EMPATHETIC WITNESS COHORT

If trauma is “what we hold inside in the absence of an empathetic witness” (Dr. Gabor Maté), then healing can only happen when our pain is seen, acknowledged, and held with empathy. This is the underlying premise of the Empathetic Witness Cohort, designed to provide a space of encouragement, healing, and support for those who have been harmed by religion.

If you are someone who has, at some point, been harmed by religion and who would find processing your experiences with a community of empathetic witnesses to be encouraging — then this six-week discussion group is for you.

In the Empathetic Witness Cohort, there will be room to explore the complexity of your past religious history — the terrible, the beautiful, and everything in between — including its impact on your life today. Sharing will always be by invitation, not demand, and you will be supported in considering, for yourself, what healing and spirituality mean to you in the present. The role of the facilitator (with help from the group) will be to create a space of encouragement, healing, and support, where both joy and pain can be seen, acknowledged, and held with empathy.

Throughout the six weeks, you will be invited to:

  • Explore concepts and terminology related to religious harm

  • Reflect upon the ways that past religious experiences impact life in the present

  • Learn and practice the skills of empathetic witnessing

  • Share and process past experiences in the presence of empathetic witnesses

  • Consider perspectives around healing and meaning-making

  • Engage in embodied practices (always optional)

Current Offerings:

May 19 - June 23, 2026

Tuesdays at 7:00 - 8:30 p.m. CDT
(8:00 - 9:30 p.m. EST)

Register

  • Anyone who has been harmed by religion and who would find engaging with a community of empathetic witnesses to be encouraging.

  • The group will consist of 5-8 participants and one facilitator (Alison Noll).

  • We will meet via Zoom for six weeks.

    • May 19

    • May 26

    • June 2

    • June 9

    • June 16

    • June 23

    Each session will begin at 7:00pm CDT (8:00pm EDT) and last for 90 minutes.

  • Thanks to the generosity of donors of The Healing Collective, the total for all six sessions is $50, plus the cost to purchase Holy Hurt for select readings (available online for $15-20).

  • Attend all six sessions

    • This is important for cultivating a supportive healing environment for everyone.

    Commit to confidentiality

    • All that is shared in the group space must be kept confidential (except what would be illegal not to share) in order to maintain safety.

    Purchase a copy of Holy Hurt from your bookstore of choice

    • Commit to read brief selected readings from the book in preparation for each week’s session.

    • You’ll receive access to a Learning Management System that will outline your weekly readings.

Meet the Facilitator

Alison Noll

A couple important notes:

  • Alison has made the personal choice to remain connected to Christianity and to a local church as part of her own journey of healing from religious harm. However, she does not believe that this is the necessary, or best, choice for everyone! Cohort participants will be encouraged to pursue whatever paths help them to experience a life of flourishing.

  • This cohort will not be group therapy. Group therapy is a type of mental health treatment led by a mental health professional. Alison happens to be a mental health professional but will be using her peer counseling skills in this context.

This virtual cohort will be led by Alison Noll (MDiv, MSW, LMSW). Alison’s work as the Lead Pastor at River NYC (a post-evangelical church in Manhattan), years as a therapist in community-based mental health, and own experiences of pursuing healing as a trauma survivor, have convinced her that all people are meaning-makers and that empathetic witness is essential for healing and growth.

What participants are saying…

The Empathetic Witness Cohort provided a safe space to unpack religious trauma with a group of loving individuals. Our facilitator set the tone of vulnerability and kindness, guiding us to use our inner wisdom to see the truth of our goodness amidst the stories that have shaped us. I know this was a necessary step in my healing journey and I am grateful to have been a part of it.

—Jess, Charlotte NC

Registration:

Please fill out the form below to reserve your spot in the upcoming Empathetic Witness Cohort. Space is limited.

Unable to participate in the next group but want to join a future one? Simply register below to add your name to the waitlist, and we’ll reach out once the next round of dates is scheduled.