Group work for people who don't like group work...

If you're anything like me, you’re not a “group person.” You’re not interested in holding hands and chanting affirmations or sitting in a circle waiting to receive the talking stick. You want to have meaningful conversations and come away better. You like learning, but you don't want to feel uncomfortable. Right? Me too.

This is group work for smart, introspective people who want to actually learn something. It’s not therapy, and it’s not just a support group. It’s processing space, sure, but also skill-building in real time, with other humans who are also here to grow and learn together. It's a way of being in community, with intention. (You might even make friends, but you don't have to.)

My name is Amy Miller (she/they), and as you know, I'm a clinical social worker, coach, mediator, facilitator, speaker, writer, mom, and wife. I'm 46, perimenopausal, frequently full of rage at the machine, introverted (although I fake it well), and I cuss a lot. My role(s) in life are: catalyst, collector, and connector: I make change happen, I collect amazing people, and I put them together.

In my groups and classes, we focus on:

Learning how to do things differently—how to speak clearly, listen better, navigate conflict, hold boundaries, repair damage, and stay connected
Empathy, peer support, and psychological safety
Structured, thoughtful sessions that build insight and capacity
Holding space for what group members may need, but with strong facilitation to ensure balance

I promise you don’t have to love groups to get something useful out of this work. You just have to be willing to show up with curiosity and an open mind. All are welcome.

photo by Jenna Grissom (jelizabethphotos.com)

Learn more about Amy

What does it mean to "hold space"? Holding space means creating room for the truth—without judgment, fixing, or rushing. It’s the practice of being fully present with what’s real: the mess, the clarity, the stuck spots, the breakthroughs. It’s about listening deeply, asking better questions, and staying with someone (or yourself) through the discomfort of growth. At Roots & Keys, holding space isn’t passive. It’s intentional, active, and rooted in respect. It’s about making room for what matters—so you can hear yourself more clearly and do the work that actually changes things.

Held Space STL:
COACHING IN COMMUNITY

What is Held Space STL?

It's an extension of all my other work...

Held Space STL is the group work arm of my life + relationship coaching practice Roots & Keys Coaching. I have always enjoyed group work, but after the pandemic, folks are still reporting feeling disconnected and lacking social connections.

This is an attempt to mitigate that: everything is designed specifically for regular people who want honest conversation, real tools, and a comfortable, informal space to learn (without the weird group therapy vibes). It's in the same location; the suite next door to my office holds up to 15 people comfortably.

These small groups, free community gatherings, and skill-building workshops are for anyone who desires better relationships, more effective communication, and overall happier and easier lives.

If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to work with me—or you’ve been a client in the past—this is an extension of that same work: clear, grounded, and bullshit-free. Just with other humans in the room.

The added bonus is that group work is considerably more affordable than 1:1 or couples work, which in the ... shall we say, "current state of the world" is often a consideration, I know. You can obviously still book 1:1 and relationship sessions with me, as well, and use group stuff to complement the work we're doing there. Whatever works for your life + your budget.

More About Coaching

CURRENT PROGRAMS

(These will change as I have new ideas or lose interest in old ones! Registration links in orange)

Getting Better at Being Human

Classes and other stuff

Current offerings:

APRIL Workshop For Parents:

Let's Talk About Puberty (etc)

I know how hard it can be to know the right words -at the right time- to give kids the information they need in an age-appropriate way!

So this is not about giving you a perfect script or having “the talk.” It is about becoming the kind of adult your child can actually come to, knowing you will respond calmly and without freaking out.

Objectives / What you will gain:

Increase comfort using accurate, non-shaming language for bodies, development, and sexuality (including tips for gender expansive or trans kids + diverse emerging sexualities)
Understand what kids actually need to know at different ages
Practice staying grounded when your own embarrassment, history, or social conditioning gets activated (and learning to recognize those cues in your body)
Learn how to respond to questions about periods, erections, masturbation, breast development, body hair, etc without panic or over-explaining
Build skills for creating ongoing conversations instead of one big, high-pressure “talk”
Learn how to normalize curiosity without encouraging secrecy or shame (so you can say “you can ask me anything” and actually mean it!)
Develop language that supports bodily autonomy, consent, and respect
MOSTLY, strengthen your ability to be a calm, trustworthy source of information

This workshop is for parents and caregivers who want their kids to grow up with accurate information, healthy boundaries, and a relationship to their bodies that is based on respect instead of fear.

Join us on April 18 , 1-3pm ($85)

Sunday Sessions: Not Church

Coffee, Connections, Community

Between the pandemic and politics and the stressors of modern life, social connections feel frayed and folks report feeling lonely and isolated.

And with the decline of church attendance, many adults miss having a thing to do on Sunday mornings and a built-in community of people to connect with. Instead of tithing a church, you can instead join a group of smart, introspective adults for a program called "Not Church".

This is a guided dialogue-based series designed specifically to build community and connection. It's not skills-based nor is it healing work; the entire goal is meaningful conversation. The next cohort begins April 19 and is four biweekly 90 minute sessions ($245). Enroll here.

Topics for Spring Cohort:

April 19: Humor (what's funny, what's not funny, & why)

May 3: The Functions of Power (good, bad, ugly)

May 17: Anger + Joy

May 31: Attachment + How We Love

For Women

Be Your Own #1 SOLD OUT

Phrases like "Women's Empowerment Workshop" are not really my vibe...but if it were, that's what this is.

In honor of March being Women's History Month: this is an expansion of what came out of the women's leadership workshop I held in December, coupled with the content of session one of "Relationship School: Relationship with Self".

This is an opportunity for humans who identify as or were socialized as girls/women to be in community with others while taking a deep, loving look at who you are and who you're growing into.

This 3-hour session is a guided exploration of the most important relationship you will ever have: the one with yourself. Before we can build healthy relationships with others, or show up as powerful leaders, we have to understand who we are, what we value, and how we speak to and care for ourselves.

Participants will explore identity beyond roles and productivity, clarify core values, examine your inner voice, and reflect on your relationship with your body, mind, and spirit. March 14 1-4pm, $145

A Fun (Not Awkward) Workshop for Couples

Conflict + Repair Agreements: A Practical Skills Session

This is another co-facilitated session with my husband, Rodney Prather. You do not need to have attended the previous #RelationshipGoals workshop to benefit from this session. BUT if you did attend, this is the natural next step where intentions turn into skills.

The difference between relationships that grow and relationships that erode over time is not whether conflict happens, but how it’s handled and how quickly and effectively repair happens afterward.

This session is focused on giving you real, usable tools for navigating conflict without damaging trust, safety, or connection.

Participants will leave with:

A better understanding of their personal conflict style and how it impacts their relationship
Tools for slowing down escalation and creating more emotional safety during disagreement
Language for taking responsibility, expressing needs, and repairing after conflict
A simple framework for having repair conversations that rebuild trust
A shared “conflict agreement” outlining how you want to handle hard moments together
Greater confidence that conflict can strengthen, not weaken, your relationship

This session is for couples who are doing pretty well but want to level up their skills. You want fewer unresolved fights, less emotional damage, and more confidence that you can face difficult conversations while staying on the same team. We got you!

Join us on May 2 at 1p. Fees are $225 per couple.

"This Actually Does Not Suck"

Real clients, in their own words:

Paula O

"Amy is a natural facilitator who puts everyone at ease. As a person who doesn't get too emotional or expressive, I have been pleasantly surprised that talking about my feelings in a group can be fun. The group setting has been a great way to get to know some lovely humans, and myself, a lot better." (Paula O)

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"Amy's superpower is dismantling defensiveness and enabling vulnerability. Even among a group of perfect strangers, after one hour of facilitated discussion with Amy, you can't help but feel like you're chatting with old friends." (Scott W)