Center for Story and Spirit
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Frequently Asked Questions

(for the uncommonly curious visitor)

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What exactly do you do?
If I had a nickel for every time someone asked that after I give them some version of what's on the homepage. . .I'd have a ton of nickels.

On a concrete level, here's what I do:
  • For organizations I provide customized storytelling, mindful communication, public speaking, and resiliency / stress reduction workshops. While these may be one-off trainings, I prefer to foster ongoing relationships with the groups I work with.
  • For individuals, I offer Executive Coaching, Public Speaking and Story Coaching, and Energy Healing services. Again, while I do offer these on a one-off basis, my preference is to build ongoing relationships. This preference is reflected in my pricing.
  • For groups, I independently offer classes and workshops that include a monthly Breathwork Meditation and Sound Bath, a Men's Council, a four week Storytelling Class, and a 5 week Creative Healing Intensive. 

Regardless of the concrete offering, I strive to create spaces and experiences that invite us to be more fully human with ourselves, each other, and the world around us.
What's up with the word 'healing?'
Great question. And if you'd asked me even three years ago if I'd call myself a 'healer' or a provider of 'healing' services, I'd have rolled my eyes.

Last year, I presented at a conference for nonprofits, social impact organizations, and philanthropists. During a panel about how to improve the sector, the high octane language was flying: 'Emotional intelligence,' equity, inclusion, all of the buzz words.

Finally, one of the panelists, a woman in her 60s, simply said, very directly: 'We need healing. As individuals, as organizations, and as a sector. We need to remember who we are and how to be human with each other so we can be of greater service through our work.'

I found myself nodding vigorously. I'd been dancing around the word for a couple of years, caught up in its new agey connotations. 

Ultimately, the woman at the conference (whom I thanked profusely afterwards), put it perfectly. I use the word 'healing' to describe my work because it's the most accurate word I've found. It's also what so many of us need, as individuals, as organizations, and as communities.

We need to come back into alignment with who we are.
We need to remember how to listen to ourselves and each other.
We need to remember our connections to each other and with the greater world.

We need to heal. 

We can use all sorts of other, technical language to describe that need. . .but, at base level, I see it all as healing.
Exactly how woo-woo are you?
Oh, I'm capable of extreme woo-wooness, don't you worry.

I've found, however, that it's much more useful to meet people where they are than to impress you with talk of chakras and energetic leaks. My background includes time as a professional actor and storyteller, a financial management consultant, director of fundraising, start up account manager, and breathwork and energy healer. This less than linear path has helped me build a capacity for shapeshifting a bit to meet the needs of the people I work with.

If you're more comfortable with spreadsheets than crystals, that's great. I'm in no way wedded to a single approach, vocabulary, or way of working. 

My goal is always to help you (and your organization) identify and articulate your needs and then move towards meeting them. My job is to support that process and offer interesting and useful tools, ideas, and perspectives along the way. 
  • Home
  • About
    • Michael's Story
    • Clients + Testimonials
    • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Offerings
    • Covid Response
    • Organizational Training
    • One-On-One Work
    • Facilitation
    • Speaking
  • Resources
    • Blog
    • E-Books + Downloads
    • Guided Meditations
  • Events
  • Contact