STORYWORK COLLECTIVE

The Vision

Inspired by the work of Curt Thompson’s Confessional Communities, Theological Horizons brings group storywork to UVA students. We offer a space on Grounds where students can lay down what they carry and experience the freedom of being deeply seen, heard, and welcomed through the sharing and receiving of personal stories. 

People often carry more than they say. The work of being known cannot be done alone. It requires a community that practices honesty, gentleness, courage, and curiosity across differences. Where shame tries to isolate and disintegrate us, The StoryWork Collective is a place where we embody presence, imagination, and repair, and discover a deeper sense of understanding with ourselves and one another. This community is for any student seeking a space to show up as they are.

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    • Create an environment where students feel seen, safe, and secure as they practice personal storytelling

    • Listen deeply and respond with presence and compassion

    • Practice honest vulnerability over time

    • Grow in our capacity to sit with and manage emotions

    • Navigate rupture and practice repair with courage and grace

    • Honor the presence of God while welcoming all thought practices and beliefs

  • A short-term community with 6–8 other students.

    • Groups meet once a week for 8 weeks in a private space.

    • Groups are intentionally small so that trust and presence can grow.

    • Time to tell your story.

    • A simple storytelling liturgy, where each person gets space to share their experiences and reflect in a supportive, nonjudgmental environment.

    Growth

    • Each week will begin with a very short teaching around an element of Interpersonal Neurobiology as we seek to understand how our minds and bodies hold our own and others’ stories.

    • As we move from “talking about things” to “being with one another,” we learn how to offer attuned, embodied responses. We use grounding practices, silence, reflection, and prayer in ways that welcome students of all beliefs and backgrounds.

    Being Known

    • Through guided reflections and resources, we learn to tell our stories more truthfully and receive others’ stories with respect and gentle curiosity.

    A Welcoming Space

    • You’re welcome here whether you are a Christian, an atheist, spiritually curious, questioning, or exploring practices from other traditions.

    • StoryWork Collective is meant to be a space where people finally feel seen, soothed, safe, and secure as they engage in the work of personal storytelling.

  • Confidentiality

    • Everything shared in the group stays in the group. This protects trust and honors each person’s story.

    Conduct

    • We keep the focus upon one another by silencing our phones and devices, putting them away for the 75 minute gatherings. 

    • We respect other’s opinions and thoughts even if they differ from our our own.

    • We come with an open mind. We don’t avoid tension or conflict but seek to move toward it with honesty and grace. Learning how to repair well becomes one of the most transformative parts of the journey.

    Commitment

    • Groups meet weekly for 75 minutes, beginning and ending on time.

    • Students commit to the group for 8 weeks, knowing that their presence is integral to their group’s composition and their absence alters the group structure.

    • More than one absence may require conversation to maintain group continuity.

    Construction

    • This is a pilot project of Theological Horizons so some things will be imperfect; that’s why we value your input as we learn, adapt and grow.

  • Members are expected to bring:

    • A willingness to sit with hard emotions and stay present

    • A posture of curiosity instead of criticism

    • A commitment to personal and communal flourishing

    • An absence of active self-harm intent or disintegrating addictions

    • A desire to participate fully in the StoryWork Collective process

  • StoryWork operates under the tenants of Interpersonal Neurobiology and a Christian Anthropology. Each week the leader will guide the group through a brief discussion of an element of IPNB that informs the work. Some examples include

    • Attunement

    • Implicit memory and integration

    • Bottom-up processing & SIFT-B

    • The power of rupture and repair

    • Embodiment and grounding

    • Neuroplasticity

      *We do not claim to be experts. We are continually learning and adapting as we consult with coaches at New Story Behavioral Health in Falls Church, VA.

What’s Next?

When do the meetings take place?

WE ARE NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR THE 2026 FALL SEMESTER.

There will be 2 cohorts in Fall 2026. Each will meet weekly, with the exception of holidays, for a total of 8 meetings. The meeting days and times will be determined by student availability before the semester begins.

Where do the meetings take place?

Cohorts will meet in-person in Theological Horizon’s private space near the Kindness Cafe on Rugby Road.

Participants are expected to attend each meeting in-person, with allowances for one to two virtual attendances if unavoidable (to count towards your “attended sessions”).

How do I apply?

Fill out the application linked below.

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