Story Workshop for Spiritual Abuse & Healing
May 1-3, 2026
Registration is now open! Offered in a live, interactive, online format, the Story Workshop for Spiritual Abuse & Healing is accessible from the comfort of your own home. Scholarships are available at registration, plus save your spot—and save $100—when you register by January 30, 2026.
A Weekend to Engage Your Story in Community
Has your experience with spiritual abuse left you feeling disoriented or disconnected—from God, yourself, or others?
Spiritual abuse distorts the image of God within us, often leading to shame, fear, and mistrust. It can sever our connection to our bodies, silence our voices, and fracture our relationships with others.
But healing is possible. It’s time to reclaim your story, restore what’s been lost, and move forward with renewed hope and purpose.
At the Allender Center, we believe that your story—every part—is sacred. And that healing deepens when your story is not only understood, but shared, witnessed, and engaged in the presence of others. That’s why we created the Story Workshop for Spiritual Abuse & Healing.
What is Spiritual Abuse?
Spiritual abuse is always a distortion and exploitation of God’s power and authority used to manipulate, control, or harm others’ bodies, personhood, relationships, and/or autonomy through shame and fear. At its core, spiritual abuse is a misuse of power, implied or explicitly named as authorized by God, and can happen in any relationship or community where trust is exploited.
Spiritual abuse is more than a psychological struggle; it’s a deeply embodied experience that leaves us disconnected from our desires, our internal compass, and even our own bodies. Whether it was inflicted by a person in authority, such as a pastor, thought leader, or parent, or by a trusted peer or group, the damage is undeniable. Trust becomes elusive, and you may feel unable to connect with others or even trust yourself. This insidious abuse can occur in various settings, from childhood homes to supposedly safe institutions like campus ministries, churches, or trusted relationships.
There’s a lot of heartache. There’s a lot of confusion in our bodies. In spiritually abusive contexts, oftentimes the ways in which your messiness is actually reflecting where you need healing and hope gets only re-coded as sin or moral failure: a lack of faith, a lack of hope, a lack of love.” -Rachael Clinton Chen
About the Story Workshop for Spiritual Abuse & Healing
The Story Workshop for Spiritual Abuse & Healing is designed for individuals who have encountered spiritual harm or abuse, whether it happened in the confines of their home, church, ministry, school, or within a personal relationship. It may have been a single incident or an ongoing experience that has left a lasting impact.
The 3-day Story Workshop for Spiritual Abuse & Healing is an immersive, online experience that combines live teaching from Rachael Clinton Chen and the Allender Center team with powerful small group sessions facilitated by our Narrative Focused Trauma Care® (NFTC) Facilitation team.
It’s a space where the work moves from your head to your heart—where what you’ve known intellectually begins to be felt, grieved, and integrated. In the sacred rhythm of this weekend, you’ll experience the transformational impact of:
- Being truly heard in your story
- Engaging your story alongside others who are doing the same
- Receiving wisdom and care from skilled Facilitators who are Certified in NFTC
- Learning how trauma shapes your life—and how healing begins
Offered in a live, interactive, online format, the Story Workshop for Spiritual Abuse & Healing is accessible from the comfort of your own home.
This isn’t just more content. It’s a turning point. A weekend that gives you space to breathe, reflect, and enter your story with courage, compassion, and clarity.
It’s hard to trust community and connection if you don’t trust yourself. And this is where I do think the spirit is very generous and very gracious and will rise to the occasion to help us, to do some of that laboring work on our behalf. And so I think it’s actually a pretty profound leap of faith.” -Rachael Clinton Chen
How to Prepare for the Story Workshop for Spiritual Abuse & Healing
Prior to attending, you will be asked to consider an aspect of your own story that connects you to the deeper categories of trauma or harm as it relates to your spirituality. This story may be from your childhood through early adult life and may relate to your family of origin, church context, youth group or campus ministry, or any other part of your life as it relates to your spiritual journey or experience of spiritual authority. You will be invited to write and bring that story to read in a small group setting. Sharing these stories in a safe, kind space held by a facilitator is part of what takes this work from the head to the heart. More information and guidance on writing your story will be provided after registration.
We know that choosing a story can feel overwhelming, but you don’t have to do it alone. We’ve put together some helpful guidelines to follow as you consider which story you might like to bring. Click below to request this free resource!
Why now? Why this workshop?
The past does not have to continue to define your future. This Story Workshop can help you grieve what may need to be left behind and step into more joy and goodness as you heal your mind, body, and spirit. And when you journey into your story with the support of others, you can begin to break free from fear and shame and embrace the transformative power of your story.
Whether you’re new to story work or returning to go deeper, this is your opportunity to slow down, engage deeply, and step into a more whole and integrated version of yourself. You’ll leave the weekend with new insights, fresh healing, and practical tools to continue your journey with greater clarity and compassion.
Join us for the Story Workshop for Spiritual Abuse & Healing and make this weekend the turning point in your story.
Planning for the Weekend
This is a virtual experience, and all teaching and small groups will be held live via Zoom. An in-person option is not available for this Story Workshop at this time. Prepare for your weekend with the information below!
Costs & Payment Plans
The total cost of this online workshop is $949, with a special Early Registration rate of $849 when you register by Friday, January 30, 2026. The fee completely covers the costs of this 3-day intensive workshop.
We believe in the importance of this work and are committed to making this offering accessible. That’s why we offer scholarship pricing for this Story Workshop, allowing you to choose the option that best fits your financial situation. If the full registration cost would place an undue strain on you or your household, you are welcome to select the discounted scholarship rate of $549 (Early Registration rate) $649 (regular registration after January 30, 2026). We trust you to use your discretion when choosing the ticket level that works for you. Scholarship funds are limited and are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
You can pay the total workshop fee in full at the time of registration, or set up a 3 Month Payment Plan to pay over time through equal installments.
Continuing Education Units (CEUs) for 23 seat hours are also available for an additional fee. Contact us at programs@theseattleschool.edu for more information on cost and obtaining the CEUs.
Registration is open through April 9, 2026, or until all spots are filled.
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 workshop is a barrier, we encourage you to invite your community to consider sponsoring you. We are also grateful for the capacity to offer a limited number of scholarships.
We offer partial scholarships in the amount of $300 off the total cost of the Story Workshop for Spiritual Abuse & Healing. Scholarships are reserved for participants facing current financial constraints and/or systemic barriers that limit access to wealth and opportunities.
To determine your eligibility for one of our need-based scholarships:
- Please refer to this Green Bottle Sliding Scale graphic designed by Alexis J. Cunningfolk.
- If you identify most with the “Quarter-Full Bottle” category of the scale: You are eligible for a $300 scholarship. Please select the Scholarship Registration amount. With the Early Registration discount of $100 (for those who register by January 30), you’ll save a combined total of $400 off the total workshop cost.
- If you identify most with the “Full Bottle” or “Half-Full Bottle” category on the scale, we ask that you not select a scholarship for the program. Please select the Standard Registration amount.
- Registering during the Early Bird period (by January 30) will still save you $100 off the total workshop cost at either the standard registration or scholarship registration amount.
Scholarships are available on a first-come, first-served basis until all scholarship funds are used. However, if a scholarship recipient registers but then later cancels their participation, additional scholarships may become available on a rolling basis, though this cannot be guaranteed. We do not retroactively apply newly available scholarships to those who have already registered.
We are able to offer these scholarships due to the generosity of our donor community. If you have been impacted by the work of the Allender Center, we would be honored to receive your gift. Visit our Giving page to learn more.
Cancellation, Payment, and Refund Policy
The Center understands that unforeseen circumstances may arise and wants to be clear about our financial policy. This policy exists because your registration 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 cancellations 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 register for this event, the following payment and refund policies go into effect:
If you cancel your registration, event 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 event fee, not the amount paid to date, and any retained fees are non-transferable:
- More than 60 days before program start date: 100% refundable (minus a $100 cancellation fee)
- 45–60 days before program start date: 50% refundable (50% is retained or still due if unpaid)
- Less than 45 days before program start date or anytime after start date: No refund (100% of fees retained or still due if unpaid)
If you choose to cancel your registration, please promptly notify the Center in writing by sending an email to programs@theallendercenter.org.
Covenant and Release of Claims
Your participation in the Program is conditioned on your agreeing to the terms of the Covenant and Release of Claims, which is available for you to view here.
Disclaimer
Story Workshop is a unique psycho-educational experience that involves intensive exploration of your own story and the stories of others as it relates to narratives of heartache and trauma. The sessions are designed to encourage participants to engage their story in a holistic way by exploring psychological, spiritual, biological, and social aspects of the experience of various forms of trauma. Please note, this program is not therapy and does not act as a substitute for therapeutic engagement.
