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. You are invited to join the 8-week story group, Heal & Become, with Molly Crouch and Lisa Carnegis. *Our current group is closed. Please click on the button below to be the first to know about future groups.
What is a story group?
This is a narrative focused trauma care group for women like you, looking back to your earlier life scenes and exploring the ways your stories have shaped the way you experience yourself and others today. In this group, you will engage two formative stories 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
Apply and fill out an intake questionnaire to secure your spot. Determine where you fall within our tiered payment structure; your payment will complete your registration (payment plans available). You’ll be placed in a small group (no more than 6 participants) that meets virtually every other week. Participants will receive a guide on how to write your first story, as well as optional pre-group preparation materials (podcasts/articles).
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 and Molly will go first so you will have an example to follow. Over eight weeks, each group member will write and read two stories that took place between ages 4 - 18. 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 two art & poetry workshops. We will close our time with a blessingway for participants and additional resourcing for the way forward.
What’s the Cost?
We believe that cost should not be a deterrent to healing. Please see below for our tiered, pay-what-supports-you pricing model. Payment plans are also available at time of purchase with one, two and three month options.
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$100/session (total investment $800).
This is for the woman for whom basic needs are comfortably met, who has expendable income, and a job with salary and benefits (or works part-time or does not work outside the home by choice).
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$80/session (total investment of $640)
This is for the woman for which meeting basic needs causes stress though they are regularly attained. She has some debt but it does not prohibit attainment of basic needs, and has access to some savings.
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$60/session (total investment of $480)
This is for the woman who desires healing and support structures but is frequently stressed about meeting her basic needs. Her housing is unstable and she does not have access to savings. She cannot afford to take time off work without incurring financial burden.
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. I also host a bi-annual women’s retreat where guests are given a day of embodied pause. 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 through The Allender Center. I also offer content marketing services for counselors and other mental health professionals.
Applications are closed.
Applications are closed.
Our spring group is closed. Please click on the button below to be the first to know about future 2025 groups.
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 30-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 promise 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 eight weeks, though we ask you to try your very best. Cost will remain the same whether or not you attend all group sessions. We do ask that if you know you’ll miss more than two sessions, you would consider registering for a future group.
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We do. Within our tiered model, you can choose to pay up front, or over a 2- or 3-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.