is this therapy?

No, not in the clinical sense. There are certainly similarities, however. The processes we use in Becoming Restoried often feel therapeutic to those that engage them. We focus on understanding the richness of the stories of our lives in order to hold ourselves with more compassion and affection. And while we are all highly trained and seasoned facilitators, we are not licensed psychologists or counselors.

can you heal my trauma?

We are not able to treat your trauma in any clinical sense. We cannot medically diagnose anything or do therapeutic interventions to heal trauma. That being said, you are actually the one that can heal your trauma. Our process is able to support you in clearing away barriers your pain has set up to block your healing and growth. We will guide you toward clarity, the release of old stories that no longer serve you, and the power of learning how to reconcile yourself to yourself.

What happens if I get triggered?

Firstly, if your hope in the intensive is to explore painful parts of your story, then you should anticipate that this pain will be activated and present. And this is good and important! We can’t heal what we can’t feel. That being said, since we aren’t therapists, we highly recommend you have a session booked with a therapist within 1-3 days of the intensive. It’s also worth noting that the term “trauma trigger” has become overused and therefore misused. Too often, this phrase now refers to any past pain feeling activated in a moment. And the problem with this is that, in calling it a “trauma trigger,” we are discouraging each other from ever activating our pain. But again, we cannot heal what we cannot feel. There is something incredibly powerful in activating our pain within a supportive container so that we can process it and repurpose it.

What do I need to bring?

Pretty much anything you want to have with you for a retreat. Whatever kind of experience you’re wanting to have, bring along whatever you’ll need for that. In terms of food, you are welcome to bring groceries and cook your own meals if you like. Or you can just bring snacks and plan to eat out, or order in. Entirely up to you.

Can I have my phone with me?

Definitely bring your phone with you. That being said, we encourage you to make any necessary arrangements so that you can feel free and able to disconnect from your tech devices as much as possible. An intensive is meant to give you the chance to dive deep into your story. Ideally, you’ll avoid anything that can distract you from that. During the day sessions, we’ll invite you to put your phone away and be fully present with your coach and yourself. For the evenings, your coach may suggest some “homework.” That should be the focus if so. And even if you choose not to do homework, we would still recommend not scrolling on your phone, doing work on your computer, or streaming television. Don’t cheat yourself of the full experience available to you.

Will this be fun, or just intense?

It can be all of it. In any intense process, there is a warm-up, a deep dive, and then a cool-down. Recovery is crucial to these kinds of processes. We will need to take breaks. And we can have fun during those breaks! We can also do walking sessions or be outdoors at times. Remember - laughter can be just as cathartic a release as tears.

HOw do I decide what my goals should be?

Ask yourself, “Why did I sign up for an intensive? What drew me to it? How did I think I’d benefit?” Write down what emerges from these questions. Then ask yourself, “What would need to happen for me to experience this? What would success look like? What needs to happen for me to say that this was worth the time, emotional energy, and financial investment?”