Our Story
Mourning Sun began in 2016 after Rachael and Alexandra Kroot lost both parents. First, their mother to cancer. Then, their father to a simple surgery gone wrong. As two single women in their 20s, Rachael and Alexandra felt as if their lives had come to a screeching halt.
They were searching for a healing place to retreat and hide from the world for a few days before going back to work. When they couldn't find anywhere appropriate and available, the seed for Mourning Sun was planted. They decided it was important for some good to come out of their loss, and wanted to help others going through a similar process.
They combined their vision for healing with the compassion and expertise of friends and professionals in the field - Rachel Simon, Lauren Schlenger and Sarah Mayhew (bios below). The result was a two-night, three day retreat in the Poconos under the original name of Mourning Dove.
It was beautiful to see the growth participants made, and the bonds they shared, in such a short time. We encourage you to read their testimonials at the bottom of this page.
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While we currently operate on a limited basis out of partner locations, our ultimate goal is to create a permanent sanctuary where guests can spend the night and fully retreat. We want to be available for mourners year-round with comforting spaces, healing activities, healthy food, and a variety of resources. A vacation of sorts for the grieving - there when you need it most.
founding partners
RACHAEL
KROOT
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OWNER &
C.O.O.
Rachael was working as a broadcast meteorologist when she lost her parents in 2016. While she continued smiling on camera, she knew that her grief had changed her goals - both personally and professionally. In 2018, she began taking weekend classes through the "From Grief To Gratitude Coach Certification Program." The program is accredited by the International Coach Federation, and run by Dora Carpenter (certified life coach, certified grief coach, and certified consumer's funeral consultant).
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Rather than working as a one on one coach, Rachael wanted to bring the tools and resources from her certification training to more of a group setting. This includes group discussions on grief, various writing prompts, and guided reflections - with the belief that sometimes a new perspective can help bring clarity and closure. She wants to give participants a safe space to focus on their loss, while also giving them hope for the future. Although Rachael is the Chief Operating Officer behind Mourning Sun retreats and workshops, she knows she couldn't provide the same level of support without the rest of our amazing founding partners.
Following in her father's footsteps, Alexandra has a strong interest in financial health, and has taken on the role of Mourning Sun Chief Financial Officer. She currently works as an analyst at an investment company, and is studying to become a Certified Financial Planner - a process that takes several years. Given her personal experience, she plans to focus on estate planning so that she can help others who are sick or have experienced loss. She wants to take away as much stress from an already stressful situation as possible. Once certified, she plans to offer consultations at Mourning Sun events.
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In additional to acting as CFO, Alexandra helps bring the perspective to Mourning Sun that no two grief experiences are the same. As sisters, she and Rachael both lost their parents in 2016. However, their responses to the loss were very individual. Alexandra noticed that diet and weight gain became an additional struggle - both physically and emotionally. After years of healthy eating, meetings with nutritionists, and in depth research, she wants to share her journey in the hopes of helping others. A focal point of her discussions will be "The Happiness Diet: Good Mood Food" - along with recipes you can take home to your own kitchen.
ALEXANDRA
KROOT
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OWNER &
C.F.O.
RACHEL
SIMON, LCSW
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PSYCHOTHERAPIST
Rachel is a licensed clinical social worker and psychotherapist who offers therapy, sexuality education, and consulting to youth, parents, families, educational faculty, professional organizations, and health professionals. She received both Masters degrees from Widener University, and received her BA in Psychology and LGBT Studies from the University of Maryland.
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Rachel has provided training and consultation on gender, sexuality, child development, and clinical issues for groups and conferences in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, and D.C. She currently runs her private psychotherapy practice in Philadelphia, specializing in queer and transgender youth and young adults. Rachel is the author of the upcoming sexuality education book for children, The Big Talk: An LGBTQ Inclusive Book About Sex, Gender, Bodies, and Families.
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Rachel offered her services as a clinical social worker for the first Mourning Sun retreat. Her natural compassion made a tremendous impact on the overall experience. It is part of her practice to enrich and empower the existing resilience in clients, and she brings that strength to group sessions on grief as well. We are thrilled to have her as a part of the founding team.
LAUREN
SCHLENGER, ATR-P
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ART
THERAPIST
Lauren facilitates the visual art process to support growth, develop self-awareness, and promote self-expression. As an artist, Lauren understands the innately calming and therapeutic benefits creating art can provide. As an art therapist, Lauren aims to provide a safe environment for reflection, expression, and connection, with a focus on accessing personal strengths and building self-compassion. Lauren earned her master’s degree in art therapy from The George Washington University and currently works as a Resident in Counseling at Sunstone Counseling in Alexandria, VA.
While she frequently works with children and adolescents, she has had the privilege of facilitating the creative process with a wide variety of individuals through Mindfulness and Creativity workshops, therapeutic artmaking sessions for military families, and grief-focused sessions. When making her own art, Lauren primarily uses paint and photography, with a focus on slowing down to appreciate small moments.
SARAH
MAYHEW
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YOGA
INSTRUCTOR
Sarah completed her 200-hour Yoga Teacher training at Gogo Guru in Ellicott City, MD, and her Prenatal Yoga Teacher training at Charm City Yoga/YogaWorks in Baltimore. She brings her improvisational theater, music, and dance background to the table to help her students realize and embrace their grace, face challenges with a sense of adventure and humor, and focus their active, creative minds.
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She encourages her students to make time in their day for themselves, for introspection, and for cultivating their practice on and off of their mats. Ever the yoga student herself, she has taken coursework in Yoga for the Classroom and training in Thai Yoga Massage and Bodywork. In addition, she is working on her Yoga for All certification, which focuses on teaching yoga so that is it approachable and adaptable for all experience levels and diverse body types.
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Beyond the yoga studio, Sarah is a middle-school ESOL teacher. She has experience teaching therapeutic crisis coping methods, restorative circles, social skills, and character-building classes in private, alternative, and public schools. Educating the whole person is extremely important to her, and translates into her yoga classes as well.
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TESTIMONIALS
"Wonderful, warm experience, full of authentic love and support."
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"Thank you for helping with my journey. I know it will be long, however I believe this kind of retreat would help anyone in their grief experience. Or the new normal."
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"This was a great way to start to dig so much deeper in a safe place. The staff, Rachael, Rachel, Sarah and Lauren, are a wonderful combination of caring, talented women. While a little unsure of how the weekend would go, knowing no one when I got here, it was very worth it. Could have lasted longer."
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"You were all so welcoming and created a wonderful environment to acknowledge and validate my grief. The weekend, from cookies to closing, was refreshing, at times challenging, but overall - so worth it. It's a strange bond, grief - but I am thankful for the chance to bond with the other individuals, each traveling their own personal path to acceptance and peace."
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"You all did a wonderful job providing a safe and peaceful place for me to fully connect and experience my grief. You were all kind, engaging, humurous and thoughtful. I am thoroughly impressed with your knowledge and skills in your areas of interest/expertise. Please know I am leaving here today better than when I arrived. I feel like I am at the beginning of a wonderful journey. I am grateful."
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