In our experience, many practitioners don’t get this kind of clarity until something goes sideways—confusion about scope, a blurred relationship, a client crisis. This training helps you build the foundation first, so you can practice with peace and integrity.
What is Storywork?
Storywork is a story-informed approach to coaching and soul care that helps people connect present patterns to the stories underneath.
We don’t see the world as it is; we see it through the meaning, memories, and stories we’ve inherited. Storywork provides the tools to externalize these narratives, allowing clients to view their life like a manuscript. Once they can see the story, they can finally begin to edit it.
Start The Free Ethics Training
Before you do Storywork with anyone… start here.
- Know your lane. Clear language for what Storywork coaching is (and isn’t), and how it differs from therapy.
- Protect your clients—and yourself. A grounded framework for consent, confidentiality, and the wise use of power.
- Stop guessing in the gray zones. Boundaries for church/ministry overlap, online contact, dual relationships, and group settings.
- Recognize when to refer. How to spot when someone needs licensed clinical care—and how to do that well.
- Build on solid ground. Ethical foundations you can carry into your sessions, your marketing, and your practice.
This training is for you if:
You’re curious about Storywork and want to explore it ethically from the beginning.
You’re a new or emerging Storywork coach, trying to name what you do and where your limits are.
You’re a Christian coach, spiritual director, pastor, or lay leader who already sits with deep stories and want to make sure you’re not unintentionally crossing lines.
You’re a therapist curious about offering non-clinical Storywork in church or coaching contexts and want clarity on how to describe it.
What you’ll learn in Modules 1 & 2
In two short modules, you’ll get a clear, story-informed foundation for practicing ethically in non-clinical Storywork.
Foundations of Ethical Storywork Coaching
▶︎ Learn the purpose and heart of ethical Storywork Coaching.
▶︎ You'll learn how Storywork differs from therapy, why clarity protects both coach and client, and how ethical presence creates safety.
Informed Consent, Scope, & Limits
▶︎ Learn how to communicate the scope, limits, and nature of Storywork.
▶︎ Clear informed consent helps clients understand what you offer — and what you don’t — preventing confusion and protecting you legally and ethically.
This is not a list of rules to memorize; it’s a story-informed framework for walking ethically with real people.
This free training gives you the foundation. If you want guided application, community support, and live supervision on applying ethical Storywork in practice, the Storywork Coaching Collective includes the full course plus ongoing coaching and community.
Get Free Access To Modules 1 & 2“I just want to help” isn’t enough.
Most Storywork Coaches don’t set out to harm. But without an ethical framework, it’s easy to:
Overstep your training because you weren't clear with yourself or your client.
Blur lines in various contexts where you wear multiple hats or haven't thought through ethical boundaries.
Risk doing harm or incur legal action when helping exceeded your scope.
Lead clients to believe you are doing counseling or therapy.
Ethical clarity doesn’t threaten your calling. It protects it.
The founders of ReStory Counseling and The ReStory Institute have spent years integrating theology, psychology, and neurobiology in story-focused care.
If you’re going to step into the wild west of story-shaped coaching and soul care, we’d be honored to help you do it on solid ground.
- We train storywork coaches, therapists, pastors, and spiritual directors to engage stories with depth, humility, and courage.
- Our team at ReStory includes licensed therapists and seasoned Storywork practitioners who understand both clinical and non-clinical contexts.
- The Storywork Coach Code of Ethics was developed specifically for this emerging field, out of a desire to protect clients, practitioners, and the sacredness of story. The full course is a part of The Storywork Coaching Collective.
