FOUNDER OF DREAMING TREE INITIATIVE • STORY FACILITATOR • CERTIFIED IN NARRATIVE-FOCUSED TRAUMA CARE • PRINCIPAL AT A GLOBAL ARCHITECTURE FIRM
Meet Andrew Kohr
Certified in Narrative Focused Trauma Care at the renowned Allender Center at the Seattle School of Theology, Andrew provides a safe and supportive environment for individuals seeking to address unresolved brokenness and trauma in their story.
Prior to founding Dreaming Tree, Andrew worked as a landscape architect for 20+ years, leading multidisciplinary teams and becoming a Principal and part owner of Pond, a global architecture and engineering firm.
Andrew’s unique blend of personal and professional experiences, including his own journey of dealing with the trauma of childhood abuse, have given him a powerful ability to guide others through their stories.
Andrew is also currently a facilitator for the Allender Center's Level One Narrative Focused Trauma Care training.
“As a survivor of childhood abuse, I know what it’s like to feel burdened by unaddressed pain in your story. For years, I struggled with anxiety, my calling, and the sexual abuse I experienced in my childhood.
Through my own personal Story Work, I experienced tremendous healing and freedom. Now, I’m passionate about helping others work through the brokenness of their story, experience hope, and discover God’s calling in their lives.”
Our Approach
At Dreaming Tree, we believe that true healing involves more than just addressing symptoms—it’s about understanding and embracing the full depth of your story. Our approach is rooted in the following principles:
1. Holistic and Integrated
We view each person as a complex, interconnected being, where mind, body, and spirit are all woven together. Ignoring one aspect means missing the bigger picture.
2. Story-Centered Care
Your story matters. We create a safe, compassionate space where your past experiences, relationships, and inner narrative are explored. By deeply engaging with your story, we help you uncover the patterns that have shaped your life and begin the process of transformation.
3. Embodied Experience
Past wounds can often manifest in our bodies. Through intentional practices that connect you with your body, we help you feel grounded and rooted in the present. This physical connection is key to experiencing a deeper sense of healing and resilience.
4. Community and Connection
Healing doesn’t happen in isolation. We believe in the power of community and the importance of meaningful relationships. Whether through our Story Groups, one-on-one sessions, or workshops, you’ll find a supportive environment where you can connect with others and grow together.
Our Offerings
Story Groups
In this 7-week small group experience, you'll explore your story in community and learn tools for engaging in others' stories.
1:1 Story Work
Dive deeper into the themes and pivotal experiences in your life through a series of 1-on-1 sessions with a trained, compassionate facilitator.
Story Workshops
Designed for businesses, nonprofits, and churches, this half-day workshop will empower your team members to engage in their stories and experience greater unity and empathy.
Our Collaborators
Kerstin Armstrong
M.A.Counseling, M.Div., Narrative Trauma Care Training
Rhonda Reynolds
Certified Narrative Focused Trauma Care Facilitator
Testimonies of Transformation
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“By working with Andrew, I’ve gained valuable perspective and tools that will positively impact my present and future. He saw into the hidden places of my story that most overlook and made connections that brought freedom and rest to areas where I had long felt confusion and pain. I’d encourage anyone interested in this work to consider working with him.”
-1-on-1 Story Work Client
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“Andrew’s Story Group was one of the most transformative experiences of my life. As a leader he is empathetic, intentional, honest, and vulnerable. I learned how I'm still affected by the wounds of my past and the blessings God has made available to me. As a gentle guide, Andrew helped our group engage and listen well.”
-Story Group Participant
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“Andrew’s unique insight and his attention to the not-so-obvious will help you tremendously in understanding how your story has impacted your past and present. Exploring your story is an investment you will greatly benefit from.”
-Scott Gibson, MSW, LCSW, Founder, Scott Gibson Counseling
There’s an old saying, “If you don’t deal with your story, your story will deal with you.”
Our stories, childhoods, and families have a profound influence on how we see and understand ourselves, others, God, and the world around us.
And yet, many of us have never taken the time to explore how those powerful, formative experiences may be hindering us in our relationships, work, and life.
Story Work is a narrative-based approach that involves naming the places of hurt and brokenness in our lives so that we can experience greater freedom, hope, and flourishing.
What is Story Work?
What’s the story behind the name “Dreaming Tree?”
In 1999, while attending college in Virginia, Andrew became a fan of the Dave Matthews Band. Their song "The Dreaming Tree," released in 1998, resonated deeply with him. The lyrics convey a profound longing for the past, for family, and for a place where pain and hope coexist. The Dreaming Tree symbolized a safe space that held and protected the stories of those in the song.
During a hike on the Northern Neck of Virginia, Andrew encountered his first "dreaming tree"—a tall, powerful oak that offered him immediate comfort. That image of the oak became a lasting source of solace for Andrew, a place where his stories were safeguarded, and his hope was renewed. We believe everyone has a "dreaming tree," and we hope to explore it together with you.
What People Are Saying About Andrew
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“Andrew is passionate about story care and his desire to join men and women on a journey of healing. With over a decade of friendship and having co-led story groups, he is a challenger who fights for what is good. Andrew’s passion is to help you explore why you so often feel wandering, wounded, and weary. With curiosity and kindness, he’ll help bring clarity to your present and positive impact on your future.”
-Kerstin Armstrong, M.A. Counseling, M.Div., Narrative Trauma Care Training
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“Andrew helped me see the coercive way my mom set me up to be harmed by my brother and believe it was my role to take care of fragile men. As the first male facilitator of my story, Andrew’s wise and compassionate presence was especially powerful and redemptive, allowing parts of me to be seen in places where trusting men to have my best interests at heart had always felt impossible.”
-1-on-1 Story Work Client
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“Andrew is a gifted and conscientious leader who truly sees people and where God is in their story. His passion for people is a great gift for the church. ”
-Scott Armstrong, Senior Pastor, City Church Eastside