Remembering Ourselves
A Circle for Women who want to remember who they are.
Many of us change ourselves when we become mothers. We ask ourselves to care deeply, give generously, and hold more than we ever imagined possible.
Along the way, many of us find ourselves wondering:
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Who am I now?
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Where do I go?
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How do I care for myself in the face of caring for others, without abandoning myself?
If these questions feel familiar, you are not alone.
Chris Howard-Swan,
MSW, LSW Trauma-Informed Therapist ·
Women's Circle Leader
Whether you are new to this work, already deeply committed, or somewhere in between, you are welcome. This Circle is for women in all walks of life and all areas of work.
Because this Circle explores personal experiences and relationships in meaningful depth, participants are strongly encouraged to be actively engaged in individual therapy or to have access to additional emotional support. Some topics may bring up emotions or experiences that benefit from further processing between sessions.
You do not need to have the right words. You do not need to have it all figured out. You are invited exactly as you are.
“The biggest burden that a child must bear is the unlived life of a parent.” Carl Jung
Remembering Ourselves is a
six-session Women's Circle created for mothers who are longing to reconnect with themselves while remaining connected to the people they love led by
Chris Howard-Swan, MSW, LSW
What to Expect
Meet Your Facilitator
Chris Howard-Swan, MSW, LSW
Trauma-Informed Therapist
Women's Circle Leader
I am a licensed therapist and social worker with a Master's degree in Social Work. My practice is trauma-informed and integrates evidence-based approaches including mindfulness meditation, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT).
I believe healing occurs through attending to the whole person: mind, body, and spirit, and I tailor my approach to meet each woman's unique needs and experiences.
In addition to my clinical training, I've spent more than a decade studying and practicing the Women's Circle model developed by Marilyn Dam-Rabolt. Through Circle, I've learned to trust my own inner wisdom, creating profound and lasting change in my own life while cultivating deeply meaningful relationships with other women.
I believe every woman carries an innate wisdom and strength that can become obscured by the demands of life, relationships, and cultural expectations. My passion is creating spaces — both in therapy and in Circle — where women can reconnect with that inner knowing, reclaim their voices, and cultivate lives rooted in authenticity, self-trust, and sovereignty.
About the Circle
This Circle is based on a simple but powerful belief: mothers are not struggling because they are inadequate. We are struggling because of unrealistic cultural expectations and the loss of spaces where women can speak honestly about their lives.
Remembering Ourselves is rooted in the Women's Circle model originated by Marilyn Dam-Rabolt, BSN, MSN, whose work helped revive and preserve the practice of women gathering in intentional circles for healing, growth, and authentic connection. This model uses a feminine-centered leadership framework that is relational, collaborative, culturally diverse, intergenerational, and appreciative of differences.
Drawing from this tradition, participants are invited into a space where every voice matters, wisdom is shared through lived experience, and women are supported in remembering their own inner knowing. We gather not to fix one another, offer advice, or solve each other's problems — instead, we practice the art of listening, witnessing, and trusting the wisdom that already exists within and among us.
What to Expect
Our work together will include readings, meditations, and experiential exercises, along with skill-building in emotional management, accurate empathy, active listening, accountability, and healthy boundaries. Through devoted listening, meaningful conversation, and shared wisdom, we'll cultivate a sense of belonging to ourselves and to each other.
Some outcomes you might experience:
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Increased self-awareness and strategies for living more consciously
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Greater clarity around establishing and maintaining healthy personal boundaries
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Mind, body, and spirit practices that support living from your core
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Increased personal presence and the ability to speak and be heard, personally and professionally
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A stronger sense of your own power and competence in navigating conflict, healthy competition, and collaboration
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Grounding in the history and legacy of women's circles
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A supportive community of self-accountable women, and a deeper awareness of your own gifts
What to Expect
Our work together will include readings, meditations, and experiential exercises, along with skill-building in emotional management, accurate empathy, active listening, accountability, and healthy boundaries. Through devoted listening, meaningful conversation, and shared wisdom, we'll cultivate a sense of belonging to ourselves and to each other.
Some outcomes you might experience:
-
Increased self-awareness and strategies for living more consciously
-
Greater clarity around establishing and maintaining healthy personal boundaries
-
Mind, body, and spirit practices that support living from your core
-
Increased personal presence and the ability to speak and be heard, personally and professionally
-
A stronger sense of your own power and competence in navigating conflict, healthy competition, and collaboration
-
Grounding in the history and legacy of women's circles
-
A supportive community of self-accountable women, and a deeper awareness of your own gifts
What to Expect
Our work together will include readings, meditations, and experiential exercises, along with skill-building in emotional management, accurate empathy, active listening, accountability, and healthy boundaries. Through devoted listening, meaningful conversation, and shared wisdom, we'll cultivate a sense of belonging to ourselves and to each other.
Some outcomes you might experience:
-
Increased self-awareness and strategies for living more consciously
-
Greater clarity around establishing and maintaining healthy personal boundaries
-
Mind, body, and spirit practices that support living from your core
-
Increased personal presence and the ability to speak and be heard, personally and professionally
-
A stronger sense of your own power and competence in navigating conflict, healthy competition, and collaboration
-
Grounding in the history and legacy of women's circles
-
A supportive community of self-accountable women, and a deeper awareness of your own gifts
Investment
Joining a Circle is a sacred commitment. Each participant adds value and strength to the whole. Space is limited to 8 participants.
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Tuition is $75/session
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A non-refundable $75 deposit reserves your space and serves as tuition for the first session in September
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Once your commitment is made, you're responsible for payment of all six sessions
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A secure payment link will be sent to you directly once you've been accepted into the group
Ready to Join?
If the community and experience described here calls to you, trust your inner knowing and complete an application by August 1, 2026. Chris will follow up personally to answer questions and talk through next steps.
Questions?
Email Chris directly at chris@lakeviewcounselingservices.com
You do not have to choose between loving your family
and remembering yourself.