Women from across the United States are gathering at the Woodland Water Tower Ranch this weekend, not for a vacation, but for reflection and healing.

The second annual You Have the Write to Heal womens retreat begins Thursday. The five-day event uses therapeutic writing to help women confront emotional wounds and rediscover parts of themselves that have been put on hold.

For Melissa Williams, a first-time participant, its a personal milestone. This is my first time, being away from my family, being away from my kids, for five days of just doing some healing work, she explains.

So, I lost my sister a year ago, Williams said, and feels like she hasnt started the mourning process.

She said she has tried some coping mechanisms like journaling, I wrote in journals through some tough times,

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