Rewriting the Story: What Happens When Healers Are Held
When we first envisioned the Rewriting the Story workshop, our goal was to create a space where women could explore the stories they’ve been told and the ones they’ve internalized—about who they are, what they carry, and what is possible. What we witnessed on the day of the event went far beyond what I imagined. It was a powerful reminder that healing spaces for helpers and healers are not just important, they are essential.
A Circle of Strangers, A Community by the End
From the moment the women entered the room, there was a quiet openness. Many came in not knowing what to expect. Most didn’t know each other. Yet, as we moved through the women’s circle, reflection prompts, and the workbook we created, something shifted. It was subtle at first—longer eye contact, deeper breaths, and thoughtful nods. Then, voices began to rise, stories were shared, and a sense of solidarity emerged.
What struck me most was how common the themes were. The overwhelming majority of participants were in helping fields: therapists, educators, lawyers. And woven into nearly every story were the same threads—self-sacrifice, guilt, burnout, and the pressure to keep it all together. There was a quiet ache beneath many of the narratives, a sense of, “I’ve been holding so much for so long.”
But there was also a resilience, a spark, a desire to reframe those stories into something more aligned, more grounded in truth and care.
Witnessing Transformation
By the end of the workshop, the room felt different. Women who had been strangers were offering each other affirmation, validation, and support. The stories were no longer hidden or held in isolation—they had been witnessed. There was laughter. There were tears. And most importantly, there was a collective exhale.
It reminded me just how necessary these kinds of spaces are for those of us who serve others. We are so often trained to hold space, to be the calm in the storm, to listen and lead and give. But when do we get to be held? When do we get to say, “I’m struggling too,” and not feel like we’ve failed?
Healing doesn’t happen in isolation. And for those of us who are constantly pouring into others, we need spaces to refill.
Collaboration as Medicine
I also want to take a moment to highlight the deep gratitude I have for my co-facilitator, Dr. Sarah Baquet of Candor Mental Health PLLC. From the first planning session, Sarah brought such clarity, care, and grounded wisdom to the process. She made space for me to show up fully and reminded me that collaboration can be healing in itself.
There was a moment during the workshop when I felt my anxiety spike out of nowhere. As someone who often takes on the role of being steady for others, it caught me off guard. Sarah noticed without skipping a beat. With just a subtle check-in, she asked if I was okay to take the next section or if she should step in. By then I had grounded myself, but that small gesture stayed with me. It reminded me that support doesn’t have to be loud to be powerful.
Working with Sarah was a beautiful reflection of what co-leadership can look like—mutual care, aligned values, and the belief that there is room for all of us to thrive.
A Reminder for the Healers
This workshop reinforced what I already know deep down: healers need healing too. We carry so much—our own stories, our clients’ stories, and the generational stories that live in our bones. It is easy to forget that we are allowed to rest, to receive, to reimagine.
If you’re someone who is always the go-to person, the one who holds it down for everyone else, I want you to know you’re not alone. And you don’t have to navigate it alone either.
Ready to Reclaim Your Energy?
If this resonates with you, I invite you to explore the digital product offerings I’ve designed for high-achieving helpers and healers who are ready to continue their healing journey.
You deserve the same support, care, and transformation that you so freely offer to others.