Great Minds Abroad was created to capture the magic that happens when we travel to destinations beyond our own to learn from, and ultimately change from, those special experiences abroad. What if we could learn about mental health and diversity not from a classroom or webinar, but from giving voices to indigenous healers around the world- all while having fun, building friendships with other like-minded women from around the globe, and exploring new countries together? And what if this knowledge not only affected us, both those we treat as women in the healing professions to create the most beautiful ripple effect?
Great Minds Abroad’s retreats are curated with hand-picked, authentic local experiences designed to impact not only our own personal development but our professional development so we can enhance our healing work back at home. These retreats are designed for all women in the healing professions- in mental, physical, and spiritual health. The mission is to combine all of these experiences into one memorable vacation, while emphasizing the empowerment of both the participants and the local women within the community. In keeping with this mission, a portion of the proceeds from every retreat will go directly to a destination-specific women-run mental health charity.
Hi! I'm Diane Gilman, the founder of Great Minds Abroad! I am a psychologist specializing in chronic pain, illness, and the mind-body connection located just outside of Washington, D.C. In my spare time, I love to travel and explore the globe as often as I can, checking off my international bucket list items along the way. So far, I have been to 48 countries and 5 continents, and have developed a true passion to learn from and become connected to the local population. I'm frequently found off the beaten path immersed in authentic, local experiences- think finding a secret passageway to a curated French dinner in a basement wine cellar instead of standing in line to get to the top of the Eiffel Tower, or joining the chef for lessons on how to make his family recipe for nasi goreng in the kitchen of a tiny one room Indonesian warung rather than dining on it at the latest 5-star restaurant. Whether I'm traveling solo, or with friends or family, each trip changes me just a little more for the better and creates a positive impact on my psychology practice and the clients I work with. I am so excited to be cultivating retreats for my fellow women health professionals so that they can experience the same life-changing adventures abroad and empower themselves to expand their horizons!