In the quiet fishing village of Olhão, on Portugal’s beautiful Algarve, we will gather to rest, write, and release the trauma stored inside us. Gently, we will honour the women we have become – in spite of what we have been through.
At the peaceful Casa Rosa Villa, we will create a community of wonderful, wise women courageously confronting their traumas. This transformational week will incorporate workshops, discussions, and plenty of solo writing time.
The Hotel
Casa Rosa Villa is a boutique property where the atmosphere is warm, welcoming, and restful. The gorgeous building was lovingly restored before opening as an hotel in 2022. Situated on a pretty tree-lined street, “The Pink House” is beautifully bohemian with North African accents, and thoughtful touches throughout.
The ground floor has six bedrooms and an open-plan living-cum-dining room, which opens onto a courtyard. There, you’ll find the heated plunge pool (surrounded by sociable seating), and the sauna. The gorgeous roof terrace, workshop space, reading room, and remaining bedrooms are accessed via a stone staircase (please note there is no lift).
Each individually-appointed bedroom boasts air-conditioning, comfortable beds complete with luxury cotton bedding, a range of pillows, plenty of hanging and drawer space, and a table for writing. The ensuite bathrooms all have rain showers, organic bathroom products, thick fluffy towels, and bathrobes. Triple-glazed windows with shutters guarantee peaceful nights – even if your room is street-facing.
The Area
Olhão has been specially chosen as the home of this retreat for a variety of reasons. On a practical level, it’s just 15 minutes from the airport in Faro, which has direct flights from many international airports; the train station is a ten minute walk from the hotel; and – importantly – is is a very safe city.
Olhão is also staggeringly pretty. As well as the buildings, many of which showcase elements of Moorish design, and others which are unique for their cubist architecture, the footpaths, streets, and maze of alleyways showcase Calçada Portuguesa. This is a technique whereby craftsmen handcut small pieces of stone from black basalt and white limestone, and often arrange mosiacs on the ground with these stones. (Stillettoe-heeled shoes are not recommended. Ask me how I know! 😂) It is also a very quiet place – there are no nightclubs, for example, and very few tourists, even during the summer. As a result, there is a tremendous sense of community in the locality. Strangers will smile and wish you “Bom dia!” while the staff in cafés, shops and supermarkets will happily engage in conversation. If you are in need of a few “warm fuzzies”, this is the place you’ll get them.
In spite of sitting on the Atlantic, Olhão’s temperature rarely drops below 10°. While it can get very hot in the summer months, November is comfortably cooler, and generally sees little rain. No matter the weather, there are incredible sights in the town – everything from the famous markets to the salt pans, which are often frequented by interesting wildlife and birds – including flamingos. One of the reasons few tourists are attracted to the area is that there is no beach in Olhão, but there are several beautiful islands just minutes away by ferry. Also quickly and easily accessible from Olhão is the Ria Formosa, a stunning area of natural beauty where you can encounter flora and fauna unlike anywhere else on earth.
The Retreat
While it is not true that everyone is traumatised, it is true that many of us are holding trauma that we are aware of, and would like to process. Trauma can result from – among other things – bullying, childhood abuse, undiagnosed neurodivergence, spousal abuse, sexual violence, misogyny, and racism. Often, there is an intergenerational element to trauma. The work on releasing trauma will draw from several different creative modalities, rituals and exercises, and will be facilitated by Hazel Katherine Larkin.
Taking place from November 7th to 14th 2026, the Rest, Write, Release retreat is limited to ten women participants, who will be the hotel’s only guests for the seven days. This transformative week will include 30 facilitated workshop hours, as well as ample time for solo creativity, rest, learning, exploring, and community-building. Each day, we will share two communal meals, and two scheduled breaks during workshop hours.
The workshops will include explorations of various types of writing – including several types of poetry, memoir, fiction, and academic – to help you decide which one suits your current, or intended, project best.
This restful week will provide a sacred container for your writing and the healing release of trauma.
Your Facilitator
Hazel Katherine Larkin has written for stage, screen, and publication since she was 12 years old. Her work has appeared in newspapers and magazines in Ireland, Singapore, the UK, Dubai and the US. She has contributed to several anthologies of fiction, non-fiction, and poetry. She has published two volumes of memoir – Gullible Travels in 2015, and Body of Evidence in 2025. The first details her years in Asia, referring back to her childhood to help explain why she made many unhealthy decisions. The second is a series of essays from a crime scene – the body of a woman who was sexually abused as a child. She has also had several academic articles and chapters published. Hazel’s first academic monograph, based on the research for her first PhD, will be published in 2026, under the title Child Sexual Abuse and Intergenerational Trauma in Ireland.
Academically, Hazel holds a diploma in Theatre Studies, and degrees in Psychology, Sociology, Sexuality, and Law. She studied screenwriting (with Robert McKee), and ākāśa, which is a form of Indian storytelling, under the tutelage of Dr Janardan Ghosh.
The Cost
The cost for the week is €2,200.
This includes:
7 nights of accommodation at the beautiful Casa Rosa Villa
14 meals
Tea, coffee, fruit
30 hours of tuition / workshop facilitation
A booklet containing notes for each workshop session
A certificate of attendance
Use of all the hotel’s facilities and communal areas
Luggage storage post check-out, if necessary
While not included in your costs, we can happily arrange the following for you:
Transfers to, and from, the airport
Massages
Gym access
Yoga
Trips to Ria Formosa
Ferry trips to the local islands
If there is anything else you would like to do while you are in Olhão, please feel free to ask – and we will do our best to help.
Payment
A non-refundable deposit of €600 will secure your place, with the balance due by August 9th, 2026.
A payment plan is available. Please email for details.
FAQ
Is this retreat for me?
If you need a bit of a rest, you want to explore your trauma and how to write about it, and you would like to release some of that trauma, this retreat is for you. You don’t necessarily need to want to write for publication. The retreat is for writers of all levels.
Must I attend every workshop session?
Of course not! If you don’t feel like showing up for a session, that’s fine – you will still get the notes.
Will this retreat not just compound my trauma?
No. This retreat is about learning to write from the scar, not the wound. Talking about trauma is essential to processing it. Contrary to what some will tell you, talking about your trauma is healing, not re-traumatising. What is re-traumatising is being told not to speak of it.
What if I get upset during my time in Olhão?
Emotional responses to trauma are normal! You will be supported in the moment, in the way that feels best for you.
What will the weather be like?
Olhão in November is typically “cardigan weather”. The temperature rarely gets above 19°C, or drops below 14°C. On average, November is kissed by rain on fewer than ten days in Olhão.
I don’t speak Portuguese. Will that be a problem?
No. Most Portuguese people you encounter here will speak at least three languages.
What should I bring?
Whatever writing and art supplies you feel like bringing with you. That said, there are plenty of places nearby where you can buy them (cheaply). If you wish to, please feel free to bring your laptop or tablet. Bear in mind that in Portugal, the plugs used are types C and F. The standard voltage is 230V with a frequency of 50 Hz. There are six supermarkets within a fifteen-minute walk of Casa Rosa Villa and plenty of mini-markets dotted throughout the town, in case you forget to bring something essential with you. Also – do remember to bring walking shoes.
Can my diet be accommodated at Casa Rosa Villa?
We have an excellent chef who produces wonderful meals to cater for a wide variety of dietary requirements. Please indicate your needs on your booking form.
Do I need travel insurance?
It is always advisable to have travel insurance. You might also want to consider insurance that will cover your deposit in case you need to cancel.
Where is the nearest airport?
Faro is the nearest airport. An Uber to the hotel will cost you less than €20.
Is there WiFi at the property?
Yes! There is excellent WiFi throughout the hotel, at no additional charge.
I still have questions. Can anyone help me?
Of course! Just email hazel@traumarecovery.ie