My name is Lora Kelley
Start with something free
Two ways to begin, on me
For coaches
The Coach Stewardship Assessment
A business stress test to see what's working and what needs growth, development, and support to help you feel settled and confident in your work.
Take the Coach Stewardship AssessmentFor your story
Storied Living Beginnings
24 guided videos and workbooks to welcome you into beginning.
Get the Storied Living Beginnings courseStay close
A letter for each of you
For your story
The Letter
Reflections on story work, healing, and what it means to live a storied life. For anyone engaging their own story.
Join The LetterFor the business owner
Notes from Lora's Desk
The business side of this work, for coaches building something sustainable. Strategy, stewardship, and the honest middle.
Join Notes from Lora's DeskA little about me
I believe your story is worth turning toward.
I'm a Master Certified Coach and a certified Narrative Focused Trauma Care (Story Work) coach, certified in Somatic Work (Healing the Vagus System, levels 1 to 3), and training in pre-perinatal psychology. For years I have done two things I love: helping people understand and heal their own stories, and helping the coaches who do this work build a business that can hold it.
I live in Nashville with my husband, our three kids, and two dogs. When I am not coaching or writing, I am usually making music, or working on a new way to face fear and invite delight in my life and body. This year that looks like training for a marathon in February 2027. I released my second full length record, Where I Am Now, in 2025.
Storied Living is where all of it comes together.
One more thing
Come along with The Letter
A note from me, now and then, on story work and the storied life. No noise, just the good stuff.
Join The LetterKind words
Voices from the room
From coaches building their practice, and from people engaging their own story.
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Lora is one of the best coaches that I've worked with. She has the rare combination of a highly attuned presence, an exceptional ability to see the dynamics of a story, a deep commitment to listening to the body, and excessive kindness.
Her pacing is just what I have needed during times of dysregulation and disruption. She excels at “being with” and witnessing your heartache and your heroics.
Diving into this work is always a risk, and I highly recommend taking that risk with Lora.
Adam Young, LCSW, MDiv
Host, The Place We Find Ourselves
Author, Make Sense of Your Story · Fort Collins, CO
From the coaches I've worked with
Lora's business mastermind has been well worth the investment! Lora has helped me grapple with my thoughts, define my business identity, develop practices to support my business operations, streamline my process with clients, and launch a newsletter. As a result, I've grown my business and my confidence.
Gail Stucker
NFTC Certified · Allender Center Facilitator · Park City, UT
Graduate school did not prepare me to run a private practice. The SLB Mastermind has helped me not only learn about running a business, but to lean into the areas I feel stuck. As someone who values my own work and story, I deeply appreciate this integrative approach!
Amy Freund
LPC · NFTC Certified · Austin, TX
I had already begun my coaching business a year before I began working with Lora but struggled with how to market and had very little knowledge of how to run a business. With her teaching, support, and care I now feel more confident, knowledgeable, and motivated to tell others about what I offer.
Mary Caskey
Certified in NFTC · Indianola, IA
My biggest barrier wasn't my business; it was my belief in my offer. The mastermind with Lora changed that. Through the community and Lora's Storied Living Business Mastermind process, I found clarity around my offer and the confidence to actually put it in front of people. Highly recommend.
Dean Short
NFTC Certified · Story Work & Soul Care Coach · Lynchburg, VA
I came into the mastermind with a desire to do StoryWork coaching but with no idea how to create a thriving business. I left with confidence in the business I had built, in myself as the CEO and in an offer that I believe in. Lora set me up for success.
Erin McCaskill
LSW · NFTC Certified · New York, NY
When I joined I was in a place of discernment and direction for the story coaching business I started 8 years ago. Working with Lora shifted my mindset and provided renewed vision and motivation. I recommend Lora's mastermind to both new and experienced practitioners who are looking to begin, clarify, or grow their work.
Julie McClay
NFTC Level III Trained · Harrisonburg, VA
Working with Lora was a gift, especially as I was launching my Story Work and Coaching business! Having a strong support system when stepping out in faith, and into new endeavors, is especially critical in the moments that feel lonely and overwhelming. Lora was a clear voice of challenge, curiosity and encouragement for me during that season. She helped me to focus, lean in, and move forward into my calling!
Esperansita Bejnarowicz
NFTC Certified · Allender Center Facilitator & Instructor · Orion Township, MI
Working with Lora during the early stages of building my coaching practice was both grounding and energizing. She has a rare gift for helping you navigate the intersection of your personal story and your business vision, which brought clarity and confidence to my work. Lora gently helped me recognize places where my own story was inhibiting me, and she supported me in moving through those internal barriers. Her blend of deep listening and practical strategy created real momentum.
Ryan Baker, MDiv
Co-Founder, Story Matters Coaching
NFTC Certified Facilitator · Pastoral Counselor · Stillwater, OK
Joining Lora's Business Mastermind was one of the best decisions I made for both my story coaching business and personal growth. Starting at square one, I felt deeply supported while gaining the confidence to take risks, face challenges, and grow with far less fear of failure. Lora combines incredible business insight with genuine care for the whole person, making this mastermind truly transformative.
Carrie Bradley
NFTC Level I Trained · Saint Louis, MO
When I made the decision to start the mastermind, it was a long time before I even knew what my business would be. I didn't feel ready but also knew I didn't want to miss out on a minute of being able to approach this work from the perspective of how my story impacts every single decision. I'm so grateful for the opportunity Lora guided us through to practice changing my mind, learning to sit with hard things, and how to really move through and coach myself in places where I felt stuck. This is worth every bit of investment.
Lita Bledsoe
Story-based Confessional Community Group Leader · Charlotte, NC
And from inside the room
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I think fear was preventing me from making my business official, so I formed an LLC this week.
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I felt like I was leaning over and Lora helped me get my feet back on the ground. She sturdied me.
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The teaching content was incredible, but the coaching was so personal and helpful in a different way. I thought I was the only one who felt many of the things she shared.
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Lora's coaching and honesty helped me prepare myself even for failure. I appreciate that things aren't sugarcoated.
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The normalization of feeling like a beginner and a learner has lessened so much internal pressure and shame.
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Lora's gentle and constant reminders that this business growth edge is in such large measure a personal growth edge have changed how I lead myself.
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It was very helpful walking through finances, QuickBooks, money flow, money management. It was practical and helped me take next steps in managing my finances.
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I really see ways we could support each other and fall forward together. That's a beautiful thing.
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This space has been incredibly supportive over these past months. It's been a worthy investment.
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Lora's template for doing a consultation, the encouragement to plan a sixty-minute consult call, the types of questions to offer on a form ahead of time. I feel supported.
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Overwhelm does not mean I am unwise. Thank you for that.
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I value the time and energy Lora has put into creating this. I admire and appreciate her as a coach, mentor, and friend.
Mastermind Student
From story work & the membership
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Every call feels so nourishing and hopeful. Lora has such a calming presence. She makes the group feel like a safe and sacred space.
Membership Student
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This membership is the most helpful and powerful thing in my life right now. Lora's wisdom and practical application of it is empowering and equipping.
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I felt seen and named so well it felt just for me — and it didn't elicit shame.
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Thank you for creating this space — it is my lifeline after a year filled with a move across countries, a change of job, and a death in the family. I found myself using the breathing and grounding techniques when I was overwhelmed. Thank you for forging a path for us to follow.
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The overall hopefulness of these calls is inspiring and helps me to keep going even when it's hard.
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As someone who was previously wounded by toxic positivity in a faith context, this model and how Lora uses it feels kind, expansive, and hopeful.
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So much is familiar to me, but Lora brings the content in such a fresh way that it is moving the needle in my life.
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Each session has been helpful to me personally and also in my work with clients — I feel supported in multiple layers.
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Lora set a beautiful table for our grief to be present. That was a rare gift.
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This work doesn't feel so isolating in a group setting. Lora does a great job inviting all of us into the conversation.
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Her grounded and expansive presence comes through the screen.
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I am able to take this in at the rate it's being given, and that feels very kind and supportive.
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Lora is a gifted teacher and coach, deep-thinking and gifted in breaking down complicated places of stuckness and inspiring lasting change.
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I showed up feeling like I was drowning, and our time together was like a recalibration of my system.
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Her teaching has offered kind orientation for my life.
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I have such gratitude — and a longing for the time together to continue.
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