Inside the rage retreats where women pay up to $4,500 to get in touch with their anger

Women pay up to $4,500 to attend "rage retreats" in the Oregon woods near Portland, where they express their anger through sound and movement. At Lumalia Emmy Armstrong's Holy Rage Retreats, small groups of women gather among the trees to scream, growl, and move freely. The retreats aim to provide a safe space for women to express their emotions without judgment, a concept that Armstrong believes many people are seeking.

Prices vary, with a 3.5-hour session costing $600, while Bay Area CBT Center's multi-day rage retreats can cost up to $4,500. Armstrong notes that her retreats attract women navigating divorce, illness, breakups, or reconsidering their religious beliefs, all of which can leave them feeling angry and struggling to express their resentment or set boundaries.

Avigail Lev, a psychologist at the Bay Area CBT Center, explains that anger can feel overwhelming and leave women feeling helpless. She emphasizes the importance of recognizing anger's message and choosing how to respond. The retreats also focus on helping participants identify core beliefs, discuss triggering situations, and examine whether fear of anger has stopped them from setting boundaries.

While the science behind rage therapy is still unclear, some anger experts argue that suppressing anger may not be helpful, and releasing anger may not equate to lasting benefits.