YOUR home
of WHOLENESS
Transforming stories through Christ-centered, Spirit-Led, and Trauma-Informed Artful Storywork™
No Art Skills Needed | Not an Art Class | Not therapy
“Maybe your story was never meant to stay in the past.
Maybe it was meant to become
a poem,
a prayer,
a path,
a revolution.”
— Shelley Henk, Artist of the Soul
“Your story is bigger than your past—step into your God-sized dreams with freedom and purpose.”
How Artful Storywork™ is different
Unlike conventional habit coaching, therapy, or “manifestation” programs, Artful Storywork™ doesn’t try to fix you or force outcomes; it helps you uncover how your beliefs and behaviors impact your body and mind, guiding you to reclaim the God-given story you were created to live.
Meet Your Guide:
Shelley Henk, RN, BSN, Nurse turned Artist of the Soul,
Creator of Artful Storywork™
A Feminine Voice for Integrated, Embodied Wholeness
Shelley guides women into embodied wholeness, where nervous system regulation, spiritual formation, and creative expression meet.
Shelley is a voice for integrated spiritual healing. Through holistic health wisdom, expressive arts, and Christ-centered spirituality, she guides women out of suffering and into a grounded, embodied path of wholeness through her signature process, Artful Storywork™.
Featured in the PBS documentary Medical Stories Under Control and co-author of the bestselling Just Say No, Shelley has spent decades holding the stories of women in moments of suffering, transition, and awakening.
What qualifies Shelley to do this work?
Shelley‘s God given gift to help women walk out this journey is worth more than its weight in gold.
— Michelle Maxwell
PICK YOUR PATH TO WHOLENESS:
THE ONE YEAR PATH
Finding Beautiful School of YOU™ is a year-long guided path to wholeness, to take you from disconnection to creating your God-sized dreams.
The School of YOU is so worth it! I have gone from guarded and defensive, to being at peace and feeling loved by God. I’m creating my new story! ” — Jennifer Taylor
PERSONALIZED ONE TO ONE
The Embodied Whole™ offers personalized one-on-one Artful Storywork sessions to help women restore clarity, balance, and vitality.
My experience with Shelley has been extraordinary. The depth and sensitivity and knowledge that Shelley brings to the table is exactly what I needed.” - Kim LaPilusa
Self Paced Course for walking the path from disconnection to wholeness at your own pace.
“I cannot explain or describe the feeling of restoration and healing that I feel.” - KD Sanders
“My time with her exceeded any expectations and the outcome is invaluable.”
-Ashton Greer
EXPRESSIVE ART EXPERIENCES
MOVE, BREATH, CREATE
Embodied Expression Experiences™ offer group workshops, masterclasses, and expressive art sessions that help participants reconnect with creativity, embody personal growth, and cultivate clarity, joy, and rest for the soul.
“I cannot explain or describe the feeling of restoration and healing that I feel.” - KD Sanders
Not ready for 1:1 work yet?
Start here:
A Self-Paced Path to Wholeness
Begin with the FEEL ELEMENT COURSE
A holistic path from disconnection to inner wholeness.
FEEL 8 Week Course — You will reclaim your body as a place of safety and strength
Shelley’s work bridges body, story, and spirit, guiding women from fear-based survival into Christ-centered, embodied wholeness.
If you loved the movie The Shack, you will love her work.
Why the Whole Soul path is Different
Shelley’s approach is rooted in a simple but radical belief:
Wholeness cannot be forced. It must be felt, embodied, and integrated.
Rather than fixing or bypassing pain, this work:
Listens to the wisdom of the body
Honors the nervous system’s need for safety and rest
Engages story, symbolism, and imagination
Centers Christ not as doctrine, but as presence, wisdom, and invitation
Is a progressive proven path to wholeness
Goes beyond mindset coaching to the soul and spirit level
This integration forms the foundation of Artful Storywork™ and the Four Elements of Wholeness™, a framework that guides women through feeling, healing, dreaming, and creating a life aligned with their true self.
This work is guided by four core values:
Authenticity
Creativity
Adventure
Connection
YOUR STORY IS THE ART
At Whole Soul Studio, we believe your story is not something to overcome, but it is the medicine that will set your body and soul free.
YOUR STORY IS WORTHY OF BEAUTY
“When your head and heart disagree, the body tells on you.”
Shelley Henk
Shelley’s signature Artful Storywork™ process turns your inner journey into a sacred, living canvas.
A somatic, creative, story driven roadmap where the light and shadow of your story are held on the canvas instead of inside your body.
You see yourself and your story with clarity and have the confidence to move forward and create your beautiful life.
Zero Art Skills Needed
More Stories of Transformation
Holding Your Story as Sacred
“She’s not afraid to ask the tough questions that evoke deeper thoughts/emotions and she connects authentically with others. Her wisdom is beyond her years and I value her guidance in the importance of connecting my body, mind and spirit to live my most abundant life."
— Kim Henry
“Working with Shelley, “Artist of the Soul” was such an incredible way to embrace the darks and the lights of my life and learn how they have complimented one another to create the woman that I am today. The “Finding Beautiful School of YOU” transformed my mess into meaning and left me feeling empowered and proud of who I am."
— Jessica Smith Dos Santos
“For years I’ve searched for someone to help me understand & navigate my history while pushing me to LIVE forward. So many past experiences have walked me through the past, but left me stuck there. Shelley teaches methods to help deal with the triggers, yet keep moving forward so I can honor who I am at my core while acknowledging the feelings and emotions that come along with it. No more suppression. No more numbness."
— Emily Byrnes
“I love how Shelley weaves art, science & spirituality into our broken stories at the Finding Beautiful School of YOU. Helping us bring beauty forth. Shelley guides us past the healing stage, I felt stuck in. Her vision helped me awaken my God sized Dreams & this beautiful Artful Storywork healed my broken stories. So grateful.”
— Lisa Spokis
“Shelley helped break off me long held beliefs about God and myself that relegated me to believing I would always be last to receive. What a joy for that thinking to be gone! In just two short hours burdens, limiting beliefs, and some “stinking’ thinkin’ I didn’t even know I had was destroyed! Not only does Shelley know what she is doing she makes you feel that the most important thing she has to do at that moment is be in front of you. It was an amazing experience!”
— Dan Thomas
“Shelley helps you realize through her past experiences, that you too can bust through the barrier of pain and see suffering and see with beauty and purpose. She shares how looking backward to unearth your story allows you to let go and embrace forgiveness, love, and purpose to move forward."
— Katie Hurley
“Shelley Henk has helped me go from “hot mess” to finding my joy with purpose and passion! She has helped me rewrite my story learning to love who I once was and focus on who God created me to be. Helping me awaken to new possibilities, gain clarity on the future I want to create and empowering me take action to live an abundant and beautiful future!"
— Andrea Farrell
Why choose WHOLE SOUL STUDIO
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Shelley has been a Nurse and witnessed humanities hardest moments. This has given her a compassion and grit that is hard to come by. Shelley has been an Artist and Creative her entire life, and speaks the language of the body, emotions, and intuition fluently.
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Shelley considers all the parts of you and your life through a trauma informed lens. She understands the Science and the Spiritual side of life. Seeing them as interconnected. She considers your cellular health as well as your soul health. This is very hard to find.
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Shelley’s work is guided by her personal experiences, not just her credentials. She has experienced many traumatic events, lost her health and wholeness, and regained it holistically. She operates as a guide to wholeness, and believes your story is the medicine.
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Shelley’s work is not clinical, it is an Art. Art, Story, and Spirit are the medicine she carries.
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Wounds are not seen as a problem to be fixed but as the very place where transformation breaks open. While your past is important to giving us clues to your wholeness path, it is not the focus of our work, we are focused on forward growth and helping you create a live you love.
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People who draw or paint their dreams and goals are forty two percent more likely to achieve them.
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All of Shelley’s work is guided by the Holy Spirit. While she does not force her beliefs on others, her faith is the inspiration for everything she does.
Common Questions:
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Yes, much of our work is done virtually, but we also offer in person retreats and workshops
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You can paint or use other expressive tools.
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No, in fact the less you know about traditional Art the more fun you will probably have.
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No, you do not although you can. Artful Storywork is designed to help you release your story from the body, so if you are not ready to use words, you can just use paint. If you want to use words but keep them to yourself, you can. This is were Artful Storywork shines, the paper or canvas can be a witness and a mirror.
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We service central IL and support people virtually. Travel is possible.
Shelley works from her home studio
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While Shelley holds credentials as an RN, BSN, Certified Whole Health Educator/Coach, Patient Advocate, Enneagram Relationship Coach, Kingdom Minister, and Therapeutic Artist. Shelley’s work is purely educational, spiritual, and transformational. Her methods were mainly birthed from her own personal experience of restoring her wholeness and from working with over 1,000 clients to achieve health.
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Yes we do
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No, even though Shelley holds credentials, her work is creative not clinical. Therefore, insurance will not cover this service.
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No, you do not. Shelley’s work is very symbolic and uses archetypes from scripture, but non Christians would also feel its truth.
Contact Us
Interested in working together for something other than the Finding Beautiful School of YOU? Shelley would love to explore any creative ideas you have to bring Artful Storywork to you or the people you serve. Fill out some info and we will be in touch shortly. We can’t wait to hear from you!
Disclaimer
The services, programs, and creative practices offered through Whole Soul Studio, including Artful Storywork™, are for educational, personal growth, and creative expression purposes only. They are not a substitute for medical, psychological, or mental health treatment. Always consult with your physician or qualified health provider regarding any physical or mental health concerns. Participation in coaching, retreats, or creative sessions is voluntary, and results may vary based on individual effort, readiness, and circumstances.