Dazzling Together
Virtual Retreat for EDS & HSD Zebras

Why dazzling ? A group of zebras = a dazzle! Let's dazzle together!

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Living with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) and Hypermobility Spectrum Disorder (HSD) is complex, often invisible, and frequently misunderstood. This retreat is thoughtfully designed as a nurturing, trauma-informed space for adults who may feel isolated in their health journeys to find connection, community, and tools for mental and emotional wellbeing.

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Whether you live with EDS, HSD, or another complex health condition, you are welcome here. This retreat embraces all who navigate the challenges of chronic pain, fatigue, dysautonomia, and other multifaceted health experiences. Everyone deserves a space to be seen, heard, and supported. 🫶

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Led by seasoned psychotherapists Averie McCauley, LCSW-BACS, and Elisabetta D’Agata, PhD, who bring both professional expertise and lived experience with complex health conditions, this retreat offers a holistic and compassionate approach to healing.

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We will explore the body-mind connection through creative, reflective, and educational practices that help build resilience and self-understanding. A key part of our time together will include learning about the science of pain and how the nervous system plays a vital role in how we experience and manage symptoms. Understanding the connection between our brains, bodies, and emotional worlds can be a powerful step toward reclaiming agency and finding comfort, even in the midst of uncertainty.

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What’s Included:​

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This half-day retreat is intentionally designed to be nurturing, empowering, and restorative.

You’ll receive:

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🧠 Guided teachings on the relationship between pain, tension, and the nervous system

🧘‍♀️ Gentle somatic practices to support release, grounding, and nervous system regulation

🦓 Opportunities for connection with others who understand what it means to live with complex health

🌿 Tools for sustainable self-care and creating supportive home environments

📔 A digital guide with resources to revisit anytime

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👥 Your Guides

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Our facilitators bring decades of experience and deep compassion for those navigating chronic conditions:

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Averie McCauley, LCSW-BACS is a psychotherapist specializing in integrative somatic and Polyvagal-informed approaches, with a clinical focus on trauma, anxiety, chronic pain, and complex health challenges. As a fellow hEDS Zebra, Averie brings both professional expertise and personal understanding to her work. She is honored to be the first and only EDS ECHO-trained provider in Louisiana and is actively working to grow a network of knowledgeable providers to increase access to quality care for the EDS/HSD community. Her practice is rooted in compassion, collaboration, and a deep commitment to helping individuals increase self-awareness, reconnect with their bodies, and cultivate resilience.

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Elisabetta D’Agata, PhD is a clinical psychologist, researcher, and specialist in idiopathic scoliosis. She has authored several academic publications and the book "Enjoy Life with Idiopathic Scoliosis During Adolescence: Psychology for Professionals of Scoliosis." Her clinical and research work emphasizes the application of the bio-psycho-social model in the treatment of scoliosis. Based in Palermo, Sicily, Elisabetta integrates her training as a yoga instructor into her therapeutic practice, supporting individuals through mindful movement and promoting a more compassionate, embodied approach to scoliosis care.