Story Groups
A seven-week small group experience for people who want to engage one formative story in honest, compassionate community.
Rooted in Christian faith and shaped by the Narrative Focused Trauma Care approach of the Allender Center.
The Heart of Story Group
When we think about our story, it’s often the biggest moments that come to mind first. Yet, some of the quieter moments in our lives have more to show us than we might expect. They may not seem significant enough to write about, but they can open a window into the relationships that shaped us, the ways we learned to survive, the roles we took on, and what we still carry today.
Story Group offers the opportunity to slow down around one of those moments. Together, we become curious about what it holds, what it reveals, and what God may want to bring into the light. Often, what once seemed ordinary begins to make sense in a new way.
As we engage one another’s stories, we also practice a different way of being with one another. Rather than rushing toward advice, explanation, or solutions, we learn to slow down, remain present, and respond with empathy and care.
Over time, we discover that we are learning not only through the story we bring, but through the stories we are entrusted to witness.
What to Expect
You don’t need to arrive already knowing what story to bring. During our first gathering, I’ll introduce the story process, share one of my own stories as an example, and offer guidance for recognizing a particular moment you may want to explore. You’ll also receive a guide to help you choose and write your story.
Over the following weeks, participants take turns sharing their stories while learning to engage one another’s stories with presence, empathy, and care. I’ll facilitate each conversation, helping us slow down, remain curious, and stay attentive to the person sharing.
As the group unfolds, you’ll have two opportunities to share your story and many opportunities to learn through the stories of others.
Over the course of Story Group, you may begin to:
recognize how your story continues to shape the present
find language for experiences that have been difficult to name
engage your own story with greater curiosity and compassion
remain present with another person’s story without rushing to fix or explain
discover that honest, compassionate community can become a place of healing, growth, and hope
The Postures We Practice Together
Together we cultivate the conditions in which our stories can be named, witnessed, and met with care.
Awareness
Slowing down enough to notice what is happening within us and around us.
Naming
Finding words for what happened, what it came to mean, and what may be more fully true.
Receiving and extending care, returning to humility and repair when we miss one another.
Witness
Remaining with another person’s story without fixing, advising, or explaining away what is shared.
Curiosity
Remaining open to what the story may reveal before trying to explain it.
Investment
Groups meet weekly for seven two-hour gatherings and include four to six participants.
Story Groups are experienced as a complete seven-week journey. Because trust develops over time, participants are expected to attend each gathering.
The investment is $350.
Interested in Story Group?
Next Story Group offering is October 2026.
Expressing interest doesn’t commit you to joining a group. I’ll follow up with more information and next steps.
FAQs
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That’s more common than you might think. I remember signing up for my first Story Group wondering whether I even had a story to tell.
Many people begin Story Group assuming they’re looking for the biggest or most dramatic event in their lives. Yet the stories we engage often begin with quieter moments that reveal more than we expect.
During our first gathering, I’ll introduce the story process, share one of my own stories as an example, and offer guidance for choosing and writing yours. You don’t need to arrive with it already figured out.
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Story Groups focus on one specific event rather than your entire life story. Often, the stories we choose aren’t the ones we expected. What seems like an ordinary moment can reveal something meaningful about the relationships that shaped us, the ways we learned to survive, or what we still carry today.
Before we begin, you’ll receive a guide to help you recognize and choose a story. During our first gathering, I’ll also share examples and recommendations to help you get started.
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No. Story Group is a relational and formational experience where participants engage meaningful stories from their lives in the presence of others. These stories often include grief, disappointment, conflict, betrayal, or other painful experiences. Through reflection, honest conversation, and compassionate feedback, participants begin to recognize how their stories have shaped the ways they relate to themselves, God, and others.
Story Group is not therapy and is not a substitute for therapy or mental health treatment. If I don’t believe Story Group is the right setting for you at this time, I’ll tell you honestly.
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Story Group is rooted in a Christian understanding of people, story, and redemption, and the way I facilitate is shaped by that perspective. We’ll occasionally reference Scripture or Christian themes as they naturally arise, but Story Group isn’t a Bible study. The primary focus is learning to engage our stories and one another with honesty, curiosity, and care.
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Story Group is built on trust, and trust grows over time. Each person’s presence shapes the experience of the group, so regular attendance is an important part of the commitment.
If you already know you’ll need to miss more than one gathering, I’d encourage you to join a future group instead. If an unexpected conflict arises during the group, we’ll talk through it together.
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Joining the waitlist is simply the first step.
If we haven’t worked together before, we’ll usually schedule a brief 20-minute conversation, either after you join the waitlist or once a group begins to form. It’s an opportunity to get to know one another, answer questions, and discern together whether Story Group is the right fit.
Occasionally, we may decide that another season or another type of support would be a better next step before joining a group.
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If cost would keep you from participating, please don’t let that be the reason you don’t reach out. I reserve a limited number of complimentary and reduced-cost spaces for those who are committed to the process but unable to afford the full investment.
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I offer both women’s and co-ed Story Groups. When you express interest, you’ll have the opportunity to indicate the type of group you’re comfortable joining, and I’ll thoughtfully form groups with those preferences in mind.
No one will be placed in a co-ed group unless they’ve indicated they’re comfortable participating in one.
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Story Groups meet weekly for seven consecutive weeks and typically last about two hours.
Most groups will meet on weekday evenings or Saturday mornings. When you join the interest list, you’ll have the opportunity to share your availability, and I’ll do my best to form groups around schedules that work well for participants.