A year after I told my family about the sexual abuse I’d lived with since I was very young, my mother saw a psychologist on TV that happened to practice locally. The woman was an expert in helping adult survivors of childhood abuse.

Nervous, with no idea what to expect, I drove to the small building. The office was comfortable, and dimly lit. She sat in a soft chair across from my seat on the sofa. After quick introductions and “how are yous”, she said, “So, why are you here today?”

..

This was years before I could talk about my childhood, let alone with someone I didn’t even remotely know. So, I told her what happened… but not the details of it. Instead, I focused on the effects of the abuse—how I was losing my family because of it, how I struggled to feel safe. I do not remember her asking any questions: she mainly just listened.

At the end, I asked her about scheduling another appointment… and she told me she didn’t think I was ready. Don’t think I was ready for therapy?

I had just poured a lot of emotional details out. I did not know how to speak of the details of the abuse. I hadn’t even come to terms with using the word “rape” yet. But I was there. I had come to her office seeking help. I was very vulnerable and what I heard was “you’re not helpable” – “you’re broken” wrapped in pretty language.

I did not go back to her or to anyone else. Instead, I dived headlong into advocacy, into writing, into working hard to earn all the certifications I could – simply because I was trying to “help” myself since a psychologist didn’t think I really wanted help.

…

In the intervening years, I’ve come a really, really long way. Certifications as a trauma informed coach, years spent volunteering with the Rape & Incest National Network (RAINN) as a hotline specialist, serving as a Guardian ad Litem, giving speeches as a survivor speaker, designing and hosting workshops designed for survivors-so many avenues where I deliberately pushed myself further and further, redefining what “survivor” and “healed” meant for me. I’ve walked through every open door with curiosity and an optimistic spirit.

And I’ve seen realignment, and healing, come from a very unique path: mine.

The Storynlight Circle is an open door inviting you in. It’s built on compassion. It’s trauma-informed. Mostly, it’s personalized coaching designed to meet you where you are, to help you define your next steps while helping you identify and understand old patterns that no longer serve you. It’s recognizing nervous system states and how to regulate when life … lifes.

WHAT DOES A SESSION LOOK LIKE?

Embarking on… well, any … new road comes with a lot of emotions. Being invited into someone’s interior world is a privilege and something I care deeply about. I welcome and and all ages and, while most are survivors of trauma, some simply want a safe space to unload each week. While some want to focus more on CBT-inspired goal setting and gentle accountability, some are actively processing trauma. For a few, our sessions are rooted in everyday stresses-juggling work + family, relationship pressures, or unfulfilled ambitions. For others, sessions are emotional deep dives into trauma territory and re-writing scripts. All matter. All are equally important.

Logistically, sessions can be virtual or in person, weekly or biweekly, and are typically 60 minutes in length.

Sessions are very flexible. We are companions, walking side-by-side. This means that you are in control of what we talk about, of how “deep” we go, and of which tools we learn and incorporate. For many, sessions start with a grounding exercise – this helps resource us and it helps intentionally shift our nervous system to our time together instead of whatever we just came from. From there, the hour is spent talking about whatever you’d like to talk about.

My role is to notice patterns and scripts, bring those into awareness, and spark curiosity around other belief systems that might be more helpful to your current goals.

Forward intention is also helpful for some. Another way of saying that is goal setting, gentle accountability that motivates you and brainstorming ways to clear roadblocks.

In short, sessions look different for each person. But the purpose of all is to help you see your own story through a compassionate, trauma-informed lens so that you control which doors you walk through.

WHAT SESSIONS ARE NOT

We don’t label behaviors or diagnose anything. We don’t define your story—you are the only expert of your experiences. We don’t dig for buried memories, but we are aware of whatever comes up.

I AM NOT A SURVIVOR OF ABUSE.

But you are a survivor of 100% of your worst days. You are a survivor of pain, of grief, of loss, of heartbreak, of disappointment. You are a survivor of life. We do not compare pain, and your story matters here.

I DONT LIVE IN THE U.S.

Many Storynlight Circle Members and Storytimers do not live in the US. I am happy to accommodate time differences.

WHAT IS THE COST?

Please take a look at the The Circle | Investment in Your Story page for more details concerning pricing. Also note: first Discovery Session is free and if you need alternative pricing, I’ve developed a shared-care model. Just ask.

WHAT WORKSHOPS ARE INCLUDED?

HERO and ashRISE – these workshops, especially ashRISE have been very helpful for others. Leadrmag has featured it.

WHY YOU?

Who you work with is a personal choice and how credentialed or experienced someone is does not always matter. That being said, I genuinely care… and have over been supporting survivors for 17 years. I am certified by two different entities as a trauma-informed coach which includes over 400 hours of training, practicums, and case studies, I serve as a Guardian ad Litem for children in dependent care which is a role that requires annual training, I serve as a survivor speaker, hotline specialist and volunteer liaison for RAINN for 17 years-this role requires extensive training and supervision, I am a certified medical accompaniment person, I serve on the board of a nonprofit (ANA’s Friends) that helps foster kids, I’ve developed and led multiple trauma informed workshops, and I have written 15 books including many on trauma. I’ve dedicated my life to walking with survivors and I pour my heart and soul into doing exactly that.

Beyond all that, I am a survivor of rape. I understand trauma, defense strategies, and living in a state of constant fear on an intimate level. Truly, you are not alone.

HOW CAN I LEARN MORE / SCHEDULE A DISCOVERY SESSION

I would start here and explore the pages detailing more about the circle. You can read more and schedule a time here (page works best on laptop/desktop) — or you can simply use the form here – just send “Discover” and I’ll reach out to you!

We are officially writing a new year: 2026 now.

For many of us, calendar firsts are like small shots of dopamine. Whether it be the first day of a new week, a new month, or a new year, for some, it feels like an opportunity to reset, to reflect on what we’ve survived, what we’re in the middle of, and what we are hopeful for. But this is not true for everyone. For some, calendar firsts are exhausting because it feels like life is a series of crisis that snowball into one another, leaving us unable to breathe.

One of my Storynlight Circle companions struggles with feelings of hopelessness that stem from recent trauma. We’ve worked together now for eight months. Early on, I asked, “When I say the word tomorrow, does it feel like a promise or does it feel like a threat?” The answer was “definitely a threat.”

Sometimes, I promise survivors who call the RAINN hotline, “Tomorrow may feel like a threat, but what if it’s a promise instead?” Most of the time, the question opens the door to curiosity: what is a promise? What kind of promise would help mute the current threat?

Even for those who aren’t experiencing or processing trauma right now, the pressure of trying to “do better” and “be happier” and “make it a good year” can be overwhelming. How are we really supposed to make the kind of big changes most of us dream about without support and reframing of past experiences? As exciting as living a new reality may seem, couldn’t it also be mentally exhausting even just to know where to begin? And if you’re processing or actively experiencing trauma–couldn’t it feel mind-numbingly terrifying, and isolating, to think you had to wake up to everyone’s optimism and mask, pretend you felt the same?

Know Storynlight Circle is a safe space for you to vocalize any or all of that, to unload the weight and truly know: you do not walk alone. Your voice matters here. If you’re curious, or have more questions, or just want someone to hear you, please…. Let’s chat.