Story of Us
For PHP and IOP Treatment Leaders
Built Inside the Work. Not Beside It.
Story of Self was developed by clinicians and educators who saw the same gap in every treatment setting they worked in. Identity was the missing layer. Everything else followed from that.
Where This Started
Aaron and Nikki built Story of Self from the inside of the clinical world, not from outside it. Between them, they bring decades of direct experience in education, counseling, leadership development, and recovery work. They have sat with the clients most programs struggle to retain. They have watched skilled clinicians deliver strong psychoeducation to people who still left treatment the same way they came in.
The missing layer was always identity. Not coping skills. Not psychoeducation. The story a person carries about who they are and what their life means.
Story of Self was built to address that gap. It started as a framework for individual clinical work and became a complete curriculum after consistent results across treatment settings made the case for a more structured model. The research followed the practice. The practice confirmed the research.
The Clinical Minds Behind the Framework
Combined backgrounds in licensed counseling, addiction recovery, trauma work, leadership development, and clinical curriculum design.
Story of Self was built by practitioners who worked inside the clinical settings it now serves.
Aaron
- MA in Leadership, 30+ years in organizational and clinical staff development
- Author of Story of Self — the framework behind the curriculum
- Designed and delivered training programs inside treatment, recovery, and behavioral health settings
- Has trained clinicians, program directors, and organizational leaders across the country
Nikki
- Licensed Counselor and Educator
- Specialist in addiction recovery, trauma, and behavioral health
- Direct clinical experience with survivors of sex trafficking, abuse, and addiction in treatment settings
- Curriculum developer and clinical trainer for PHP and IOP program implementation
A Clinical Curriculum Built for the Work Your Program Is Already Doing.
Story of Self is an evidence-based curriculum built on decades of direct experience in clinical counseling, addiction recovery, education, and leadership development. It integrates into existing PHP and IOP schedules without disrupting your clinical model — and it addresses the one layer most treatment curricula never reach: identity.
WHAT PROGRAMS RECEIVE:
- The Story of Self curriculum, workbooks, and facilitation guides
- A structured 6-part identity framework with clinical application at every stage
- Champion Training that certifies a designated Story Champion inside your clinical team
- Ongoing Champion coaching and support through every stage of implementation
- Clinical data alignment and measured impact reporting
- A 4-week pilot program to validate fit before full integration
Identity Is the Layer That Skills-Based Treatment Was Never Designed to Reach.
Most treatment curricula teach clients what to do differently. Story of Self works on why they keep doing it. When clients reconstruct the meaning of their experiences through structured narrative work, behavioral change follows in a way that psychoeducation alone cannot produce. That is the clinical case for identity-level intervention. And it is what every element of this curriculum is built around.
Our Core Values
WHAT GUIDES EVERY PROGRAM, EVERY PARTNERSHIP, EVERY OUTCOME.
PURPOSE
Clients First. Every person in your program carries a story that is driving their behavior. Our entire framework is built on taking that seriously — because when clients connect to their story, outcomes change.
COMMUNITY
If One Program Succeeds, the Field Advances. When treatment centers achieve stronger engagement and completion, the standard of care rises for everyone in it. That is the outcome we are building toward together.
ACTION
Outcomes Over Assumptions. Every claim Story of Self makes is backed by peer-reviewed research and measurable clinical data. We do not ask programs to take our word for it. We show them the numbers.
"This approach fosters ownership, accountability, and authentic transformation in a way that few treatment modalities can. In my experience, it stands out as one of the most powerful and effective tools for healing and growth in the mental health field today."
~ Clinical Professional, Story Partner Program
Ready to Bring Story of Self Into Your Program?
THE NEXT STEP IS SIMPLE AND FREE.
The discovery call is 30 minutes. We will show you exactly how Story of Self integrates into your existing PHP or IOP schedule, what your designated Story Champion’s development looks like from day one, and what programs typically see in the first 90 days.
No obligation. No clinical model overhaul required.