Today we’d like to introduce you to Bree Conklin
Hi Bree, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Magnolia Harbor Carefarm is the work of my entire heart turned external for the world. My heart’s work has always been centered on serving those who have experienced complex trauma in the therapeutic spaces as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. True to the nature of this journey through life, 2014 brought a pivot point that fundamentally shifted the trajectory of both my personal and professional journey. I was in the first semester of my Doctorate program at The University of Tennessee Knoxville and SO excited about integrating the expanded learning of the neuroscience of trauma into my clinical practice. At the mid-point of that semester, my Dad was diagnosed with dementia. From the time of his diagnosis to the time of his death was a very short 5-years. As I walked caring for my Dad at the end of his life, the ways in which I was tending to my grieving heart started to change–I spent more time in nature, with my rescue dogs, and with my journal. The sacred spaces that could hold my grief without asking me to be any different than where I was in learning about the pieces of my broken heart were integral to me standing upright–to building my resilience.
In 2018, I read Bearing the Unbearable by my mentor, Dr. Joanne Cacciatore and knew I had to attend her Compassionate Bereavement Care Training. That September, I attended the training and came back to inform my husband that I knew in my entire being that I was to bring the second carefarm in the United States to Knoxville, TN. The carefarm brings together all the elements that helped (and still help) me feel as though I could bear the unbearable pain of traumatic grief: rescue animals, nature, moving my body, being present in therapeutic community and connected to others walking a parallel journey, and doing the really, really hard physical labor involved with operating an animal sanctuary/carefarm.
In 2021, my husband and I purchased the property that is now home to Magnolia Harbor Carefarm. Since 2021, I have developed therapeutic programs that serve those with traumatic grief. Magnolia Harbor has specific retreats that serve those who have experienced loss due to suicide, loss due to substance use, and young widow/ers that are raising minor children. This year Magnolia Harbor will launch a Pet Loss retreat and a Caregivers for Those with Parkinson’s retreat.
We provide sanctuary to 53 rescue animals and witness the healing power held in the spaces of the human-animal connection most every day. The work of Magnolia Harbor is the hardest, and unquestionably the best, work of my entire life.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Founding and developing a non-profit organization while simultaneously learning how to provide care for 53 rescue animals AND tend to 23 acres of farmland has certainly been a journey! Non-profit development was not part of my formal training, so I have been learning the managerial pieces of non-profit development as we grow. Establishing Magnolia Harbor in the community as a resource for those who have experienced traumatic grief has been a challenge simply because that takes time, consistent presence, and word of mouth being shared with our community. Non-profit development is much like farming in planting seeds, tending to those seeds, and providing the nurturing needed to grow with strength and resilience.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Magnolia Harbor Carefarm is a therapeutic program with highly specialized, evidence-based therapy for those who have experienced traumatic grief and loss and trauma. Magnolia Harbor Carefarm is also a sanctuary for all beings and is a sanctuary for more than 50 rescued animals. We are one of only two carefarms in the United States that show up with traumatic grief in this way.
We have unique therapeutic programming for all types of traumatic grief and loss. We have programs for loss due to suicide, loss due to substance use, and young widow/ers who are raising minor children. There are intensive group grief retreats, individual retreats, and online monthly grief support groups.
The question sometimes arises about whether we facilitate the adoption of our rescued animals. Once animals join our sanctuary, they live out their lives at Magnolia Harbor. We do not facilitate adoptions, we adopt rescued animals with the sole focus of them living out the rest of their lives in our sanctuary knowing only love and compassion. We honor the bonds of animals and do not separate animal families or bonded animal friends.
Each animal in the sanctuary of Magnolia Harbor Carefarm has their own story of trauma and a journey to building resilience in connection to safe others.
The parallel between the tender bereaved human hearts served by the therapeutic programs of Magnolia Harbor having experienced traumatic grief and the longing to be met with the same patience, love, compassion, and safety not all that different from that of our animal frens.
We often hear that the bereaved human hearts, for the first time since their loss had occurred, feel quiet when spending time with the animals of Magnolia Harbor.
Not a quiet that comes from dissociation or numbing with other distractions.
A quiet that comes from a compassionate presence.
Presence with one’s self.
Presence with others walking a parallel journey.
Presence with animals that offer authenticity in their presence and acceptance free of condition.
Presence in nature that settles the soul and connects us to the bigness of the world around us.
A quiet that happens when our interactions–with ourselves, with others, with our surroundings–are filled with an intentional turning towards the most tender and painful parts of ourselves with love, compassion, and unconditional positive regard.
For the last 3 years, our beloved community, have shown up and helped tackle countless projects all in the effort of supporting Magnolia Harbor Carefarm.
At the close of 2024, our volunteers have given 3,914 hours of their time to love and support Magnolia Harbor Carefarm.
The layers of community of Magnolia Harbor are far reaching.
From the uniting of energy to work together on projects and maintain the carefarm property in preparation for therapeutic programming to supporting fundraising events that support the scholarship fund for grievers in need of scholarship to take part in therapeutic programming, our community comes together with the shared goal of supporting traumatically bereaved humans and rescue animals.
Just before our fundraiser, Cookies & Champagne last year, I asked our volunteers about why an event of this magnitude was important in supporting Magnolia Harbor, and one of our beloved regular volunteers shared:
“Magnolia Harbor Carefarm, which I’ve grown to love over the past 17-months, is a magical therapeutic safe space for all living beings. I started volunteering because I wanted to give back to my community. I’ve received love, acceptance, and healing I never expected. I’ve made connections with humans that have become like chosen family. I get to witness others healing.”
What matters most to you? Why?
Cultivating therapeutic community. No matter the adversity we face in life, when we are supported in the safety and belonging of social relationships, resilience is established. Connection, community, love and belonging are at the heart center of all Magnolia Harbor stands for and does to serve our community.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://magnoliaharbor.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/magnoliaharborcarefarm/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/magnoliaharborcarefarm/
