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Narrative Healing: Awaken the Power of Your Story
Uncover the healing power of your story, express your authentic voice, and find connection with this positive holistic guide to writing and creativity. Lisa Weinert’s work is based on the premise that we hold our stories in our bodies. The extent that we learn how to release them affects how we perceive and approach our lives - but what if we don’t have the tools to understand our narrative outside of what’s been told to us? What if we don’t have access to our own story due to trauma? What if we are unable to share our truth with the world? In Narrative Healing, she empowers readers to identify, understand and tap into the healing power of their stories. Following her own personal healing journey, Lisa draws upon twenty years of experience to offer a new paradigm for personal growth, self-care and community action through an embodied writing practice. Combining somatic practices, creative prompts, and mindfulness exercises, Lisa guides you through the six steps of healing through awaken, listen, express, inspire, connect, and grow. Incorporating creativity as a core part of the process, Narrative Healing provides writers and non-writers a comforting yet equally empowering process to find a path to themselves and find deep connection with the world around them. The premise here is our stories have a healing purpose and are meant to be shared. As we are able to better know our own stories, we are better able to take in the humanity of those around us.
368 pages, Hardcover
Published July 18, 2023
33 people are currently reading
2283 people want to read
About the author
Lisa Weinert
1 book21 followersLisa Weinert is the founder of Narrative Healing, keynote speaker, teacher, literary and wellness consultant. A certified yoga teacher with specialties in trauma informed and restorative yoga, she has worked with authors for over two decades as a publicist, editor and literary coach. Lisa lives in New York City with her family. Narrative Healing is her first book.
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
June 20, 2023
Narrative Healing by Lisa Weinert offers readers both an opportunity to practice receptive prescriptive bibliotherapy (healing through reading) because of the personal accounts shared and expressive creative bibliotherapy via the writing prompts and exercises contained in the text.
Lisa is the founder of Narrative Healing, a program that offers a paradigm for healing from trauma through creativity and sharing our stories with the world from an embodied approach. Lisa has led a successful career in publishing and journalism and throughout all of her success has navigated mental health challenges that resulted in her experiencing a mental health crisis in college. As far as she was concerned, she was doing well as long as she was functioning and able to go to perform. However, in sharing her story she honors that there are many of us who, while we are functioning, are truly suffering emotionally and are in need of more support than we are often offered.
Narrative Healing is full of writing practices that can be done at the reader's own pace. If you do not choose to engage in the writing practices, you will still learn a lot about a narrative therapy approach and how it can help you rewrite and reimagine the multiple story lines and experiences of your life so that you can empower yourself to revise and write storylines that are truer about who you are and who you are becoming on this life path.
Thank you to the publisher and author for the e-arc copy!
Lisa is the founder of Narrative Healing, a program that offers a paradigm for healing from trauma through creativity and sharing our stories with the world from an embodied approach. Lisa has led a successful career in publishing and journalism and throughout all of her success has navigated mental health challenges that resulted in her experiencing a mental health crisis in college. As far as she was concerned, she was doing well as long as she was functioning and able to go to perform. However, in sharing her story she honors that there are many of us who, while we are functioning, are truly suffering emotionally and are in need of more support than we are often offered.
Narrative Healing is full of writing practices that can be done at the reader's own pace. If you do not choose to engage in the writing practices, you will still learn a lot about a narrative therapy approach and how it can help you rewrite and reimagine the multiple story lines and experiences of your life so that you can empower yourself to revise and write storylines that are truer about who you are and who you are becoming on this life path.
Thank you to the publisher and author for the e-arc copy!
July 12, 2023
I must start by saying I was the perfect audience for this book. As a lifelong writer and someone who has always been deeply interested in mind/body connections through yoga and organic movements, and as someone who went through the trauma of an extremely abusive relationship a year ago, a book that is “intended to accelerate, deepen, and inspire whatever healing journey you are on and uncover the story that needs to be told now.
The author starts by discussing how the effects of trauma show up in how we experience creativity and storytelling. Depending on how our nervous system responds in traumatic or dangerous situations (fight/flight/freeze/fawn), the stories we tell and the ones we experience are affected accordingly. Rather than focus solely on the holistic aspects of her teachings, the author takes every opportunity to support her thinking and reasoning with science and logic. The author is also extremely intentional about making the activities and practices in the book accessible to all - regardless of age, gender, body ability, and more.
One of the main points of this book involves the necessity to become more connected to your physical body in order to uncover what story the spiritual body/mind is trying to tell. The point is made very clearly that we live in a Western culture where, historically, the fallacy of a mind-body split is the prevailing idea. Despite that, the way we are with our body impacts how we are on the page. And as we heal and become more self aware, our writing experience likewise improves. The nervous system, the author says, can be thought of as the genre, format, pace, tone, voice, speed, lens, filter, and temp.
Based on these ideas, the author guides writers through 6 stages: Awaken, Listen, Express, Inspire, Connect, Grow.
Each stage builds on the last and includes numerous exercises, techniques, and lessons to benefit your writing practice - meeting you wherever you may be on your current healing journey.
After reading the book through in its entirety, I am so eager to read it again and start trying the exercises. I believe this book could help countless people - writers or otherwise - heal, reclaim their writing practice, and reclaim their story after trauma.
A special thank you to #NetGalley and #hatchettebookgroup for sending this incredible arc.
The author starts by discussing how the effects of trauma show up in how we experience creativity and storytelling. Depending on how our nervous system responds in traumatic or dangerous situations (fight/flight/freeze/fawn), the stories we tell and the ones we experience are affected accordingly. Rather than focus solely on the holistic aspects of her teachings, the author takes every opportunity to support her thinking and reasoning with science and logic. The author is also extremely intentional about making the activities and practices in the book accessible to all - regardless of age, gender, body ability, and more.
One of the main points of this book involves the necessity to become more connected to your physical body in order to uncover what story the spiritual body/mind is trying to tell. The point is made very clearly that we live in a Western culture where, historically, the fallacy of a mind-body split is the prevailing idea. Despite that, the way we are with our body impacts how we are on the page. And as we heal and become more self aware, our writing experience likewise improves. The nervous system, the author says, can be thought of as the genre, format, pace, tone, voice, speed, lens, filter, and temp.
Based on these ideas, the author guides writers through 6 stages: Awaken, Listen, Express, Inspire, Connect, Grow.
Each stage builds on the last and includes numerous exercises, techniques, and lessons to benefit your writing practice - meeting you wherever you may be on your current healing journey.
After reading the book through in its entirety, I am so eager to read it again and start trying the exercises. I believe this book could help countless people - writers or otherwise - heal, reclaim their writing practice, and reclaim their story after trauma.
A special thank you to #NetGalley and #hatchettebookgroup for sending this incredible arc.
dnf
July 1, 2023DNF @38%
While I appreciated the concept of this book, the execution was rough. I expected more journaling/writing related advice based on the title and synopsis, but much of what I read was general meditation tips and practices.
The meditation practices were difficult to follow. I struggled to read the instructions and complete them at the same time.
The author also repeated herself over and over again. It almost felt like this book was a collection of blog post strung together without much connection.
I definitely think this idea has potential. It’s just not working at the moment.
While I appreciated the concept of this book, the execution was rough. I expected more journaling/writing related advice based on the title and synopsis, but much of what I read was general meditation tips and practices.
The meditation practices were difficult to follow. I struggled to read the instructions and complete them at the same time.
The author also repeated herself over and over again. It almost felt like this book was a collection of blog post strung together without much connection.
I definitely think this idea has potential. It’s just not working at the moment.
June 28, 2023
The prompts made me dive deep. I needed this book more than I thought possible.
June 18, 2023
This book is exactly what I needed. It is aimed at helping find your voice and trusting in yourself and the world. It is not the type of book you finish. You keep it with you, revisit, and grow. Some of the prompts are deep and can feel scary. Taking the time to analyze why you don't want to answer and giving yourself space to safely explore the ideas that scare you really inspired me. Of all the books of prompts I have, this one will be staying close at hand.
April 30, 2023
This is more of a workbook than a book you read, absorb, and ponder over. There are those tiny prompts and exercises and while it is always super tempting to just read some theory and wisdom, actually doing the inner work, going deep within and looking inside you is where the real changes and keys to any growth can be found.
I feel like this book is filled with many powerful tools to make your life better, one page at a time. This is so well thought through, so thorough, and written in such a loving way, I believe it has some serious power to change and improve the lives of those who approach it seriously and follow through.
I feel like this book is filled with many powerful tools to make your life better, one page at a time. This is so well thought through, so thorough, and written in such a loving way, I believe it has some serious power to change and improve the lives of those who approach it seriously and follow through.
July 11, 2023
"Narrative Healing: Awaken the Power of Your Story" by Lisa Weinert is a transformative guide that emphasizes the profound impact of storytelling on personal healing and growth. Weinert asserts that our stories reside within us, shaping our perceptions and approaches to life. However, she acknowledges that not everyone possesses the necessary tools to understand and express their narratives, especially those who have experienced trauma or struggle to share their truths.
Drawing from her own healing journey and two decades of experience, Weinert introduces a fresh paradigm for self-care, personal development, and community engagement through an embodied writing practice. By combining somatic practices, creative prompts, and mindfulness exercises, she presents readers with six essential steps towards healing through storytelling: awaken, listen, express, inspire, connect, and grow.
What sets "Narrative Healing" apart is its inclusive approach, welcoming both writers and non-writers to embark on a comforting yet empowering process of self-discovery. Weinert highlights the importance of creativity as an integral part of the healing journey, enabling individuals to forge a path towards self-realization and establish meaningful connections with the world around them.
At the core of this book is a simple yet profound premise: our stories possess inherent healing powers and are meant to be shared. As we delve deeper into our own narratives, we develop a greater capacity to empathize with the humanity of others. Weinert's guidance encourages readers to tap into the transformative potential of their stories, fostering personal growth and cultivating empathy in the process.
Overall, "Narrative Healing" offers a holistic and actionable approach to personal healing through storytelling. Lisa Weinert's wealth of experience, combined with her compassionate and accessible writing style, make this book an invaluable resource for anyone seeking to unlock the healing power of their own story and connect more deeply with themselves and others.
Drawing from her own healing journey and two decades of experience, Weinert introduces a fresh paradigm for self-care, personal development, and community engagement through an embodied writing practice. By combining somatic practices, creative prompts, and mindfulness exercises, she presents readers with six essential steps towards healing through storytelling: awaken, listen, express, inspire, connect, and grow.
What sets "Narrative Healing" apart is its inclusive approach, welcoming both writers and non-writers to embark on a comforting yet empowering process of self-discovery. Weinert highlights the importance of creativity as an integral part of the healing journey, enabling individuals to forge a path towards self-realization and establish meaningful connections with the world around them.
At the core of this book is a simple yet profound premise: our stories possess inherent healing powers and are meant to be shared. As we delve deeper into our own narratives, we develop a greater capacity to empathize with the humanity of others. Weinert's guidance encourages readers to tap into the transformative potential of their stories, fostering personal growth and cultivating empathy in the process.
Overall, "Narrative Healing" offers a holistic and actionable approach to personal healing through storytelling. Lisa Weinert's wealth of experience, combined with her compassionate and accessible writing style, make this book an invaluable resource for anyone seeking to unlock the healing power of their own story and connect more deeply with themselves and others.
October 30, 2023
Be the Beach
Do nothing. Let others be the waves. Let them come to you. Doing nothing can feel like refraining from doing the thing we want to do or say, but nature offers us another way to think about it. Imagine being more like a beach. The beach doesn’t go leaping out to grab the waves; the beach stays still and allows the water to come to it.
Embody this image next time you’re listening to someone, doing nothing, saying nothing. Simply receiving is some of the most powerful love and healing we can offer someone else. A natural outcome of quieting yourself for listening is that you notice other people’s stories, truths, and offerings coming to you more often.
This can be relaxing and rejuvenating for you too. Imagine the beach on a sweet summer day, the waves lapping in. When you stop trying to control, you can receive intuitive direction.
Some interesting writing prompts and I picked it up as I am attempting to become more of a storyteller to accompany my photos for my environmental work, since that is the cool thing lately, all the people are saying, storytelling is our most human instinct, and graphs and statistics are not as powerful as a strong story.
Do nothing. Let others be the waves. Let them come to you. Doing nothing can feel like refraining from doing the thing we want to do or say, but nature offers us another way to think about it. Imagine being more like a beach. The beach doesn’t go leaping out to grab the waves; the beach stays still and allows the water to come to it.
Embody this image next time you’re listening to someone, doing nothing, saying nothing. Simply receiving is some of the most powerful love and healing we can offer someone else. A natural outcome of quieting yourself for listening is that you notice other people’s stories, truths, and offerings coming to you more often.
This can be relaxing and rejuvenating for you too. Imagine the beach on a sweet summer day, the waves lapping in. When you stop trying to control, you can receive intuitive direction.
Some interesting writing prompts and I picked it up as I am attempting to become more of a storyteller to accompany my photos for my environmental work, since that is the cool thing lately, all the people are saying, storytelling is our most human instinct, and graphs and statistics are not as powerful as a strong story.
May 24, 2023
This book is a comprehensive toolkit for supporting emotional healing, fostering self-awareness, and sparking creativity. For anyone who likes to journal or has contemplated starting to journal, this is a wonderful resource to be cherished for its sensitivity and scope in addressing significant issues for achieving health and well-being.
The book is divided into six sections entitled: Awaken, Listen, Express, Inspire, Connect, and Grow. Each section progressively leads the reader into multiple chapters that provide background information, quotes from other authors, and a host of exercises that lead to writing prompts. I appreciated the author’s inclusion of body/sensory-based exercises, which support her premise that our bodies record and hold our stories. This is an area often overlooked in the self-help genre that focuses on psychological themes.
My thanks to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for the privilege of reviewing this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
This review is being posted immediately to my GoodReads account and will be posted on Amazon upon publication.
The book is divided into six sections entitled: Awaken, Listen, Express, Inspire, Connect, and Grow. Each section progressively leads the reader into multiple chapters that provide background information, quotes from other authors, and a host of exercises that lead to writing prompts. I appreciated the author’s inclusion of body/sensory-based exercises, which support her premise that our bodies record and hold our stories. This is an area often overlooked in the self-help genre that focuses on psychological themes.
My thanks to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for the privilege of reviewing this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
This review is being posted immediately to my GoodReads account and will be posted on Amazon upon publication.
July 21, 2023
I knew this would be a thoughtful and practical guide to add to my collection of books on the practice of writing, and I expected I'd want to share it with my creative writing students. What I've discovered, so far, is a rich resource to support my personal creative practice, alongside my students, especially in relation to trauma and the aspects of our stories that remain hidden even from ourselves. Before reading this well written and insightful book, I didn't have a solid understanding of how trauma works in the body, and how it lingers and affects us over years and generations, so among other things, I am grateful for the ways Narrative Healing has given me a better handle on that. More importantly, I have real resources and tools to untangle some of those knots, even heal some of those wounds.
Weinert is forthcoming about her personal story--the events and specific health challenges that preceded the writing of this book and development of program for writers who want to awaken their stories through movement and guided prompts--and while I'm enjoying using all of her tools very much, I am most impacted by the way she has shared her journey. It has helped me arrive at some new understandings of my own and modeled a mode of being that I find hopeful and inspiring.
Highly recommended!
Weinert is forthcoming about her personal story--the events and specific health challenges that preceded the writing of this book and development of program for writers who want to awaken their stories through movement and guided prompts--and while I'm enjoying using all of her tools very much, I am most impacted by the way she has shared her journey. It has helped me arrive at some new understandings of my own and modeled a mode of being that I find hopeful and inspiring.
Highly recommended!
August 4, 2023
What an immersive reading/writing experience! This book has writing prompts, memoir-like asides, yoga/mindfulness practices, and healing energy imbued throughout. I loved learning more about healing trauma through writing, reading, listening, and most importantly telling our stories. Regardless of wether or not you engage fully in the exercises, there is a lot of great insight to be gained here. Weinert uses her own story to help others feel seen in their need for support during troubling mental/emotional times. This book may not be for everybody, simply because of the formatting style, but it really resonated with me! Highly recommend for all my writers and traumatized baddies.
Thank you to Hachette and the author for the physical ARC!
Thank you to Hachette and the author for the physical ARC!
May 3, 2023
This is not my usual type of book or genre, but this one was one that really resonated with me. It offered me such good ideas, thoughts and ideas. It was a book that offered prompts for the reader to get a look inside theirselves and offer them a way to gather their thoughts and get them out of the reader and onto paper to help them to see things more clearly. A well thought out, thought provoking read/self help book that left this reader feeling a bit better.
Don't hesitate to add this one to your TBR list and move it to the top - it's one that you will want to highlight, bookmark, and refer to over and over again.
Don't hesitate to add this one to your TBR list and move it to the top - it's one that you will want to highlight, bookmark, and refer to over and over again.
July 28, 2023
Narrative Healing by Lisa Weinert is an absolute must read for all creatives. Weinert leans on science and spirituality in positing that our bodies hold our stories (some that we are aware of and some that we may not be) and that through listening to our body, and attending to its needs, we can learn to connect with these stories and heal ourselves and others. In this moment, when we are in great conflict with each other- largely through our inability to truly listen to one another (and our separation through the silos of racial and economic structures and social media), this is a book that everyone can benefit from.
July 18, 2023
Lisa Weinert has a blend of methodology, spiritual knowledge and intuition that equals a unique brilliance in her approach to helping people tell their stories. This book reflects all those aspects of her work and her being, which have positively impacted my life beyond measure, both as a writer and a human being. "Helping people tell their stories" sounds simple. It's not. We don't always know all that's within us. Lisa helps us mine the gold we have within us. Readers of this book will be very lucky to have Lisa Weinert in their lives.
July 19, 2023
Lisa Weinert's approach to a creative life—in body and mind—is truly one of a kind. By bravely sharing her own story of healing from medical and emotional traumas, she offers a user-friendly approach to rekindling our friendship with our bodies as a way to free our voices and hearts to connect at the deepest levels. Whether you're a seasoned writer or artist, or looking for innovative ways to support healing or the creative process, Lisa's wide range of prompts, practices, and reflections will give you a lifetime of tools to draw on and share.
December 7, 2023
3.5/5
This book is certainly one to own and maybe not try to get through checking it out from the library LOL. I wish I could write within the book and revisit it so I took down a LOT of information in my own notes on my phone or through notebooks. I think it’s certainly useful in many ways for someone who wants to be a writer, but a lot of what is offered as support and to inspire you to keep moving/writing, it is not fully accessible for everyone, and therefore had plenty of pages I just flipped past.
This book is certainly one to own and maybe not try to get through checking it out from the library LOL. I wish I could write within the book and revisit it so I took down a LOT of information in my own notes on my phone or through notebooks. I think it’s certainly useful in many ways for someone who wants to be a writer, but a lot of what is offered as support and to inspire you to keep moving/writing, it is not fully accessible for everyone, and therefore had plenty of pages I just flipped past.
January 30, 2026
Lisa Weinert’s Narrative Healing is a graceful, compassionate guide that gently invites you to reclaim your story as a path to wholeness.
Weinert writes with wisdom and warmth, offering a holistic practice where writing meets mindful reflection and somatic awareness. This isn’t just a book about storytelling it’s an invitation to listen, express, and reconnect with your own voice in a deeply healing way.
For anyone seeking to write, reflect, or simply understand their own life with more kindness and clarity, this is a gentle and powerful companion. A truly nurturing read.
Weinert writes with wisdom and warmth, offering a holistic practice where writing meets mindful reflection and somatic awareness. This isn’t just a book about storytelling it’s an invitation to listen, express, and reconnect with your own voice in a deeply healing way.
For anyone seeking to write, reflect, or simply understand their own life with more kindness and clarity, this is a gentle and powerful companion. A truly nurturing read.
February 6, 2026
A must read for writers! Narrative Healing by @Lisa Weinert offers an antidote to the trope that writers must be tortured, miserable and alone. Lisa has created an incredible community that allows writers of all levels (even those who don’t know they are writers yet) to identify the stories they most need to tell and find healing and joy throughout the process. Whether you’re a seasoned writer or just starting to imagine your first few lines, I highly recommend you read Narrative Healing and subscribe to The Writing Body!
July 25, 2023
I loved this book!!!! Narrative Healing: Awaken the Power of Your Story is a captivating and empowering book that encourages readers to reclaim ownership of their narratives and embark on a path of healing and self-discovery. Lisa Weinert's expertise as a psychotherapist and her profound understanding of the human experience make this book a valuable resource for anyone seeking to find solace, resilience, and empowerment through the power of storytelling.
January 31, 2024
I really enjoyed this book. I listened to the audiobook version, but want to re-read the Kindle version later to fully digest and practice all the exercises given in the book. I love the fact that she merges writing with breathwork (pranayam), resting/naps (pratyahara), and dhyana (meditation). As a fellow yogi and yoga teacher, it gave me more ways of tapping into my inspiration and also, gave me some ideas to start the writing process.
July 2, 2023
Narrative Healing by Lisa Weinert offers exercises and toolkit for aiding emotional healing, increasing self-awareness, and igniting creativity. Have highlighters, pens, and notebooks at the ready, as there are a multitude of ideas to explore and contemplate. A thought provoking workbook.
Thank you to the author, publisher, and Netgalley for the opportunity to preview the book.
Thank you to the author, publisher, and Netgalley for the opportunity to preview the book.
July 21, 2023
As a longtime student of Lisa's it brings me great joy to have her wisdom on my bookshelf where I can access it anytime! Lisa showed me the importance of bringing an awareness of my body into my writing practice, which has allowed me to access restorative yoga and meditation to support my creativity. Anyone called to write their story will benefit from the mentorship of Lisa through her book.
October 31, 2023
Excellent resource. Lots of ideas on narrative storytelling and healing with lots of great resources from other folks.
February 18, 2024
An excellent book. It triggered my writing practice.
March 14, 2024
Not really what I was hoping. A writer gets into meditation and yoga, becomes some what of an expert in it, and leads out doing retreats and guides for authors to write with meditation and yoga.
June 11, 2023
Would be completely unfair of me, and to the author to hurry up and rush through this book solely to provide a review. Instead I am going to take my time working through this book and utilizing the material as it is intended – to guide one through their healing journey. There are exercises throughout the book to complete.
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews