What is Happy Whole Way?

Happy Whole Way provides coaching, community, and retreats for women who have left, or are leaving, high-control religion. It was founded by two coaches, Cara and Rachael, who are both former kids pastors in the Evangelical church who walked away.

What is Happy Whole U, and when does it run?

Happy Whole U is a 10-week guided online program for women healing from religious harm. It includes teaching videos, weekly live group calls, a 150-page workbook, monthly online circles, and a private community. Cohorts are limited to 12 women and run in the fall and the spring, and enrollment includes 6 months of access to the course content and to all Community events.

Who are these programs for?

Happy Whole U is designed for female-identifying individuals. Participants come from all religious backgrounds; most come from Christian traditions. Retreat participants must be at least 21 years old.

What does the Community membership include?

The Community is a private online membership with three to four events each month, including gatherings, coffee chats, book club, and seasonal circles and events. Members join from around the world, and membership can be joined at any time.

Where are the retreats held?

Retreats are held in person in Colorado. The currently published retreat is the Fall Retreat in the Colorado Springs area, November 6 to 9, 2026.

Is spiritual direction the same as therapy?

No. Spiritual Direction with Cara is one-to-one coaching for women untangling religious programming. It does not diagnose or treat trauma, and it is described on the website as a complement to therapy rather than a substitute for it.

Have you left the church?

Life after religion can be beautiful . . . but complicated

Happy Whole Way is a place for women who have left high-control religion and are learning to trust themselves, explore new possibilities, and build meaningful lives beyond the rules they were given.

Explore FREE resources!

You Are the Wayfinder

We are called Happy Whole Way because healing after religion is not about reaching some perfected destination. You’re not here to follow someone else’s path...you’re here to create your own.

HAPPY is the deep-rooted joy that begins to return when you stop contorting yourself to meet impossible expectations and standards.

WHOLE is our refusal to treat you like a problem to solve. It’s an invitation into compassion and curiosity to explore your full self.

WAY honors that there is no single path forward. We don’t offer a new “right way.” We create space for you to discover your own.

Three Ways We Can Help.

FREE Gifts! 🎁

Not sure where to start? Explore our collection of free resources. From a workbook to help you rediscover your values to thought-provoking articles, book recommendations, music and weekly reflections!

Claim your FREE gift!

Solo Retreats

Step into a deeply personal, restorative retreat curated for exactly what needs your attention. Rachael will guide you through meaningful conversations, creative exploration, and soulful rituals.

Learn more HERE!

Private Community

Craving meaningful connection? Join women from around the world for deep conversations, honest reflection, and space to explore what brings you awe. With 3-4 virtual events monthly, you'll find a place to belong.

Join Us Anytime!

NOT SURE WHERE TO START?

Get real support straight to your inbox.
Every Friday, we’ll send you a weekly check-in filled with nervous system tools, thought-provoking prompts, and gentle reminders that you’re not crazy, broken, or alone. We’re not here to give you a new way to believe, but to support you in finding your own way as you come home to yourself.

YOUR STORY IS OURS TOO

Hi, We're Cara and Rachael!

If religion taught you that someone else had all the answers, you’re probably done putting your trust in leaders, teachers, and “experts.” We get it. So are we.

We’re not going to tell you what to believe or how to live now. We’re clinically trained coaches to help you access your inner wisdom as you create your own roadmap back to yourself. Because we deeply believe that:

You are the wise one

And we’re doing the work, too. This isn’t a place where anyone has arrived. We’re in the process with you, untangling old beliefs, practicing self trust, laughing, crying, and choosing ourselves again and again.

WHAT CLIENTS ARE SAYING →

"Cara and Rachael are both such perceptive and intuitive women.

They speak from wisdom of experience with great vulnerability that makes you feel right at home, and allows you to be honest with and about yourself.

- LYNETTE, FALL 2021

Programs and prices

Our programs, with details on each program page:

The Community Membership
Solo Retreats