Care for the stories that shaped you.
wild
growing without being tended to
story
all of the experiences, remembered and unremembered, that have shaped who you are
There are parts of all of our stories that have gone unnoticed or untended to for a long time, but they still have a profound impact on the way we live and love today. They need and deserve care.
The Whole Story
Curt Thompson writes, “Shame wants to alter our stories by telling its own version…” When those messages take hold early, they can shape the way we see and relate to the world and ourselves without us even knowing it.
We can also learn to avoid emotions that feel too hard or uncomfortable. But doing our best to push them away does not make them go away. This is often what’s beneath many of the things we find ourselves trying to manage.
Here there is room for the whole story. The beauty and the brokenness. Love and hurt. Gratitude and anger. Both are true.
As we make room for all of what is true, rather than hiding or pushing parts of ourselves away, we can become more whole and more free.
This is a place to grow in caring for and honoring your story.
Faith And Story
My Christian faith shapes the way I understand this work. I believe the Bible is true. I also believe we need to tell the whole truth about our own stories.
God doesn’t need us to minimize pain, anger or hard questions to protect His goodness. We can be honest about what happened and remain in relationship with Him. I’ve come to understand this kind of honesty as worship. Worship in spirit and in truth.
God is the author of our stories, and He authors some pretty wild stories. Scripture is full of lives that take turns no one saw coming.
You don’t need to share my faith to work with me. If faith matters to you, there is room to bring all of it here.
I’m Ryan
It’s been an unexpected and wild journey that brought me to this place. From years underground building tunnels, to years as a full time at home dad and homeschool teacher to my two daughters, and eventually to training in Narrative Focused Trauma Care at the Allender Center.
I’d love to meet you and hear your story. I’d be honored to help you listen to the parts that still need care.
