Soul Shepherding Retreats - Soul Shepherding

Five Days That Can Change Your Life

You pour out for others but your soul needs care too.

At a Soul Shepherding Retreat, you’ll step away from stress to rest in God’s presence, receive care and training, and be strengthened. You’ll experience renewal that transforms your life, relationships, and ministry or work.

Already accepted? Register for your retreat.

99%

of participants agree their retreat was life changing.

98%

say they have grown emotionally & spiritually.

92%

feel encouraged in their relationship with Jesus.

Watch our video to learn more!

What the Retreats Offer

Soul Shepherding Retreats are 5-day immersive experiences of soul care and learning in a community of about 40-60 people like you. They are led by Drs. Bill and Kristi Gaultiere and are designed to help you rest, renew, and grow.

Retreat features:

Teaching sessions with opportunities to ask questions
Guided Scripture meditation, prayer, and community sharing
Spiritual direction groups and optional individual sessions
Extended time for solitude, rest, and reflection in a beautiful setting
Learning to lead and care for others from a healthy soul

What Makes Soul Shepherding Retreats Different?

Jesus-centered psychology for emotional and spiritual growth
Dallas Willard’s insights on spiritual formation and soul care
Safe, supportive community with fellow leaders and
shepherds
Practical tools for emotional and spiritual health
Flexibility to attend one or all four retreats in any order — online or in person

Is This Retreat for You?

Yes! These retreats are for Christians who want to grow deeper with Jesus in order to live and lead from a healthy soul.

You’ll find yourself in community with leaders and learners who serve Jesus as pastors, missionaries, spiritual directors, coaches, counselors, ministry spouses, business leaders, and other Christian leaders.

Whether you lead a congregation, a small group, clients, your workplace, or your family — you belong here.

Meet Your Guides

Drs. Bill and Kristi Gaultiere are psychotherapists and spiritual directors who were personally mentored by Dallas and Jane Willard. Over the last 35 years, they have spent over 120,000 hours caring for people like you. Together, they founded the Soul Shepherding Institute in 2013 to train Christian pastors and leaders in Jesus-centered psychology and spiritual formation.

Since then thousands of participants from 28 countries have joined our retreats.

people have completed Soul Shepherding Retreats

Stories of Life Change

"Soul Shepherding helped me find rest in Jesus when I was on the brink of burnout. The support I received renewed my passion for ministry."

"Drs. Bill and Kristi Gaultiere have brought a monumental impact for Christ to me, my marriage, my family, my staff, and my church. My wife and I, along with many of our pastors, have been trained through their Institute retreats."

"This ministry is truly a priceless gift of God to my life. The spiritual ambiance was so conducive to personal growth and drawing closer to God."

"Through Bill and Kristi’s vast knowledge and readings, they take us to places where we can really go deep with Jesus."

"I am thankful for five days at each retreat to be fully immersed in a Jesus-loving community, receive great teachings, and have extended space and time alone with Jesus to learn the unforced rhythms of his grace. These retreats have been truly life-changing!"

"I needed this retreat to be five days long—anything less wouldn’t have allowed me to truly rest, connect with Jesus, and uncover the deeper things stirring in my heart... Thank you for bringing together this safe loving community."

The Difference it Makes

Without a retreat like this you risk:

Running on empty

Getting overstressed and discouraged

Losing your personal intimacy with Jesus

Losing joy in your ministry and relationships

With this retreat you’ll:

Return home spiritually refreshed

Be emotionally supported and renewed

Gain clarity and practical tools for your life and ministry

Experience the joy of serving others from overflow, not exhaustion

Retreat Topics

Soul Shepherding offers four unique retreats. You can start with any retreat, do as many as you want, and repeat the retreats.

Spiritual Formation

This retreat focuses on becoming the kind of person who naturally lives and loves like Jesus. You’ll explore how stress, family patterns, and sin affect your spiritual life and how God’s grace brings healing, wholeness, and lasting emotional and spiritual health.

Spiritual & Psychological Development

This retreat helps you understand where you are in your journey with God and what to do when you feel stuck. You’ll learn how to grow emotionally and spiritually in the stages of faith, including when you’re in a challenging season.

Soul Care Ministry

This retreat equips you to care for people’s emotional and spiritual pain with love and wisdom. You’ll experience Jesus’ empathy in your own life and learn how to walk with others through shame, addiction, grief, and healing without burning out.

Relationally Healthy Leadership

This retreat helps you to lead from attachment to Jesus rather than pressure or self-reliance. You’ll learn how Jesus forms leaders who are emotionally aware, resilient in stress, and able to lead with love, clarity, and joy.

Upcoming Retreat Dates & Locations

Soul Shepherding offers 8 retreats each year in various locations across the United States. Click below to see all of the upcoming dates and locations.

View All Retreat Dates

June 15-19, 2026
Stoneville, North Carolina
Spiritual & Psychological Development
Led by Bill & Kristi Gaultiere
Spiritual Directors: Molly Sparling, John Ware & Anna Kimball

July 13-17, 2026
Malibu, California
Relationally Healthy Leadership
Led by Bill & Kristi Gaultiere
Spiritual Directors: Ron Thompson, Kim Thompson, Brian Steele & Katie Steele

September 28-October 2, 2026
Bells, Texas
Spiritual Formation
Led by Bill & Kristi Gaultiere
Spiritual Directors: Joan Graham, Amy Dalke & Jon Jenz

October 19-23, 2026
Scottsdale, Arizona
Spiritual & Psychological Development
Led by Bill & Kristi Gaultiere
Spiritual Directors: Ron Thompson & Kim Thompson

November 2-6, 2026
St. Simons Island, Georgia
Soul Care Ministry
Led by Bill & Kristi Gaultiere
Spiritual Directors: Anna Kimball, Jim Long & Lindsay Long

February 22-26, 2027
Malibu, California
Spiritual Formation
Led by Bill & Kristi Gaultiere
Spiritual Directors: TBD

March 15-19, 2027
Scottsdale, AZ
Soul Care Ministry
Led by Bill & Kristi Gaultiere
Spiritual Directors: Ron Thompson & Kim Thompson

April 5-9, 2027
St. Simons Island, Georgia
Relationally Healthy Leadership
Led by Bill & Kristi Gaultiere
Spiritual Directors: TBD

June 7-11, 2027
Bells, Texas
Spiritual & Psychological Development
Led by Bill & Kristi Gaultiere
Spiritual Directors: TBD

July 12-16, 2027
Malibu, California
Spiritual & Psychological Development
Led by Bill & Kristi Gaultiere
Spiritual Directors: TBD

September 27-October 1, 2027
Bells, Texas
Soul Care Ministry
Led by Bill & Kristi Gaultiere
Spiritual Directors: TBD

October 11-15, 2027
Scottsdale, Arizona
Relationally Healthy Leadership
Led by Bill & Kristi Gaultiere
Spiritual Directors: TBD

November 1-5, 2027
St. Simons Island, Georgia
Spiritual Formation
Led by Bill & Kristi Gaultiere
Spiritual Directors: TBD

View All Retreats by Location →

Retreat Pricing

$1,325

Early Bird (120+ days ahead)

$1,425

Regular Price

$1,625

Late Registration (45 days or less)

Optional add-ons:

Single room: $250
Individual spiritual direction appointment at the retreat: $70

Special discounts and scholarships:

Your spouse can get 25% off by sharing a room with you.
Pastors and missionaries with financial need can apply for scholarship assistance.

The Cost of Your Retreat Includes

Lodging for 4 nights, 5 days

Meals and snacks

All teaching sessions, spiritual direction groups, guided practices, etc.

Retreat manual

*Attendees are responsible for making their own travel arrangements to and from the retreat.

Payment Timeline

To reserve your spot for a retreat, a $250 non-refundable deposit is required or you are welcome to pay in full. Full payment is due at least 45 days prior to the start date of the retreat, or you can pay the late registration fee (if space is still available).

Enrich Your Experience with a Certificate in Spiritual Direction

The 4 retreats are included in Soul Shepherding’s Certificate in Spiritual Direction program. This program is an optional next step if you want advanced training. It includes the four retreats.

Take Your Next Step

Step 1: Apply for a retreat

We require an application for our retreats so we can protect your retreat experience. Institute retreats are places of deep and authentic community, and we want to provide a safe and healthy environment for everyone.

Step 2: Our team will reach out to you

As soon as we receive your application and hear back from your reference, we will email you for the next step.

Step 3: Register for a retreat and pay the $250 deposit

Once your application has been accepted, complete our registration form to reserve your spot at a retreat and pay your $250 deposit. You can choose from any of the dates or locations you prefer.

Frequently Asked Questions

I'm ready to start! What are my next steps?

If this is your first retreat, your first step is to complete the application and provide one reference. Have the person providing your reference use this link: Reference Form.

After we review your application and reference, you will receive an email notification from us regarding your acceptance status. If you are accepted, you will be required to make a $250 deposit to secure your spot. If you want to apply for both the Institute Retreats and Certificate in Spiritual Direction program, please click here.

Who are Soul Shepherding Retreats for?

Soul Shepherding Retreats are for anyone who wants to grow deeper with Jesus. This includes (but isn’t limited to): pastors, missionaries, ministry spouses, counselors, spiritual directors, business leaders, and parents.

What's the difference between applying and registering?

Apply → First-time participants. (No payment until you’re accepted and ready to register.)
Register → For those already accepted and ready to commit to a particular retreat

Do I have to attend all four retreats?

No. Many people start with just one retreat. You’re welcome to attend as few or as many as you’d like, and you can attend them in any order you choose. You can also repeat the retreats.

What if I can’t travel?

Every retreat is available online via Zoom. See the bottom of this FAQ section for more information about attending online!

Do you offer scholarships or payment assistance?

We offer partial scholarships for pastors and missionaries. Payment plans are also available. You can contact Mark Hughes at mark@soulshepherding.org to learn more.

Does Soul Shepherding offer custom retreats or training?

Yes! We provide customized retreats, organizational support, consultations, and coaching for groups and organizations of various sizes. You can contact Amy Dalke at amy@soulshepherding.org to learn more.

Does Soul Shepherding offer cohorts?

There are four ways you can enjoy a cohort experience with us:

Retreats: Our retreats are offered in different locations (e.g., Malibu, Scottsdale, Dallas, and St. Simons Island). If you participate in all 4 retreats at the same location, there will be returning retreatants sharing in a cohort experience, along with first time retreatants.
Certificate in Spiritual Direction (CSD): In this two-year program you are in a cohort with other spiritual direction students for your online classes. The retreats you attend during your training will have a combination of CSD students and others.
Certificate in Coaching (CC): In this one year program you are in a cohort with other coaching students for classes and supervision. The retreats you attend during your training will have a combination of CC students and others.
Supervision Groups: Within CSD and CC, you’ll be in a small online group for encouragement and supervised ministry experience.

Are there any prerequisites to the retreats?

No! For your very first retreat you’ll complete a one time application and include a personal reference. From there, we will walk you through the process step by step!

How large are the retreats?

Retreats generally average about 40-60 participants, including some who choose to attend online. Participants have come from all over the world including almost all 50 states and more than 25 countries (UK, Mexico, Africa, Philippines, Indonesia, Canada, Columbia, China, New Zealand and more).

How is the Soul Shepherding program different from others?

Drs. Bill and Kristi Gaultiere (therapists, pastors, and spiritual directors) developed the Soul Shepherding Retreats, Certificate in Spiritual Direction, and Certificate in Coaching to integrate Jesus-centered psychology and spiritual formation. They were personally mentored by Dallas and Jane Willard for a number of years and their teachings are throughout. Each retreat teaching session includes a Bible study on the associated topic. The retreats are five days long, rather than three days, to facilitate an immersion in God’s loving presence with an authentic community of fellow leaders. The Soul Shepherding approach emphasizes intimacy with Jesus, empathy, authenticity, and leading others out of the overflow of God’s grace in your own life.

What retreat materials will be provided for me?

For each retreat you will receive a retreat manual (your choice of digital or physical) that includes introductions and outlines for each session, space for note-taking, Bible studies, and guided spiritual experiences.

How do I register for a Soul Shepherding Retreat after I have applied and been accepted?

If you’ve already applied (and have been accepted) for the retreats or the Certificate in Spiritual Direction program, click here to register for a retreat today. Retreats often fill up so don’t delay registering!

What happens if I need to change or cancel my retreat registration?

We understand that unexpected circumstances can affect your plans to attend a retreat. Our cancellation policy is designed to be considerate of your needs while also respecting the costs incurred by Soul Shepherding.

45 or more days before the retreat begins: You may cancel your registration and apply your payment as a credit toward another Soul Shepherding Retreat taking place within the next 12 months. Please email our team as soon as possible to arrange this.
0–44 days before the retreat begins: Refunds and retreat credits are not available. Your payment will be retained by Soul Shepherding and treated as a tax-deductible donation in support of our ministry.

I'm interested in attending a retreat online, what do I need to know?

All of our retreats are available to attend over Zoom. In order to participate, you will need to have a reliable cell or WIFI connection. When you register, you can indicate your desire to participate over Zoom. If you are in a different time zone from the retreat location, you can use this Time Zone Calculator to help you determine what time you should log in for each teaching and group session. (A retreat schedule will be provided to you once you register.)

What if I miss one of the teaching or group sessions while attending the retreat online?

All the teaching sessions during the retreat are recorded and our Retreat Administrator will make those recordings available if you are unable to attend one “live.” The recordings are only made available for the sessions you missed and are not viewable after the retreat has concluded. Soul Shepherding group sessions are not recorded for confidentiality reasons.

How can I have a great online retreat experience?

Participating at a retreat online can be just as engaging and meaningful as an in-person retreat if you do some prep ahead of time. We put together this document that walks you through how to plan for an engaging online retreat experience.

Is there a reduced fee for participating in a Soul Shepherding Retreat online?

We do not offer reduced fees for our retreats. Although we encourage in-person attendance, we believe we are able to offer an online experience that does not diminish the participant’s experience. Feedback from our online participants has revealed they often feel as much a part of the retreat as those physically present. Additionally, we provide an online facilitator who leads group discussions with all online participants.