Course Description
Growing up within a family system has profound formative influence on our sense of identity, capacity for relationship, and feeling of safety and freedom in the world. Even in the most well-intentioned homes there are places where an emotional need was missed or a situation handled poorly. These leave a lasting mark that influences our sense of our own goodness, moves us toward self-protection, and impacts how harm or heartache may be internalized. As adults these realms are so interwoven into our identity that we rarely see the true impact, and naming stories in which our families have failed us is so tender that addressing them often evokes fear, defensiveness, and dissociation.
Family of Origin is a robust, deep dive five-lesson course that will equip you to recognize and address core categories for engaging family of origin stories. Sit around the table with author and psychologist Dr. Dan Allender and gifted story experts, Cathy Loerzel and Rachael Clinton as they offer thoughtful teaching on what is required to see and draw out the nuances of a story in order to move the storyteller toward discovery, honesty, grief, and lasting change.
Throughout this course you will be invited to:
- Deepen your capacity to recognize key details within stories in order to address the most core matters of the heart
- Witness Dan engage in artful, sacred story work with a woman wrestling through a past experience of harm from her family of origin narrative
- Apply what you are learning through exercises designed to illuminate the essential steps of offering effective care utilizing the Allender Theory
Who is this Course For?
This course is for people with a heart for vulnerability, healing, and freedom. Whether you are a counselor, pastor, teacher, small group leader, friend, or parent — you will develop and deepen the wisdom required to access not only the core of a story, but the core of the person telling it.
What’s Included in the Course
- 5 hours of video teaching from Dr. Dan Allender, Cathy Loerzel, and Rachael Clinton
- 5 deep dive lessons addressing engaging core categories for engaging family of origin stories
- Downloadable workbook with exercises and reflection prompts to deepen your understanding and application of the content
- Lifetime access to course platform and material
Access the Complete Story Sage Series
Family of Origin is Course 2 in the Story Sage Series. Frameworks & Tools is Course 1, which includes foundational material and is a required prerequisite for the Family of Origin course. Own both Frameworks & Tools and Family of Origin by purchasing the entire Story Sage Series: Access the Bundle and Save $29
How this Self-Paced Course Works
This is a self-directed course, with lifetime access to the material. All content is available immediately upon enrollment to view at a pace that fits your schedule. Plan for a minimum of 2 hours to complete each lesson — in one sitting or spread out over several days — to provide optimum space and time to absorb and engage the content.
Interested in a Group Purchase?
We offer to bulk discounts of 10-30% for small groups, teams, churches, and organizations enrolling 5 or more participants. Learn more and enroll your group here: Story Sage Group Orders
Interested in Gifting This Course?
Visit our Gift an Online Course Page!
More questions about the course? See our FAQ section below.
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Your Instructor
Dr. Dan Allender has pioneered a unique and innovative approach to trauma and abuse recovery over the past 30 years. Dan serves as Co-Founder of The Allender Center and Professor of Counseling Psychology at The Seattle School of Theology & Psychology. Read more...
Rachael Clinton Chen, MDiv is Director of Teaching & Care, and core Teaching Staff at The Allender Center. Rachael has worked alongside Dan since 2008, applying her pastoral and therapeutic story engagement talent in many forms through our workshops, podcast, and blog.
Cathy Loerzel, MA is Co-Founder of The Allender Center. Cathy has worked alongside Dan since 2008, creating a step by step methodology to teach and apply the Allender Theory.