to offer, both for our own growth and for the greater good.
From this pivotal experience, The Ōnda Collective was born. Through professional development rooted in authentic connection and meaningful growth, we can unlock our full potential as both exceptional providers and thriving human beings.
Brittany Mahalick, MS, CGC
Founder, the CEU Shop
I’m Brittany, a board-certified genetic counselor with experience in prenatal clinical counseling and genetic testing sales. I founded The CEU Shop while taking a career pause to adjust to my new role as a mother of a child with a disability. I am so grateful the book clubs have resonated with the GC community as a more flexible, interesting and affordable way to obtain CEUs.
As my personal bandwidth has grown (and I can now leave the house for CEUs), I am now working with Daniela to create the in-person CEU event that I want to attend at this point in my career. A retreat with some downtime, some reading, a beach town, and content that I can apply to my life both in and outside of my work.
agenda details
Times may vary slightly
Wednesday, October 15
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Your retreat includes The Let Them Theory book club course 📚. Stroll around the lake with your audiobook, or curl up with a blanket and a cup of tea (or ice cream!). Follow along using the pre-printed quiz questions as you read or listen. It’s that simple. No need to wait until the retreat starts to read/listen.
The Let Them Theory by Mel Robbins reminds us that GCs need psychosocial time too. Learn a powerful mindset shift to reclaim your agency and unlock your potential—set healthier boundaries, take creative risks, deepen your relationships, and bring more joy into your life.
Approved CEUs: 10.6 contact hours (for The Let Them Theory)
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Flex time is YOUR time. Choose how you want to spend it by honoring what you need most. Examples:
Complete CEU work (Read/Listen to The Let Them Theory and/or complete additional on-demand sessions from the Wellness that Works Webinar series)
Connect with friends
Explore New Buffalo
Relax in your room.
Take a nap!?
Attend a yoga class at a nearby studio
Book a spa service
Go biking (included at the resort - ask the front desk) or walk along the lake
Anything else you want!
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Welcome to the Read & Reconnect Retreat! 🍂
Take a deep breath—you made it.
When you're ready, head to the meeting room to pick up your swag bag and fill it with crafts and gifts while mingling with our amazing sponsors. They’ll guide you through fun, creative crafts like making your own bookmarks, bracelets, and pins as well as customizing a journal, blending tea bags for your new GC mug, and more. Heavy hors d’oeuvres will be served courtesy of our sponsor.Let the inspiration begin!
We can’t wait to (re)connect with you!🎃✨
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We’ll begin our welcome gathering by simply arriving—and intentionally slowing down.
Together, we’ll open our individual retreat workbooks (you’ll find yours tucked in your swag bag!), and begin with session on compass bearings where we will identify our own core values/strengths. We’ll use these to set personal intentions for the retreat as we honor this restorative, meaningful time we've carved out—for our own personal and professional growth.
Next, you’ll pull out your new watercolor set from your swag bag to embrace the science-backed benefits of creativity. Daniela will guide everyone in a watercolor DNA workshop.
Let’s begin. 🌿
NSGC approved CEUs: 2 contact hours (Compass Bearings and Creativity & Calm I) approved from the Wellness that Works Webinar series
Thursday, October 16
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BE INSPIRED. Hear Danielle Grandholm of Rising Kites 🪁 share her powerful story and heartfelt mission - to celebrate the gift of Down syndrome by offering encouragement, resources, and unwavering support to individuals and families within the Down syndrome community.
NSGC Approved CEUs: 1.0 contact hours
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Ready to treat yourself with the same care you give everyone else?
In this session, we will turn kindness inward 💗. We’ll explore what self-compassion really means—and why it matters. You’ll learn about the three core elements of the practice and how to start applying them to your inner world.You’ll take a short, insightful self-compassion assessment and jot down your score in your retreat workbook. From there, you’ll choose a self-compassion practice that feels right for you—something meaningful, doable, and personal. We’ll guide you through it, and you’ll walk away with a powerful tool to support your well-being, long after the retreat ends.
NSGC approved CEUs: 1.0 contact hours (approved from the Wellness that Works Webinar series)
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Let’s get real about burnout. We’ll start by defining what burnout looks like—especially in the workplace—so you can spot it in yourself and others. You’ll then take a personal burnout assessment and record your score in your retreat workbook (no judgment, just insight 💛).
Next, we’ll dive into practical, research-backed strategies for burnout recovery. One key focus? Boundaries. You’ll reflect on what boundaries you need most right now, then craft a personal burnout boundary statement.
NSGC approved CEUs: 1.0 contact hours (approved from the Wellness that Works Webinar series)
-
Flex time is YOUR time. Choose how you want to spend it by honoring what you need most. Examples:
Complete CEU work (Read/Listen to The Let Them Theory and/or complete additional on-demand sessions from the Wellness that Works Webinar series)
Connect with friends
Explore New Buffalo
Relax in your room.
Take a nap!?
Watch sunset at the lake (7:03pm)
Attend a yoga class at a nearby studio
Book a spa service
Go biking (included at the resort - ask the front desk) or walk along the lake
Craft: the sponsor fair tables will be set up throughout the entire retreat. Keep crafting while supplies last.
Anything else you want!
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Cuddle up in your hotel room* or join us in the meeting room to watch Crip Camp 🎬—a powerful documentary that follows the journey of disabled teens at Camp Jened and their pivotal role in sparking the disability rights movement. As genetic counselors, this film invites us to deepen our understanding of disability, identity, and advocacy—helping us expand our empathy, challenge assumptions, and better support the diverse individuals and families we serve.
*For those who watch the film on their own, don’t forget to complete the short quiz (NSGC requirement).
NSGC Approved CEUs: 1.7 contact hours
Friday, October 17
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Flex time is YOUR time.
Choose how you want to spend your last morning (unless you are extending your stay!) before we gather at 10:30.
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We will air out imposter syndrome—the inner critic that whispers “you’re not enough” (spoiler: you are) 💫
We’ll start by uncovering what imposter syndrome really is—where it comes from, who it tends to show up for, and the beliefs and behaviors it rides in on. You’ll take a quick, eye-opening assessment to measure how much this sneaky phenomenon is showing up in your own life, and you’ll record your score in your workbook.
Next, you’ll learn powerful, proven strategies to quiet the imposter voice and reconnect with your worth. You’ll choose what resonate most, and record them as your go-to tools.
NSGC approved CEUs: 1.0 contact hours (approved from the Wellness that Works Webinar series)
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We’ll begin with a quick, fascinating look at your autonomic nervous system—specifically how your body responds to stress (sympathetic) vs. calm (parasympathetic), and why that matters for your overall well-being.
You’ll then learn how science shows that breathwork can help reduce stress, boost clarity, and support your mental and emotional health. You’ll try out several breathwork techniques and choose the one that works best for you—then note it in your workbook as a go-to reset tool. 🧘♀️✨
NSGC approved CEUs: 1 contact hour (approved from the Wellness that Works Webinar series)
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We’ll close our time together with a short, grounding group meditation. 🧘🏾♂️💫
Then, you’ll turn to your Read & Reconnect workbook to reflect and synthesize your retreat takeaways. We'll review the personal tools you’ve discovered that can support your well-being both personally and professionally.
This is your moment to connect the dots, ask any final questions, and share insights with each other.
Let’s wrap with intention, inspiration, gratitude, and community.NSGC approved CEUs: 1 contact hour (approved from the Wellness that Works Webinar series)
