Freedom in Story is designed for Freedom Academy graduates who want to deepen their understanding of trauma and healing through story work that weaves together psychology, neuroscience, and Biblical truth.
This three-day training offers a next step for graduates ready to go further. Through lecture-style teaching and facilitator-led small group story work, participants are invited into an honest, meaningful process with both the material and one another.
Story work is an emerging term used to describe a range of spiritual and psychological approaches to processing stories of harm. In Freedom in Story, participants are introduced to a specific modality for engaging trauma and moving toward healing, building on the lifelong work of leaders such as Dan Allender and Cathy Loerzel in trauma and abuse recovery.
This approach brings together psychology, neuroscience, and theology to help participants explore the core narratives shaped by relationships, family systems, sexual development, and experiences of abuse. It is designed to support both personal and collective trauma experiences.
At Freedom Movement, healing is viewed not only as possible, but as part of our identity as children of God and a vital piece of the larger gospel story unfolding in our lives and in the world.
Each participant brings a short, pre-written childhood story of harm to be shared in a small group led by a professionally trained trauma story practitioner. Using a proven framework, the group moves through these experiences with compassion, care, and clarity.
Grounded in biblical, Spirit-led, and trauma-informed truth, the process is applied uniquely to each person and engages the whole self: mind, body, soul, and heart.
We were created for community and connection. In a safe and supportive setting, painful memories can be revisited and reshaped through what neuroscience calls reconsolidation, allowing them to be processed and stored in a new way that supports healing and spiritual growth.
As trauma is engaged, new neural pathways can form and participants begin to understand how their stories have influenced them. They are then invited into restoration with God, reclaiming their stories through the truth of His word and living with a more embodied experience of faith, hope, and love.
The impact is both personal and relational. Participants gain context, empathy, and insight as they hold others’ stories within the group, developing a trauma-informed perspective that can transform the way they lead, love, and relate. As they walk in greater freedom in their own story, their lives can point others toward the freedom God has for them.
Karrie Garcia
Jeff Myers
Kaitlyn McCarty
Along with small group story work, this immersive three-day training includes lecture content covering:
This event is for any man or woman who has completed Freedom Academy and wants to:
Yes. Freedom Academy is required before registering.
Story work groups are typically gender-specific, with men meeting with men and women meeting with women. Select coed groups may occasionally be available. If you have a preference, please contact the team and they will do their best to accommodate your request.
Yes. You will write and bring a 600-word childhood story to be read in a small group setting led by a trained facilitator. Preparation directions and reading materials will be sent by email after registration.
No. Travel and lodging must be arranged separately.
Trinity Anglican Church
2270 Defoor Hills Rd NW
Atlanta, GA 30318
Thursday, July 30th
7:45am | Check-in
8:00am - 5pm | Day One (Lunch Included)
Friday, July 31st
7:45am | Doors Open
8:00am - 5pm | Day Two (Lunch Included)
Saturday, August 1st
7:45am | Doors Open
8:00am - 5pm | Final Day* (Lunch Included)
*Please book flights departing 8pm or later on the final day.
Pre-requisite: Freedom Academy
Price: $1299
Capacity: Limited to 54 participants
Deposit: A minimum of $325 is required to reserve your space
Included:
Jul 30 - Aug 1, 2026
3 day event
Daily Schedule:
About Karrie Garcia As a speaker, life coach, author, and CEO, Karrie Garcia encourages transformation by openly sharing the story of her own journey toward freedom. She is willing to go into the deepest places of pain and invites others who are hurting to come with her, so they can discover the kind of freedom that leads to a flourishing life. Speaking...
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About JeffJeff is a coach, professor, and Storywork facilitator with Freedom Movement, supporting people as they move toward wholeness, freedom, and more meaningful connection. Drawing on experience in pastoring and business coaching, he helps others lead, parent, and love with presence, integrity, and care.Personal JourneyIn his early 40s, after years of suppressing and avoiding his emotions, Jeff went through what...
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About KaitlynKaitlyn McCarty serves as our in-house therapist and has been part of the Freedom Movement team since 2016. She creates a safe, supportive space where individuals and groups can share their stories and care for the harder places in life. With deep compassion and understanding, she meets each person with grace and would be honored to walk alongside you...
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Price
$1,299.00