Restoried Takes a Creative, Multi-Modal Approach to Trauma and Grief Healing

Lehigh Valley resident Molly Gilley founded and led an event production and management company, Mgstudio, for over 14 years until she felt a calling to help people in a different way: by offering a supportive space to heal trauma and rediscover joy. In 2024—at age 59—Gilley took the leap to earn her master’s degree in clinical mental health, and began working with Cornerstone Counseling Ministries to complete the required hours toward licensure, all in pursuit of building her new vision: Restoried.

Gilley envisions Restoried as an inviting, non-clinical retreat environment (she describes it as a “home-style space with a bed and breakfast feel”) where patients can address grief and trauma through many different therapeutic modalities: art, writing, dance, drama, spending time in nature, and more. Her goal is to help people heal from emotional pain and develop resilience, both individually and communally.

“Ideally, the program will serve hurting individuals that are already under individual therapeutic care, who desire to deepen their healing process. Individual therapy is a wonderful intervention; however, current research indicates that processing trauma through a variety of therapeutic modalities promotes more expeditious healing,” she said. “Restoried seeks to provide a safe, faith-based, non-clinical space where individuals and small groups can gather to engage in alternative modalities of therapy…to deepen and expedite healing. It is my belief that the healed yearn to facilitate healing in others, which is exponential in nature.”

The mission is deeply important to Gilley on a personal level. 

“Restoried is the place I was looking for when I went through a devastating time in my life,” she said. “I have found that many others, professional and pedestrian, have resonated with this vision. Learning about the depth of emotional despair that so many contend with was sobering, but further propelled me in my desire to create this ministry of hope.”

Currently, Restoried is in its early stages of development, and support is welcome as Gilley and Humanitarian Social Innovations work together to build the organization. To contribute, please visit the Restoried page at HSI.