A Weekend to Refill Your Soul, Reset Your Peace, and Transform Your Home
March 14-15th, 2026
Carlsbad Beach, California
*Optional Sunset Meet & Greet – 3/13 5:30pm – 7pm*
This is more than a retreat.
It’s a guided journey back to your most authentic & empowered self.
Over 2 powerful days, you’ll feel safe to soften old protection patterns, release limiting beliefs, and reconnect with the parts of you that know how to love, trust, and belong. You’ll walk away with stronger relationships, deeper self-love, and the unshakable confidence to create the life you truly want.
I know what you might be thinking:
“This sounds incredible… but can I really invest this much time and money on myself?”
Maybe you’ve been putting yourself last for years—caring for everyone else while pushing your own needs aside. And now, the thought of saying yes to this retreat brings up guilt or hesitation.
But here’s the truth: this retreat isn’t selfish—it’s a life-giving investment that will restore your energy, deepen your patience, and ripple healing through your relationships.
When you say YES to yourself, you’re saying yes to more love, presence, and peace—for you and the people you love most.
Over just 2 days, you’ll begin to heal relationships, release limiting beliefs, and let go of blame, so you can finally…
create a life filled with authentic connection, daily self-love, and lasting peace.
You’ll walk away with a transformation you never thought possible—one that continues to bless your life and your family long after you return home.
Take a minute to explore the retreat space, meet your instructors, and hear real stories from women who walked in with questions… and walked out changed.
About Cape Rey Beach Resort
Nestled on the sunny coast of Northern San Diego with beautiful ocean views, the Cape Rey Beach Resort is just steps from the soft sand & next to the pacific ocean.
The Freedom to Be classroom is spacious, warm & comfortable & students will enjoy an ocean view while learning, as well as a spacious patio to have an open air experience.
The Freedom to Be program has been a profound complement to the parenting tools and strategies I’ve learned through FSE. It’s helped me finally begin the healing process by addressing my own trauma and understanding my triggers, which has allowed me to be much more successful in applying those tools.
FTB has taught me to honor and nurture my emotions instead of pushing them aside, something I had struggled with for so long. Even though I intellectually knew better, I often found myself being reactive instead of responsive, unable to fully follow through.
The program has shown me how to move emotions through my body, creating space for growth and deeper self-awareness. What’s been especially transformative is learning to hold space for myself and others, and practicing self-compassion, especially when I make mistakes.
This has brought more calm and regulation into my life. I now catch myself during everyday situations and can coach myself through them. FTB has been an invaluable step in my ongoing journey, and I’m grateful for the transformation I’m beginning to see.
Bilyana Ivanova
MEET YOUR INSTRUCTORS
Wendy Snyder
Wendy Snyder is the founder of Fresh Start Family Online & host of the popular podcast the Fresh Start Family Show. She is a certified positive parenting educator & life coach. As the founder of Fresh Start Family, she empowers parents to break free from generational cycles of fear-based discipline and embrace a firm & kind, connection-based approach to raising children.
Through her transformative Fresh Start Experience, Wendy has guided thousands of families to parent with confidence—teaching them how to set strong boundaries while maintaining deep, respectful connections with their kids. Her work, rooted in psychology and nervous system regulation, helps parents cultivate peace, joy, and cooperation in their homes.
She encourages and inspires parents to pursue an intentional life by creating space to expand their hearts, learn new tools & strengthen their families with consistency & joy. Wendy & her husband Terry, live in southern california with their two children, Stella & Terrin!
Pam Dunn
Pam Dunn, founder of Your Infinite Life & author of It’s Time to Look Inside – has been a catalyst for transformative learning and leadership development for more than 22 years. Her compassionate approach to personal and team development stems from her innate conviction that each and every person is magnificent and has unique character traits and talents to contribute to their world.
Pam’s ability to get to the root of a situation or life’s challenge with grace and reverence for those she works with provides an unparalleled environment for growth and change.
Through her company Your Infinite Life, Pam has developed multiple coaching and training platforms that have helped thousands of people and countless companies/organizations/teams change their lives and ways of working for sustainable improvement.
Pam Dunn lives in St. Louis, MO & spends her days, loving her magnificent life with her family which includes three sons & two grandkids!
Freedom to Be changed Chandni’s life:
If the last few years have felt like some of the most stressful of your life, please know you’re not alone if…
✔️ You struggle to get what you truly want in your relationships, parenting, career, or marriage.
✔️ You find yourself saying things to your kids that don’t feel good, only to be left with regret and shame afterward.
✔️ Setting boundaries is hard, and sometimes you feel like people walk all over you.
✔️ You want to speak up wand ask for what you need, but you often shut down instead.
✔️ Loving yourself through the messiness of life is something you want to do, but your inner critic keeps being mean.
✔️ You’ve made mistakes you wish you could forgive yourself for, but shame and guild keep hanging around.
✔️ You doubt yourself – wondering if you’re good enough as a mom, dad, spouse or just a person.
✔️ You feel resentment, but want to offer forgiveness to people who’ve hurt you.
✔️ You want to lead your family with dignity and respect, but sometimes fear, force, or bribery sneak in.
✔️ You try (oh, how you try) to stay calm when your kids push back, but you still end up reacting like a volcano.
You are not alone — and you don’t have to stay stuck. I see you, and I’m here to walk with you toward something better.
Take a deep breath.
Place your hand on your heart.
No wonder things feel overwhelming— whether it’s in your home, your marriage, your parenting… or your life.
You’ve been carrying so much. And like most of us, you were never taught the emotional tools you actually needed—you inherited what your parents handed down.
You’re doing the best you can.
A decade ago, I was exactly where you are. I thought taking care of myself meant bubble baths, long walks, and manicures…
But the real healing didn’t come from pampering. It came from something deeper—something that opened my heart, quieted the chaos inside, and gave me the courage to rewrite my story.
That “something” was this retreat.
The Freedom to Be Retreat changed my life.
It healed my relationship with my daughter. It softened my anger. And it redirected the entire trajectory of my life.
If you’re curious what’s possible for you… I’d love to share my story.
Whether you’re brand new to Fresh Start Family or a long-time listener, student or fan…
And you’re craving a big shift in how you show up for yourself and your family, And Ready for a massive increase in:
Self-confidence to trust yourself with every decision you make
Self-compassion to forgive yourself when you aren’t perfect (spoiler: no one is!)
Clarity in decision-making—whether it’s parenting, work, marriage, or everyday life
Respect & cooperation from your kids (without yelling, threats, or power struggles)
The ability to stay grounded when chaos hits
(because raising little humans means messy moments are inevitable)
Grace for yourself & others when mistakes happen
(so every mess becomes a moment for growth, not shame)
This retreat was made for you.
I was so fortunate to be able to experience Freedom To Be this year. I’ve wanted to take this course for two years. I will be honest, I charged this course, with no idea how I would pay for it, but for me, this was an actual answered prayer. I trusted that somehow we’d make it through.
The mindset shifts I experienced here have empowered me in ways I never expected. For so long I believed life happened to me and I was a victim of my circumstance. Now I recognize how much I actually play into my own experiences (which is great because now I can do so with intentional, empowered leadership instead of like a leaf blowing in the wind) and I can establish my own baseline.
Life doesn’t get to choose how my body feels and reacts. I do. I get to take accountability, I get to strengthen my relationships, I control my behaviour and the way I show up as a mother and individual. The blame game is not something that serves me anymore. Mistakes happen, and we are not our mistakes. We get to choose different every second of every day. No more victim here! That was worth everything to me.
I’ll be taking this course again, for sure. It’s so powerful I think you could take it 10x and still feel growth from it. Be honest with yourself, show up, do the work, leave different. Supported, empowered, free, the list goes on. It’s so worth it!
Freedom to Be was a life changing experience! I am so thankful to Wendy, Pam, and the Fresh Start team for the amazing weekend. It has strengthened my marriage and family and empowered me to be able to sit with my thoughts and feelings before reacting to them.
I feel like I am seeing the world through different lenses and I feel lighter. I strongly encourage everyone to take the time out for themselves, say “yes” to what may feel like an uncomfortable situation while knowing you will experience such growth and learning!
The Freedom to Be Retreat isn’t just a “nice experience.”
It’s a life-shifting container designed to give you the peace, clarity, and emotional strength you’ve been searching for.
Instead of reading 17 more self-help books that leave you overwhelmed (or wishing you could actually apply what you learned)… You will finally receive real healing, real tools, and REAL CHANGE.
Step Into Lasting Change With Us
✨ Release limiting beliefes and drop shame-heavy narratives
✨ End protection patterns that keep you guarded and reactive.
✨ Transform daily chaos into teachable moments for yourself and your kids.
✨ See mistakes as opportunities to heal, not reasons to spiral.
All taught by two seasoned experts in positive parenting and life coaching.
We Held Nothing Back.
This isnt’ a watered-down workshop. You’re getting everything you need to take your power back & create an emotionally healthy, joy-filled life for you and your family.
It felt like I was given some sort of psycaledic drug that opened me & my heart up in the most beautiful ways. My transformation after Freedom To Be was profound and almost unbelievable!
Monica Fowler
With Freedom to Be, You Get Both…
The Heart & Soul Work
The deep inner healing to break free from limiting beliefs and rewrite the stories that keep you stuck in reactive, pain-based cycles.
You’ll release old emotional baggage and reconnect with the part of you that’s calm, grounded, and wise.
The Strategy & Skills
Clear, step-by-step tools to shift out of unhealthy habits—like reactive communication, harsh self-talk, and emotional shutdowns.
You’ll learn how to handle everyday challenges with grace and intention, and feel proud of how you show up in your relationships, no matter what life throws at you.
This course helped me see and understand so much about myself. While I have spent years on the road to healing from trauma, and practicing varying forms of self development, this course taught me even more practical, step-by-step tools to use every day.
I feel empowered to address my challenges, to work with my children and family without allowing my emotions to overcome me, and to give myself the love and acceptance I need to let go of the past and look forward to a bright future I get to choose for myself.
Here’s What You’ll Learn to Create the Life You Want—By Taking Loving Ownership of Your Joy, Peace & Power
Recognize & Shift Limiting Patterns
Learn how to break free from reactive, protection-based behaviors and step into calm, conscious leadership—in parenting, marriage, and beyond.
Reclaim Your True Identity
Create empowering self-identification statements that reflect who you truly are—not who the world expects you to be.
Respond with Both Heart & Head
Navigate triggers with emotional wisdom and clarity so you can communicate in ways that build connection, not conflict.
Ask for What You Need (Without Guilt)
Strengthen your voice and self-worth by learning how to ask for what you need—and trust that you’re worthy of receiving it.
Transform the Way You Communicate
Shift unproductive tones and broken cycles into healthy communication patterns that foster cooperation and mutual respect.
Break the Cycle of Blame & Shame
Let go of guilt, forgive yourself and others, and build practices that anchor you in self-trust and forward movement.
Build a Compassion-Filled Family Culture
Create a home environment rooted in patience, empathy, and emotional resilience—for you and your children.
Ready to Say Yes to Yourself?
Your Freedom to Be Retreat Experience
March 14-15, 2026 | Carlsbad Beach, CA
In a single weekend, you’ll be guided back to your most authentic self. This is more than a retreat—it’s a reset. A return. A sacred pause. You’ll soften old protection patterns, reconnect with your heart, and build a new way forward rooted in self-love, peace, and presence.
Your Investment: $997
» Includes all retreat sessions & materials
» Hosted ocean-side at the beautiful Cape Rey Resort
» Lifetime tools for emotional regulation, compassion & clarity
» Pay in Full or choose a 3-month payment plan at checkout
You’re not broken. You’re just overdue for something life-giving.
Life-changing experiences from past graduates…
Freedom to Be is truly life changing, just as Wendy always said it would be! After studying positive parenting for 3-4 years, there were still some missing pieces for me, and Freedom to Be helped me fill the gaps.
Every lesson in the Fresh Start Experience just sinks in that much more effectively for me now. For me, being in the room with Wendy and all the other amazing souls, really helped to solidify topics I couldn’t quite grasp in the past. I was able to influence my husband to attend with me, as my Christmas present for this year, and just wow, I truly believe this is huge for our marriage and getting on the same page in parenting. There has really been a shift in our home since attending.
Life changing for me internally, my marriage, my parenting, my husband, my kids, all my relationships with family and friends.
I’m so thankful for Wendy in my life, thankful that she is offering this course on top of the Fresh Start Experience and her podcast and all the other ways she is shining an amazing light into this world.
I would recommend this class to every person no hesitation!
I said “yes” to the Freedom to Be Course to gain the freedom to just BE – be who I am – with all of my feelings, thoughts and behaviors. I hoped to soften my heart & allow myself to be vulnerable and accepting of my mistakes and the mistakes of others.
After going through the course, I can honestly say that this part of my journey has been expedited. I am now empowered with tools to examine, understand and make progress in areas of the tone I use, my closed and open behaviors, the cycle of blame, holding space & forgiveness of others and myself. I am now able to see myself and my relationships with others in a whole new light.
I have deepened my ability to trust myself and my incredible heart. Developing my magnificence is a life long journey & I will be forever grateful for my Freedom to Be experience that has assisted me in taking myself to this next level.
Freedom to Be was an incredible experience. The learnings were unique and the exercises were well thought out. Wendy and Pam took time with each of us and there was so much covered over the weekend.
I am definitely looking forward to join in with a refresh ticket in the future.
Amy Sheira
This course was exactly what I needed in this season.
I confronted some things within myself that I have viewed as ugly or shameful, and have left with the ability to speak truthfully, patiently, and lovingly with myself.
I know that this impacts the way I treat those around me who I am close with. When I love on myself, I love on others.
When I forgive myself, I forgive others. When I know my worth, I see the worth in others. It’s a beautiful thing.
I also gained very effective communication strategies that I desperately needed as a people pleaser. I still get happy tears thinking of all breakthroughs from these days both in myself and others! I’m forever changed by the time I spent with these amazing people during the Freedom to Be Course.
I am SO thankful I decided to spend the weekend at FTB Live with the incredible students and coaches.
Wendy is right. The experience is nothing short of life changing. The energy, compassion & vulnerability in the room as we all invested in our own personal growth was amazing.
It’s hard to put into words! Lots of “goose bump” moments that were shared as a community. The exercises were enlightening & inspiring. I now have such powerful tools to incorporate into how I want to be present in my relationships with others AND myself!!
The different experiences in the classroom are something you can use immediately and see change. The conversations I had with my husband when I got home as I reflected about the weekend with him were beautiful moments that I’ll never forget.
As you “peel back your own onion”, the support of the coaches and classmates allow you to truly nurture yourself & experience growth.
It has amplified my ability to continue to build connection with my kids and all that I had learned through being a Fresh Start Experience member.
Hands down. This is one of the BEST investments I have ever made for my own self care & family care!
I felt lighter, freer and at peace coming off the weekend! I’m very thankful & excited to see all of the places in my life that will continue to be so positively impacted by everything that came out of this FTB weekend! If you’re thinking about it… DO IT! You’ll never regret it.
Inside the Freedom to be course room I was given the gift of sharing deep, honest, and vulnerable truths with a group of people who looked me in the eyes and said, “me too”.
I was not judged, but instead I felt understood, connected to, and empowered by the other participants & course leaders. I learned to embrace what is true about myself and was given a framework to begin to love myself.
When we are kind and compassionate with ourselves first, we are free to go out into the world and love others without conditions. The Freedom to Be course was a pivotal point in my journey towards self development, and desire to assist others to begin embracing their truth, too.
FAQs
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hidden on purposes
Is lodging & food/beverage included in the tuition cost?
Lodging:
There are lots of lodging options including:
**The Cape Rey – Hilton Beach Resort (Oceanfront) – This is the property the course will be held each day
This has been my fave place to get away with the family (or just Terry and I) for the last 10 years! This property is beautiful & the oceanfront location plus a spa, gym & beautiful pool (and hot tub!) make it the perfect location for a getaway to take care of yourself and / or your marriage as you experience the Freedom to Be Course.
If you can’t stay at the Cape Rey, I totally get it! Here are some other recommendations:
Comfort Inn Encinitas (3.5 miles south)
This hotel sits a little inland & is conveniently located right off Interstate 5. They offer great amenities for a low price.
The Rodeway Inn Encinitas North (2 miles south)
This is a very affordable property with no frills but is in the heart of Leucadia, an adorable town. It is also a quick 5 minute drive to Cape Rey.
Moonlight Beach Motel (5 miles south, ½ block to beach)
Just a half block to one of my favorite beaches & so close to the heart of our Downtown Encinitas shopping & dining district. So much to explore with lots of coffee shops, restaurants & shopping.
Hilton Garden Inn Carlsbad Beach (3 miles north, ½ block to beach)
This property is located on a cliff (right across the street from the ocean) and is a short uber drive from downtown Carlsbad which has lots of cute restaurants & shopping.
Air B&B – Don’t forget to check out some affordable Air B&B options in the area.
Food / Beverage:
Coffee, tea and light snacks will be provided each afternoon during the course experience, but breakfast, lunch & dinner is not included with tuition.
The number of incredible restaurants in the local area is abundant (easily accessed by an uber) & The Cape Rey has a wonderful onsite restaurant for breakfast, lunch & dinner.
What is the schedule each day?
Friday Night: 5:30pm-7:00pm “Sunset Meet & Greet” Poolside at the Cape Rey.
Saturday: 8am – 6pm (ish) with a 1.5 hour break for lunch. (please eat breakfast before you arrive)
Sunday: 8am – 6pm (ish) with a 1.5 hour break for lunch. (please eat breakfast before you arrive).
Do you have payment plans available?
Yes! To help make this course affordable for all, we have an option to split your tuition into 3 interest free payments, you’re welcome!
What is the local airport to fly into? (and ground transportation options)
San Diego International Airport is 30 miles south (45 min. – 1 hr. drive) & Los Angeles International Airport is 90 miles (1 hr. 30 min drive).
From San Diego, we recommend taking an uber up to your hotel. An alternate option is to take the train up to the Encinitas train station & then ubering from there to your hotel property.
From LAX, you’ll need to rent a car!
What is the cancellation & refund policy?
Life happens, we get it. Cancellation in the event of sickness or a life emergency is completely understandable & we will offer a credit for you to come to the next FSF Freedom to Be experience.
There are no refunds, and all credits need to be redeemed within one year.
Do you offer a discount for Fresh Start Experience Community Members?
Yes! Fresh Start Experience members always get a big discount! Email [email protected] to get your code!
What if I'm a F2B graduate & would like to return again?
We’d love to have you come back & actually highly encourage it as attending a 2nd time allows you to soak in the concepts in a deeper capacity that helps create long term sustainable results.
You have two options for a tuition ticket:
1.) ‘Review’ Ticket – You will go through the program in a full capacity again – Regular Price
2.) ‘Re-FRESH’ Ticket (watch video below) – You will be present to all activities & learning, but will not take part in the main group exercises – 70% off Discounted Price (please email [email protected] for coupon code).
“I was blessed to be able to attend the in person Freedom to Be weekend class with an “Re-FRESH” ticket, after I attended as a participant last fall for the online course. Having learned and applied the concepts for a few months, I was fired up to have a refresher that would further solidify what I’d learned.
After you’ve gone through the course and understand the concepts, coming in as an observer allows you to see additional ways to apply the work. Because you’re not focused on applying it to your own personal life experiences in the moment, you get to take on a sort of drone view that is objective and can more easily identify how to apply what is being taught.
I definitely came back with a glow and feeling recharged. It’s opened up incredible conversations with my husband, and I am actively breaking old habits and rewiring my brain when I pause to identify and redirect my tone and blame.
Whether you come back as a participant or as an observer (with a Re-FRESH ticket), the important thing is that you come back! The deeper you go, the more transformed you can be. And these new tools have definitely helped transform my relationships and take them to a new level of closeness and authentic connection.
This work incredible! (and the ocean and Cali weather have their own healing powers, too 😉).
– Amy S.