Hello, nice to meet you!

 

I’m so glad you’ve stopped by. Know that you are welcome here.

I believe healing comes in telling our stories.

Your story matters.

I am a story midwife who works primarily with female survivors of trauma.

After experiencing my own trauma in the early 1990s, I had to rebuild my foundation by excavating the depths within to discover the courage, strength, and resilience that had always been there. I shared a piece of this story at the Des Moines Storytellers Project in February 2024.

I now help other women do the same, sharing what I’ve learned about the intersection of trauma, the body, and spirituality. I do this through my work as a spiritual director, as a writing midwife, and through my own writing.

As a spiritual director, I work primarily with female survivors of trauma who have done the initial hard work of healing and are not in crisis. They sense another layer of healing is possible, but not necessarily through counseling. Instead, they seek a nonjudgmental space of deep listening where they can explore their questions and make meaning of their life experiences, or discover insights related to their spirituality. Together, we dance with the deep questions of life.

As a writing midwife, I help women birth their stories through writing. Whether it’s writing for themselves, their family, or a wider audience, they see telling their story as an act of healing. I support them in their efforts through coaching and editing.

Learn more about me or contact me directly.

The Breathing Room Blog

The Breathing Room is a place where readers can slow down, step away from the chaos of their lives for a few minutes, and, hopefully, find a place of respite and connection.  

In this space, I’ll share about the process of writing my memoir, journaling as a spiritual practice and a "way in" to sharing our stories with others, and what I've learned ― and am still learning ― about healing after trauma. Along the way, I'll sprinkle in stories about Paris and my travels to other places around the world. 

I invite you to take a deep breath and join me.

Broadway Musicals and Spiritual Direction

I love Broadway musicals. The thrill of live theater. A compelling story. Music that moves me to tears or fills me with joy. I've seen my share of musicals over the years, but only a few rank in my list of all-time favorites. Two of those are Rent and Les Misérables....

Dance Like No One is Watching

The most transformative experience during a recent writing retreat had nothing to do with writing. Instead, I rediscovered the joy of movement and music.

Barbie and beauty…it’s complicated

I've seen the Barbie movie twice. (Don’t worry, no major spoilers ahead.) Like most women, my history with Barbie is complicated. Yes, my younger sisters and I had a drawer-full of Barbies and Barbie clothes—and a few stray heads and arms. We probably had a Ken,...

Are You There God? It’s Me, Deborah

Rereading Are You There God? It’s Me Margaret as an adult brought new insights

On the Days When I Believe

On the days when I believe… And then there are the other days…

© 2020 Deborah Svec-Carstens | Privacy | Brand + Site Design by Kristin Korn | Photos by Andraya Elaine

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