Heal & Become
Women’s Story Group
You have a story that deserves tending. Imagine what might be possible if the stories of your past no longer limited your growth. Our next story group will be held in Fall 2026.
What is a story group?
This is a narrative focused trauma care group for women like you, looking back on earlier life scenes and exploring how your stories have shaped the way you see yourself and others today. In this group, you will engage a family of origin story through embodied writing, poetry, and expressive art—as well as any resistance you feel towards play, creativity, and rest in the process. We hope you’ll join us for this intimate group with other participants who are ready to heal & become.
Who is this group for?
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The woman who wants to know how her growing up years impact the way she lives and moves in the world today.
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The woman who needed to be seen but was often missed, to be heard but was silenced, to be held but didn’t receive attunement.
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The woman who had to grow up too fast, and lost touch with her sense of play, creativity, and rest because of the roles she was made to fill in her family.
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The woman who longs to break free from old patterns, create new rhythms and dynamics, and express her needs, hopes, and desires without shame.
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The woman who desires wholeness, deeper intimacy, and permission to come alive.
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The woman in the middle of her story who may have some support structures already in place (ie therapy, coaching, spiritual direction, mentors, community).
What to Expect:
First Things
Fill out an application to secure your spot. Your payment will complete your registration (payment plans available). You’ll be placed in a small group (no more than 5 participants) that meets virtually every week for seven weeks. Participants will receive the To Be Told online course from The Allender Center as a complementary gift plus art prompts, a guide on how to write your story, and access to Heal & Become’s full resource library.
Main Things
Each week, we will begin group with practices to ground, regulate and listen to our good bodies. Then, we will engage two stories per session. Lisa or Molly will go first so you will have an example to follow. Over seven weeks, each group member will write and read one story that took place between ages 4 - 18, and will revisit the same story in the final few weeks of group. Stories will be held and engaged in the context of safe and confidential community.
Final Things
Throughout our time together, we will build in time for play and creativity through art & poetry workshops. We will close our time with a blessingway for participants and additional resourcing for the way forward.
What’s included in the package?
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Live Group Sessions
Seven weekly 2-hour sessions with a small group of no more than five women. Our time together is safe and sacred and each week begins with a check-in and grounding exercise.
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To Be Told Online Course
Complementary access to an exclusive version of the popular To Be Told self-paced online course from The Allender Center ($249 value). This course offers video lessons that will enrich your learning throughout your 7-week Story Group journey.
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Art & Poetry Workshops
Along with personalized art prompts offered throughout the group, you will also be led through a live art workshop and will write a Where I’m From poem to explore your collective stories.
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Access to Group Resources
Participants will have full access to the Heal & Become resource library throughout the group and for 30 days following the final session. These include articles, videos, podcasts, worksheets.
What’s the Cost?
The cost of the Winter Story Group is $800 and includes a complementary To Be Told video course from The Allender Center (a $249 value). If you would like to be considered for a scholarship, please indicate why in your application. Payment plans are available as well.
Meet Your Facilitators
Molly and Lisa met through their work with The Allender Center in 2023. Since then, they have been dreaming about what it would look like to combine their creative giftings and unique styles to offer healing and wholeness to women through narrative care.
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Hello, I’m Molly, a certified life and trauma-trained story coach living in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia with my family. I create a non-anxious space for women’s stories to be held and restored so they can rest, play and create in their present lives and pave the way for sustainable growth and change. My training comes from The Allender Center and Erickson Coaching International and I have completed more than 300 client hours.
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Hello! My name is Lisa, and I am excited to walk alongside you as a friend and guide, co-discovering the beauty in and around you. I utilize the power of language, presence, and creative approaches to help people heal from trauma. I specialize in story work, healing through the arts, and mental health education. I am a registered behavioral health nurse trained in Narrative Focused Trauma Care I, II and III through The Allender Center. I also offer content marketing services for counselors and other mental health professionals. You can find me on my website, beautyheals.co and on Instagram @beautyheals_co.
Our next group will be in Fall 2026.
Our next group will be in Fall 2026.
Please join the waitlist and be the first to know when registration opens in late summer.
“I can now go deeper into painful memories instead of feeling overwhelmed and pushing them away or erecting familiar walls. I am now able to sit longer with them, be curious and ask myself questions. I am learning to be kind to my younger self as I explore these memories. Now, they come more as a story and less like a flashback. The story is easier to sit with than the flashback.
-Summer 2025 story group member
Frequently asked questions
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It’s not uncommon to not remember many stories from childhood. You may find it helpful to look through old photo albums or create a timeline of events for every 5 years of your childhood (moves, starting school, marriage, divorce etc). We have resources to help you with this if you feel stuck.
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You will be asked to write a story of a specific event (600 - 800 words) that occurred between the ages of 4-18. You’ll email the story to your facilitators so we can hold it with you before you read. When it is your week to read, we will begin with a centering exercise, and then you will read the story aloud to the group. After reading, your facilitators will gently begin to engage the story, perhaps pointing out details we notice or asking more questions about what is written (or gaps we notice in the story). We will frequently check in with you during this 45-minute engagement process, and also invite the group to engage the story as well. Narrative care is healing and good, and at no time should you feel overwhelmed or unsafe.
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Though you may have been told this at some or many points throughout your life, the idea of forgiving and forgetting stories of harm keeps people stuck in the harm, and fragmented from their bodies and experiences. Bypassing harm does not heal harm. Though in many cases forgiveness is possible, we spend time noticing and naming beauty and brokenness in storywork. Thus the reader can begin the important process of integration so true healing can begin.
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Dr. Dan Allender says to, “Share at a level that has enough honor and enough honesty.” We will not ask you to bring your greatest stories of harm just as we will not let you continue to avoid difficult stories. We are aware of loyalty structures within families that have not made room for truth, and we commit to honor your story and truth.
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Things happen, both planned in advance or unforeseen! We understand that you may not be able to attend every session over our seven weeks, though we ask you to try your very best. Cost will remain the same whether or not you attend all group sessions. If you know you’ll miss more than one session, please consider registering for a future group.
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Yes. You can choose to pay up front, or over a 2-month period. Payments will process automatically one month after your initial payment.
Disclaimer: While our approach to storywork may feel therapeutic at times, we are not licensed therapists. If you find yourself in need of additional support, please look for a therapist or mental health provider in your state.