In this episode of Between Beauty & Heartache, Chassie Anders invites Cathy Loerzel to discuss the foundations of story work, what it means to attune to the younger parts of ourselves, the importance of the healing journey, why we still experience heartache, and much more. 

Cathy spent the last 15 years developing the theory and methodology of a popular new coaching and therapeutic approach called Story Work that moves people through their past stories of heartache to heal and discover healthier ways of being in the world. Cathy believes, "If we are honest, we know that none of us have escaped heartache and trauma in this beautifully broken world. The question then is how we heal in order not just to make it through, but truly thrive in the light of all that God would hope for us."

Wherever you are in your journey toward healing the painful parts of your story, may this conversation infuse you with hope!

Episode Resources:

• Redeeming Heartache by Dan Allender and Cathy Loerzel
• Other books mentioned on Between Beauty & Heartache

"Trauma is not what I thought it was, and how I heal from it is also not what I thought it was." 

Chassie wraps up this three-part episode series of sharing her story as a means to invite you into processing your own heartache, as well. If you find yourself stuck in a cycle of pain, grief, or shame, you don't have to stay there and this is not the end of your story. 

Listen in as Chassie sets the stage for the upcoming episodes and guest conversation on Between Beauty & Heartache—you'll find out what you can expect to hear and learn on this journey! 

"Heartache feels bigger, but even the tiniest bits of hope help me press on." 

When Chassie returned stateside after serving two years in ministry overseas, she started experiencing intense panic attacks. She had gone through anxiety before, but this time was different. Her body was telling her that things needed to change, and there had to be a better way to live and thrive, not just survive anymore. 

Listen in and find out what happened when Chassie attuned to her body's signals and the surprising resources she found that helped her take hold of healing. 

• Recommended resource: The Place We Find Ourselves, Episode 110: How Do You Move Through Past Trauma? (featuring Jerry Sittser, author of A Grace Disguised: How the Soul Grows Through Loss.

All of us have a "story of our lives". And if we look back far enough, we might just uncover the places and moments that shaped our behaviors, emotions, worldview, self-view, reactions, and more. 

What if our story feels too painful to engage? Have we lost sight of the child within us who is asking for help? Are we too far gone to find the road back to our truest selves? 

In this episode, Chassie invites you into her story as she uncovers the moments of loss, grief, heartbreak, and overwhelm that led her to this journey of story work and healing. You won't want to miss this episode! 

Welcome to the Between Beauty & Heartache podcast—I'm so glad you're here! Life is beautiful and life can be downright heartbreaking. So, how do we live a fruitful life amid this tension? 

In the first few episodes of this podcast, I'll take you through my story of healing from trauma, navigating life as a creative entrepreneur, and how I search for the beautiful things in life while holding space for the heartbreaking moments in the past and present. Along the way, you'll also hear from insightful guests as they offer practical ways to engage our stories and live more fully by honoring our pain and pursuing healing. 

However you came across this show, I truly believe you are meant to be here. I hope you'll stick around and check out all new episodes of Between Beauty & Heartache, starting Tuesday, October 17.