Narrative Focused Trauma Care® Level III

The Allender Center is committed to developing therapists and leaders who can effectively apply the Narrative Focused Trauma Care® (NFTC) approach to effect change and foster healing for individuals and communities.

NFTC Level III is an advanced training for leaders exhibiting a unique aptitude for the Narrative Focused Trauma care approach. With an immersive and interactive monthly training format, Level III combines live teaching, interactive workshops and hands-on group facilitation practice under the care and supervision of an experienced Allender Center Lead Facilitator.

Thank you for your interest in this training. Applications for the 2025-26 cohort of Narrative Focused Trauma Care Level II will open in April 2025. Please join the Interest List below to be notified as soon as applications open!

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About NFTC Level III

We believe that engaging in narrative work within a group context offers a deeply powerful and transformative experience. Building on the healing foundation of NFTC Level I and the story facilitation practice of NFTC Level II, this advanced training empowers you to integrate narrative work into the transformative art of group facilitation.

You’ll participate in peer-led consultation groups, receive personalized one-on-one coaching from Allender Center Lead Facilitators, and join dynamic teaching sessions that equip you to lead your own Story Groups. These experiences provide valuable opportunities to sharpen your facilitation skills, gain practical feedback, and grow as a leader.

NFTC Level III is designed to not only strengthen your faciliation skills, but also expand your understanding of group dynamics—revealing how your story uniquely shapes the way you lead and connect with others

Key Takeaways

  • Develop advanced knowledge and deeper understanding of the Narrative Focused Trauma Care model
  • Learn to effectively utilize Narrative Focused Trauma Care in group settings
  • Begin to identify and skillfully respond to various dynamics; for example, the reenactment of story in group
  • Learn to engage and lead through relational rupture within a Story Group, and move toward repair to bring about restoration and healing
  • Develop your personal application of the methodology and hone in on your particular style of facilitation that is informed by your unique story
  • Gain the practical skills involved with starting and running a Story Group from beginning to end in your own context

Training Days

Each monthly training day focuses on a specific theme, and together we explore how to engage with it personally, how it informs our story work, and how it shows up in a Story Group setting. Past topics have included: using embodiment in group facilitation, unpacking our relational styles shaped by family-of-origin roles, examining group dynamics to see how our stories unfold in community, exploring the impact of shame on facilitation, and cultivating a strong inner core to engage conflict within groups.

Level III Training Dates & Cost

The Narrative Focused Trauma Care Level III program will take place online from 8:00 am – 4:00 pm PT on the following dates:

  • Orientation: August 28 (3-5 PM PT)
  • September 5th – 6th, 2025
  • October 3rd, 2025
  • November 7th, 2025
  • December 12th, 2025
  • January 9th, 2026
  • February 13th, 2026
  • March 13th, 2026
  • April 10th – 11th, 2026

Cost: The total program cost of NFTC Level III, which includes 80 seat hours of training, is $5,295. Complete details about the cost for each program, payment plans, and scholarship options are below.

Your Training Experience

Level III training includes a monthly meeting rhythm designed to help you break down, understand and apply the content, and increase competency of theory application as it applies to group work. Over the course of this training, you’ll receive a total of 80 hours of dedicated instruction, coaching, and consultation to support the development of your practitioner skills.

Hands-on Praxis

NFTC Level III Story Group sessions expand the focus from one-on-one engagements to group facilitation. Throughout Level III you will have the opportunity to practice your group leadership skills in three distinctly different settings: Your Level III Story Group sessions, your peer consult group, and through leading your own Capstone Project Story Group.

Teaching Sessions

We intentionally keep this cohort small, creating an optimal environment for interactive learning through large group discussions and breakout sessions. NFTC Level III provides condensed, focused teaching sessions that integrate extensive workshopping of NFTC core categories, story vignettes and live story engagements. Deep dives into specific topics will be offered by a variety of guest instructors in addition to the core teaching that is provided by the team of Lead Facilitators.

Monthly Coaching and Consulting

Between training sessions, you will participate in monthly Consult Groups with peers from your cohort. These gatherings offer meaningful opportunities to practice facilitation, receive Story Group consultation, and continue developing your skills with support and feedback from your fellow participants.

In addition to this, you will engage in two individual 50 minute consultation sessions with your Level III Lead Facilitator. The first session will focus on reviewing the facilitation practice you’ve had in the program up to that point, helping you gain deeper insight into your facilitation style as a group leader. The second session will involve reviewing a video recording of you leading your Capstone Project Story Group, offering individualized coaching from your seasoned Allender Center Lead Facilitator around the experience of leading your own group.

Capstone Project: Leading a Story Group in Your Own Context

To equip participants with the skills to facilitate story work in a group setting, each Level III participant will lead or co-lead a 7-8 week Story Group during the winter/spring of 2026. Ideally, these groups will be hosted within the participant’s own community and filled through personal outreach and recruitment. For those unable to establish a group in their context, the Allender Center may offer some support in filling a group.

The Allender Center will provide comprehensive resources, supervision, and guidance to help create an experience that reflects our facilitated Story Groups. As part of the Capstone Project, participants will have access to our To Be Told: Story Group Edition online course, which offers structured week-to-week material, including:

  • Psychoeducation and teachings from Dr. Dan Allender on trauma and story engagement
  • Downloadable resources and guides
  • Self-reflection exercises to deepen group participants’ learning between sessions

Additionally, Story Group peer consultation will be an integral component of the NFTC Level III training, providing a collaborative space for feedback, growth, and shared learning.

Eligibility to Become Certified in NFTC

Upon successful completion of the program, Level III Trained participants are eligible to apply to have their skills reviewed by our Certification Review Committee and become recognized as NFTC Certified. Read more about the value and process to become Certified in NFTC.

Benefits of Completing Level III

  • Documented completion of 80 seat hours for those seeking CEUs
  • Upon successful completion of the program, earn the designation of Level III Trained in Narrative Focused Trauma Care, with the option to apply to be recognized as NFTC Certified.
  • Become eligible for listing in the NFTC Directory as Level III Trained, or as NFTC Certified upon approval of your certification application.

FAQs and Virtual Learning Requirements

What kind of space do I need to attend online?
Choose a quiet, comfortable space in your home or other getaway location where you can participate without distractions. Be sure that you’ve secured childcare and/or time off work, if applicable. Your space should offer privacy for the duration of the training weekends, allowing you to fully engage in both teaching and Story Group sessions.

What technology do I need to participate?
A reliable computer with a high-speed internet connection, webcam, and microphone is required. Since all Story Groups and teaching sessions take place online, a stable internet connection with both video and audio capabilities is essential for full participation.

Is there an in-person option for Level III training?
NFTC Level III is currently only offered virtually.

What is the time commitment for consult groups?
Consult groups will convene monthly between the scheduled Friday training sessions. The recommended duration for these meetings is 60-90 minutes, depending on participants’ availability. During program orientation, participants will be assigned to consult groups of 4-7 people based on time zone compatibility and scheduling preferences.

Why is Level III on a monthly basis and different from Levels I and II?
Level III is designed intentionally to provide you with more frequent, consistent practice and engagement with the material to prepare you to lead your own Story Group.

 

Application Process

To be eligible to apply for our Narrative Focused Trauma Care Level III program, you must have completed the Allender Center’s Training in Narrative Focused Trauma Care Level II.

To apply, please create an account in our online application portal. In the application process, you’ll be asked to answer questions regarding your experience in leading groups and discuss your training experience from Level II. Additionally, you’ll need to record a video showing how you interpret and engage with a written story that will be provided in the application materials.    If we have any questions about your application, an admissions counselor may reach out to discuss your short answers.

A non-refundable $50 application fee is required to submit your application.

We accept a wide range of experiences and backgrounds and applicants do not need to have professional experience in a helping profession to be considered for this program. All applications will be reviewed thoughtfully to ensure readiness to enter the depth of this work. Priority is given to applicants who are willing to lead Story Groups.  Applicants will be notified of their admission status within 10 business days of application submission.

Costs

The total program cost for 80 seat hours of training at NFTC Level III is $5,295.

Upon acceptance to NFTC Level III, a non-refundable, non-transferable $500 deposit is required to initially reserve your seat. This deposit is applied toward your total program cost.

To fully secure your enrollment, you will be invited to set up a 6 Month or 10 Month Payment Plan to pay your remaining balance (the extended 10 Month option is only available for applicants who start their Payment Plan by July 31, 2025). If you would prefer to pay your balance in full instead of on a Payment Plan, please contact us at programs@theallendercenter.org for options. Limited partial scholarships are also available; see below.

Scholarships Are Available

We believe in the importance of this work and do our best to make this offering accessible. If the cost of the program is a barrier, we encourage you to invite your community to consider sponsoring you. We are also grateful to be able to offer a limited number of partial scholarships thanks to the generosity of our donor community.

We offer sliding scale scholarships ranging from $475-$1200 for NFTC Level III. Scholarships are typically awarded on a first-come, first-served basis at the time of application. However, if some initial award recipients do not officially enroll and use their scholarship, additional funds may become available on a rolling basis later in the year, though this cannot be guaranteed.

Instructions to apply for a scholarship using a self-reflection and self-assessment tool are provided through email when you submit your application. We prioritize support for applicants facing current financial constraints and/or systemic barriers that limit access to wealth and opportunities. If approved, you will be notified of your award amount along with your acceptance to the program.

If you are not initially awarded a scholarship but still choose to enroll at the standard fee, we trust this indicates you have found a way to cover the cost without scholarship assistance. As a result, we do not retroactively apply newly available scholarships to those who have already enrolled.

Cancellation, Payment, and Refund Policy

The Center understands that unforeseen circumstances may arise and wants to be clear about our financial policies regarding payments, cancellations, and refunds. This policy exists because your enrollment reserves a limited spot in our program, and cancellations close to the start date make it difficult for us to fill that space. We strive to steward our resources wisely, and withdrawals create financial challenges that impact our ability to operate and serve others effectively. We appreciate your understanding of the commitments required to sustain this program for all participants.

Once you receive your acceptance notice and choose to complete your enrollment, the following payment and refund policies go into effect:

  • The $500 enrollment deposit is non-refundable and non-transferable under all circumstances.
  • If you cancel or withdraw, any other Program fees may be refundable or still due, based on the following schedule. If an amount is still due, you are responsible for paying the amount through an existing payment plan or another payment method. The percentage refundable or still due is based on the total Program fees (excluding the deposit), not the amount paid to date:
    • More than 60 days before program start date: 100% refundable
    • 45–60 days before program start date: 75% refundable (25% is retained or still due if unpaid)
    • 30–44 days before program start date: 50% refundable (50% is retained or still due if unpaid)
    • Less than 30 days before program start date or anytime after start date: No refund (100% of Program fees retained or still due if unpaid)

If you choose to cancel or withdraw from the program, please promptly notify the Center in writing by sending an email to programs@theallendercenter.org.

Continuing Education Units

Participants in the Narrative Focused Trauma Care Level III program at the Allender Center receive a certificate of completion verifying 80 seat hours. Participants may apply for recognition of these hours for CEU credit with their respective licensing bodies. The Allender Center is housed within The Seattle School of Theology & Psychology. The Seattle School is accredited by the Commission on Accrediting of the Association of Theological Schools (ATS) and the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU), is authorized by the Washington Student Achievement Council, and meets the requirements and minimum educational standards established for degree-granting institutions under the Degree-Granting Institution Act.

The Allender Center at The Seattle School will not be held responsible for professional licensing boards or states that do not recognize the requested CEUs.

Scope & Limitations of NFTC

Narrative Focused Trauma Care is a theologically and psychologically-informed approach that integrates psychological perspectives within a Christian theological framework. NFTC incorporates research on trauma and attachment, as well as Christian biblical and archetypal frameworks, to understand the impact of trauma in relation to the self, God, and others. NFTC functions as a lens through which to understand personal and collective stories of trauma. It centers on the story engagement process, and NFTC training provides instruction that can help a trauma-informed individual offer a supported experience for exploring and understanding personal stories and their impacts. 

NFTC can be applied in various professional and vocational contexts. While licensed counselors may integrate NFTC into their practice, it is not a substitute for clinical mental health services and does not diagnose or treat mental health concerns. NFTC should not be regarded as counseling, psychotherapy, or any other clinical intervention. NFTC trained individuals who use NFTC in their professional, volunteer, or personal contexts are responsible for ensuring use of the training is in compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and licensing or educational requirements in their location.

Learn More About Narrative Focused Trauma Care®

The Narrative Focused Trauma Care® (NFTC) Model is an innovative methodology that integrates psychology and theology to holistically engage the heartbreaking impact of trauma and abuse with compassion and care. This model builds on the foundational, lifelong work of Dr. Dan Allender in the realm of trauma and abuse recovery and his deep conviction that healing is not only possible, but is core to the gospel story unfolding within and around us. Read more about NFTC here.

Questions about this training? We’d love to talk with you. Please reach out to programs@theallendercenter.org.