“Everybody dies, but not everybody lives.”

This is the inspiration behind Alive Ventures, a passion project created by two therapists and friends, designing therapeutically focused women’s wellness retreats and events.

Founded by Anne Bliss Niess, LPC and Michele Cooper, LCSW, Alive Ventures invites women on intimate retreats to answer the question: What makes you come alive? Their upcoming retreats include the Summer Solstice Women’s Retreat on Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts, June 22-26, 2023, and the Fall Equinox Women’s Wellness Retreat in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, September 28 – Oct 1, 2023 (one spot left).

Photos by Anne Bliss Niess + Kate-Ferris.

Bliss Niess and Cooper became friends in college, and a decade later realized how similar their stories of isolation and loneliness had been. That revelation prompted both of them to become therapists and as their friendship grew, their passion for supporting others in living a full life blossomed. Today, Bliss Niess and Cooper are practicing psychotherapists in Colorado who pour their knowledge and energy for supporting others’ journeys into a space that fosters a safe environment for people to discover the tools they need for fulfillment.

Although both of the leaders are adrenaline enthusiasts — seeking out wild adventures on the regular — they have a deep knowing that the key to life cannot be happiness all the time, nor can we stay stuck in complacent patterns; thus, the retreats are a mix of playfulness, mindful movement, nourishing food, therapeutic tools and topics, deep connections to self and to the women around us and a good dose of laughter.

If you’re feeling burned out, disconnected, anxious, depressed, less connected to your core self, lacking energy or searching for joy, Alive Ventures’ Summer Solstice Women’s Retreat on Martha’s Vineyard may be calling you. As Bliss Niess and Cooper point out, the magic happens when you are ready to drop the mask and show up as your authentic self. By identifying roadblocks and patterns, you will leave the retreat ready to step into new ways of connecting with yourself and others.

After a long weekend on Martha’s Vineyard together last August, Niess and Cooper knew this was going to be a destination for a future retreat. “We give participants time each day to go enjoy and tap into the culture and community. There’s just something about the charm of New England in the summer-long summer days, white sandy beaches, bridge jumping, ocean swimming, all the best seafood, ice cream cones, boats, beautiful sunrises and sunsets,” Cooper shares. “We base each retreat around the theme, What makes you come alive?, and connection, not only to ourselves and each other, but to the unique environment where we host the retreats is a very important component to our offerings. Martha’s Vineyard therefore serves as a beautiful balance of mindfulness and play.”

Bliss Niess says, “Above all, we know we have done our job if women walk away feeling empowered, steadied, open and nourished (in every way!). Coming alive will look very differently for each individual, but it has been both our experience from past retreats and events (and our continued hope) that the retreats serve as a model for how we can show up in our own lives.”

One past participant shares, “It was such a magical experience … it was the catapult for me to finding inner peace and continued progress that I’ve been searching for in my life. Simply put, it was life changing!”

“These retreats are an experience, a platform for showing up to our lives. It’s about possibility, finding our edges, unraveling our negative belief systems, releasing our limiting beliefs and exploring the edges of our comfort zones. We know that the magic happens just outside

those edges and they’re best when done together,” Bliss Niess imparts. “Designing, planning and sharing these retreats is what makes us come alive; we would be thrilled to have you join us!”

Learn more and reserve your spot at comealiveventures.com.

Contact Anne Bliss Niess at 720-670-7677 or anne@anneblissniess.com.

Contact Michele Cooper at 303-304-1493 or michelejcooperlcsw@gmail.com.