Does life ever feel…off?
You know you're made for deeper peace and lasting joy, but it's hard to find.
Black Elk Retreat offers space for healing through faith, therapy, and the quiet of Wyoming wilderness.
Top therapists from the CatholicPsych Institute lead Black Elk Retreat, a week-long immersive experience in the Wyoming wilderness.
August 23-29, 2026
Only fifteen participants are accepted.
Created for Catholics seeking deeper peace, clarity, and healing, Black Elk Retreat integrates faith, psychology, and equine-assisted therapy at Hawkeye Ranch.
Through prayer, therapy, and time in God’s creation, participants engage wounds such as grief, anxiety, trauma, and relational struggles in a setting designed for deep restoration of mind, body, and spirit.
The Heart of Black Elk Retreat
• Rooted in the integration of Catholic prayer, clinical psychology, and equine-assisted therapy
• Guided by the powerful relationship between horse and human as a pathway to self-awareness, trust, and emotional healing
• Designed for deep reflection through small-group therapy, spiritual direction, and honest conversation
• Grounded in the silence and beauty of God’s creation at Hawkeye Ranch
• Supported by experienced Catholic clinicians and priests who accompany participants with wisdom and care
• An invitation to step away from distraction and rediscover peace, clarity, and communion with God
Your Guides
Black Elk Retreat is led by senior clinicians from the CatholicPsych Institute alongside experienced priests and trauma-informed equine therapy specialists.
Together, they accompany participants through a week of integrated healing rooted in Catholic faith, clinical wisdom, and the restorative power of God’s creation.
DR. GREG BOTTARO
Dr. Greg Bottaro is a licensed clinical psychologist and the founder of the CatholicPsych Institute, where he developed an integrated approach to mental health grounded in Catholic anthropology. He earned his doctorate in clinical psychology from the Institute for the Psychological Sciences (now Divine Mercy University) and trained at several major clinical institutions, including Harvard Medical School affiliates. His work focuses on uniting sound clinical psychology with a Catholic understanding of the human person, emphasizing virtue, meaning, and relational healing. He is also a speaker, author, and mentor who trains clinicians and formators in applying faith-integrated psychological care.
DR. BRYAN VIOLETTE
Dr. Bryan Violette, PsyD, is a licensed clinical psychologist specializing in mental health assessment and therapy grounded in Catholic principles. He earned his Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.) from the Institute for the Psychological Sciences at Divine Mercy University. Dr. Violette serves as Chief of Staff at the CatholicPsych Institute, where he previously held roles as Clinical Director and Director of Operations, overseeing patient care, therapist training, and integrated mental health services. He is committed to helping individuals achieve emotional healing and personal growth through faith-aligned psychological approaches. He also hosts The Catholic Sinner Show podcast, exploring diverse beliefs and human connections.
DR. GERARD MCNICHOLAS
Director at the CatholicPsych Institute, Dr. Gerard teaches and supervises students in the Catholic Psych Model of Applied Personalism (CPMAP) program. He earned his doctorate in clinical psychology from Divine Mercy University and his undergraduate degree in Mental Health and Human Services from Franciscan University of Steubenville, with a minor in philosophy. His clinical experience includes community mental health and inpatient psychiatric settings. His work integrates philosophical psychology with contemporary clinical practice, drawing especially on Viktor Frankl’s logotherapy, narrative psychology, and Catholic Christian anthropology to emphasize meaning, relationship, and accompaniment in healing.
MISTY SHERBONDY
Misty Sherbondy, LCSW, is a licensed clinical social worker and trauma specialist in Colorado with expertise in equine-assisted therapy. She holds a Master’s in Social Work from Newman University and certifications in integrative mental health, yoga, meditation, and animal-assisted therapy. Misty uses trauma-informed approaches—including somatic work, mindfulness, narrative therapy, and equine-assisted therapy—to support healing from PTSD, anxiety, depression, and trauma. She provides private equine-assisted sessions at Zuma’s Rescue Ranch and therapy at Westside Behavioral Care, emphasizing experiential, faith-informed healing with rescued horses.
FR. LOUIS MEROSNE
Fr. Louis Wesly Merosne is a Catholic priest from Haiti, deeply devoted to Jesus Christ and the Gospel. He studied at Franciscan University of Steubenville, earning degrees in French, Theology, and Christian Ministry, and was ordained in 2011. He serves as pastor of the Cathedral of Sainte Anne in the Diocese of Anse-à-Veau and Miragoâne, holding numerous diocesan leadership roles and mentoring through the CatholicPsych Institute. Fr. Merosne is also founder of the nonprofit Mission to the Beloved, preaches widely at conferences and missions, and is dedicated to forming souls and serving the Church with pastoral care and evangelization.
FR. SAM KACHUBA
Fr. Sam Kachuba is a priest of the Diocese of Bridgeport, CT, and has served as pastor of St. Pius X Parish since 2015. He completed his seminary formation at the Pontifical North American College in Rome, earning degrees in sacred theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University. Since his ordination in 2008, he has served in parish ministry, as director of vocations, chaplain, and member of the diocesan Presbyteral Council, and he is certified in the CatholicPsych Model of Applied Personalism to mentor priests. Fr. Sam is also co-host of The Tangent podcast, chaplain for Veritas Catholic Network, and enjoys fly-fishing, music, and learning the Irish bouzouki.
LAUREN GENTILE
Lauren Gentile will serve as facilitator for this retreat. Through experience organizing more than 20 retreats at Hawkeye Ranch, Lauren brings insight and warmth to her role. It was on the ranch's welcoming porches—listening to participants share their stories—that she felt called to pursue formal training, becoming a Certified Mentor through the CatholicPsych Institute. This retreat emerges from that work: an integration of Catholic anthropology, honest therapeutic work, and an inclination toward finding God in nature. Lauren loves her husband, her seven children, her spicy mare Serena, and hikes that bring tears (of beauty!) to her eyes.
How Black Elk Retreat Began
Over the years, something became clear.
The combination of wilderness, daily Catholic prayer, and work with horses consistently drew people into deeper reflection and growth.
Again and again, Hawkeye Ranch became a place where people slowed down, engaged their faith more intentionally, and discovered insights that stayed with them long after they returned home.
The natural rhythm of life at the ranch, shaped by prayer, silence, and equine work, revealed a setting uniquely suited for deep transformation.
Black Elk Retreat was created to offer that experience intentionally, integrating faith, psychology, and the healing presence of God’s creation.
Each day follows a gentle rhythm designed to support prayer, reflection, and meaningful therapeutic work. The pace allows space for both deep engagement and quiet moments in God’s creation.
A Typical Day at Black Elk Retreat
Morning Prayer led by a priest
Breakfast in community
Psychoeducation rooted in Catholic anthropology
Equine-assisted therapy sessions
Group therapy and guided reflection
Lunch and personal time on the ranch
Individual counseling, spiritual direction, or Confession
Daily Mass and Eucharistic Adoration
Dinner together
Quiet evening time for rest and personal reflection
Each day is designed to engage the whole person — mind, body, and spirit.
Why Equine-Assisted Therapy
Horses are highly sensitive to human emotion and behavior. In therapeutic settings, they often mirror patterns of anxiety, trust, and vulnerability in ways that are difficult to see in conversation alone. This creates a powerful opportunity for self-awareness and healing.
In the quiet environment of Hawkeye Ranch, equine-assisted therapy helps participants slow down, encounter their experiences honestly, and engage deeper emotional and spiritual work in a grounded and experiential way.
“Mounting scientific evidence suggests that equine therapy has been making a profound difference by helping thousands of men, women and children achieve life-altering emotional breakthroughs”
“Horses create a safe, non-judgmental space. Their presence and touch can soothe clients and encourage them to confront difficult emotions, often more effectively than human interaction alone.”
“Psychology studies the whole person… Only when we understand the human person as God made him can we truly understand what an unhealthy person looks like, and thus how to move people closer to health.”
Why the Name Black Elk
Black Elk (c. 1863–1950) was a Lakota holy man, healer, and later Catholic catechist whose life was dedicated to spiritual vision and the healing of his people. Born into a family of medicine men, he experienced a profound childhood vision that gave him a lifelong sense of responsibility for the spiritual and communal well-being of others. He became known for his role in prayer, healing rites, and spiritual leadership during a time of great suffering and cultural upheaval among the Lakota.
In 1904, Black Elk was baptized into the Catholic Church and took the name Nicholas William. His conversion was sincere and active: he served for many years as a catechist and lay missionary, led prayer services, taught the rosary, shared Scripture, and helped bring many others into the faith. He remained devoted to both Christ and the spiritual dignity of his people, seeking harmony between Catholic belief, creation, and traditional reverence for the natural world.
Black Elk stands as an important representative figure for a Catholic equine retreat because he embodies integrated healing — spiritual, communal, and creation-centered. His life reflects deep prayer, reverence for God’s presence in nature, and a vocation of restoration and guidance, making him a powerful symbol of faith-based healing encounters rooted in both tradition and lived experience.
Accommodations
Participants stay in comfortable private bedrooms at Hawkeye Ranch, surrounded by the wide-open beauty of Wyoming wilderness just outside Yellowstone National Park.
The ranch offers a peaceful and simple environment designed to support the deeper work of the retreat. Lodging includes a private bedroom with either a private or shared bathroom, along with welcoming common spaces for meals, conversation, and quiet reflection.
Pricing varies based on room selection.
Single Bedroom
Single or Shared Bathroom
INVESTMENT & AVAILABILITY
Investment begins at $5,000
Your investment includes:
Lodging and meals
Group therapy and individual therapy with licensed therapists
Daily Mass, prayer, confession and spiritual direction opportunities
Equine-assisted therapy sessions
Access to ranch activities, including hiking, fly fishing, and solo nature excursions
Chef-curated meals, designed to promote a clear mind and enable the deep therapeutic work
Transportation from Cody Airport
Only 15 spots are available to preserve intimacy and depth.
What The Experience Includes
Each day follows a gentle, grounding rhythm designed to foster healing and presence:Daily Mass, prayer, and opportunities for Confession or Spiritual DirectionClinically guided group therapy rooted in Catholic anthropologyTrauma-informed equine-assisted therapySilence, solitude, and time in God’s creationThis is an immersive, relational experience that engages the whole person — mind, body, and spirit.
Guides & Facilitators
This retreat maintains a high staff-to-participant ratio to ensure personalized care and support throughout the week.
Participants are accompanied by Catholic psychologists, priests trained in integrated spiritual direction, and an experienced equine therapy specialist.
Location & Logistics
Hawkeye Ranch | Cody, Wyoming
Just outside Yellowstone National Park
A remote, no-signal environment surrounded by wilderness, silence, and awe.
Transportation from Cody Regional Airport to Ranch is included. Airfare is not included.
An Invitation
Black Elk Retreat is an opportunity to step away from the noise of daily life and encounter God through prayer, healing, and the beauty of creation.
If you feel drawn to this experience, we invite you to join us.
