Stories have always been my teachers. They've carried me through moves across continents, through becoming a mother in a foreign country, and through all the quiet moments when I've had to rebuild who I thought I was.
What I've learned is this: having someone really listen to your story—not to fix it or judge it, but to help you see what's already there—can change everything.
So, this is the beginning of The Narrative Trade Circle.
Here's the deal:
You share a story with me. Any story from your life—a turning point, something that's been sitting with you, a moment that shifted something inside you.
In return, I set aside a full hour of my time as a narrative coach with you. We'll sit together (virtually) and explore your story. What patterns do you see? What's it telling you about who you are now? Where might it be pointing you next?
No preparation needed. No perfect storytelling required. Just you and whatever story wants to be told.
Why am I doing this?
Because I believe our stories matter—even the messy ones, especially the buried ones. And sometimes we need another person to help us see what our own experiences are trying to teach us.
I also know that sharing stories can feel scary. Maybe you're thinking your story isn't interesting enough, or it's too painful, or what's the point of digging up the past anyway?
Here's what I've learned: the stories we hesitate to tell are often the ones we most need to explore. Not because we need to fix anything, but because when we give voice to our experiences, we often discover wisdom we didn't know we had.
How it works:
Share your story - Submit 200-500 words (or a 2-5 minute voice recording) through a simple form
Book your session - You'll get a link to schedule a 60-minute conversation with me
Explore together - We'll look at your story from different angles, find the threads that matter
Take it with you - After our session, I'll send you a summary of what we discovered together
If you're comfortable with it, I might ask to include an anonymous piece of your story in a collection I'm building. But that's completely up to you.
Not sure what story to share?
Sometimes the "right" story is obvious. Sometimes it's not. Here are some gentle ways to think about it:
What's a moment when someone was unexpectedly kind to you?
Tell me about a time when something ended before you were ready
What's a conversation that's stuck with you?
When did you choose a path that surprised people (maybe even yourself)?
What's something that happened years ago that you're still trying to make sense of?
Share about a dream that isn't unfolding the way you hoped
What's a story about grief, loss, or deep disappointment?
When did you feel completely free and joyful?
Really, any story that feels alive for you right now. Trust that instinct.
A story from me:
I was working late one day, racing against time to pick up my son from preschool. My husband was overseas for work, so it was just me juggling everything. I was stressed, feeling guilty, and frantically messaging the teachers that I'd be late.
Then a friend who was also picking up his daughter texted: "I got your son. I'll drop him at your place."
I was still in my meeting when I read it, but I nearly cried. Not because I was grateful (though I was), but because I realised how hard it had become for me to accept help. I'd gotten so used to handling everything myself that when someone stepped in, it almost felt foreign.
Looking back, that moment showed me how tightly I'd been gripping control in every area of my life. My story about being self-reliant was both my strength and my cage. Sometimes the smallest gestures crack open the biggest realisations.
What you can expect from our session:
Space to talk through your story without judgment
Questions that help you see familiar experiences in new ways
Recognition of patterns you might not have noticed
Language for things that have been hard to name
A clearer sense of how this story connects to who you're becoming
A few important things:
Your privacy matters. Nothing gets shared without your explicit permission, and anything that is shared will be completely anonymous.
This isn't therapy. I'm not trying to fix anything or dig into trauma. We're simply exploring what your story might be teaching you.
No story is too small. Sometimes the most ordinary moments hold the deepest insights.
When and how:
I open The Narrative Trade Circle every few months and work with up to 8 people each time. This ensures I can give proper attention to each story and each person.
To join, simply fill out a brief form where you can share your story and what drew you to this exchange.
The next circle will open in October 2025.
Ready to trade?
You don't need to have it all figured out. You don't need to be a good storyteller. You just need to be willing to share something real.
If you're reading this and feeling a little tug, like maybe you have a story that wants to be heard, that's probably your answer.
The Narrative Trade Circle is my way of honouring the stories that shape us. In a world that often rushes past our experiences, this is an invitation to pause, to be witnessed, and to discover what you already know.