Testimonials

I began my Life Review journey without fully knowing what to expect, and I am deply grateful for the time I spent with Karen. I chose to participate in the Life Review during my sabbatical. After years of working furiously in my career, I needed space to ground myself and gently reframe the story I tell about my life.

Karen guided me through this journey with care and intention. She listened closely to my story, reflected what she was hearing, and invited me to explore it more deeply, validating what needed honoring while helping me lean into where I am now. Through this process, my story shifted. It became less centered on trauma and more about the beauty, resilience, and meaning that have shaped who I am today. I began to see more clearly the light and love that have surrounded me throughout my life, and that is what I will continue to carry forward.

Not only did I experience a shift in how I understand my life journey, creating new pathways in how I think about my story, but I also believe I gained a friendship in both Karen and her husband, John. The home they created for me during the five days I stayed in the cabin was warm, cozy, and thoughtfully filled with comforts that allowed me to truly settle in. For the first time in a long while, I was able to quiet my mind, watch the birds, sit by a crackling fire, and simply be.

We shared wonderful conversations over lovingly prepared meals of foods I enjoy, and I learned so much about Duluth and Lake Superior. This experience will stay with me for a long time, and I look forward to continuing to lean into what I learned.

Nadine B., November 2025
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I [felt] very nurtured by the environment and accommodation … It is in a beautiful setting – private and restful.

I appreciated the guiding questions, the sharing of stories.  I liked how the questions/sessions built upon each other and how we went a layer deeper each time.

Meals were divine. I felt very nurtured by the meals – and by sharing them with you and John.

I am an off-the-chart intuitive. My expectations were vague! Yet, the outcome I received/shaped was exactly what I needed.

Suzelle Lynch, September 2016

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I just did [a Life Review with Karen Gustafson]. It is a wonderful chance to receive deep caring at all levels–a beautiful place to stay, wonderful meals tailored to your preferences, and many hours of reflection time and deep listening from Karen. Karen is kind and gentle and very smart. She listens for what you say and what you don’t say. She asks questions that deepen your reflection. Initially I said, how could I possibly talk to someone for ten hours about my life? And, it was no problem! Short of therapists, who listen to you to discern what’s wrong and how to fix it, no one has ever listened to me for that many hours ever! But this was not about identifying pathologies or remedies; it was about listening to patterns and longings and unfinished business. I can’t recommend it enough!
 
Meg Riley, July 2017
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It was difficult for me to imagine being able to review one’s entire life in just one weekend, but with Karen’s guidance it was not only possible, but was hands down the most fulfilling and fruitful weekend retreat I have ever experienced. I loved that there were both planned activities and plenty of “down time” for reflection and/or relaxation. Sharing stories in a safe space with someone who is as thoughtful, open, and present as Karen is priceless gift, and her gentle questions guided my reflections deeper than I would have gone on my own. I returned home with more to reflect upon, yet feeling armed with knowledge and wisdom I might not have otherwise uncovered.

The space is beautiful and comfortable, the location is gorgeous, and I was ever so grateful that Karen embraced my plant based diet. She is a fabulous cook and one of my takeaways from the retreat was a handful of tasty recipes!

Tracy Grade, May 2018

In a time of inner transformation I had many stories running through my head but couldn’t get them sorted on my own. For three days Karen listened, questioned, and shared her own related stories, helping me identify a couple key patterns that were keeping me stuck in unending loops of confusion. In between sessions she invited me to peruse new avenues of thought, provided art materials, and suggested places to walk to access the lakeshore and river. She also listened to my desires for food and created excellent meals based on my preferences. Mealtimes provided a chance for informal conversation with Karen and John, complementing the more in-depth one-on-one sessions with Karen. 
The flexibility, variety of activities, and Karen’s gracious hosting, listening, and conversing combined to create a synergistic magic that provided the impetus for me to reassess my life’s course and find new directions forward. Days later my head is still spinning as the inner furniture is being rearranged into new stories and new ways of being in the world.
Sharon Wichman,  February 2019