73: Visual Journalling for Grief, Healing, and the Art of Becoming with Evie Lindemann

Writing with Purpose Podcast 73: Visual Journalling for Grief, Healing, and the Art of Becoming with Evie LindemannWhat if the image you made without thinking was already holding something you hadn't yet found the words for? In this episode of the Writing with Purpose podcast, I'm joined by Evie Lindemann, an art therapist, marriage and family therapist, and author who bridges creative expression with depth psychology and end-of-life care. Evie's work spans clinical practice, teaching, and humanitarian projects, helping people navigate grief, trauma, and life transitions through visual journalling and expressive arts. Her unique approach invites us to explore what images can reveal that words alone might miss.In this conversation, Evie draws on a remarkable life, from illustrating children's literacy materials in Afghanistan to working with combat veterans, supporting communities through critical incident debriefing, and sitting with families in emergency room grief. We explore William Worden's four stages of grief, including the often-overlooked fourth stage of finding an enduring connection with those we have lost, and why grief has no timetable. At the heart of the conversation is Evie's own 'pick up your pen' moment, and the simple, powerful invitation it carries for anyone who feels their creative voice has gone quiet."I think our fractured and wounded places lead us to things that will ultimately matter."In This EpisodeGeographic loss as a form of griefThe difference between productive art making and reflective art making What happened when Evie walked into a room of combat veterans and admitted she had no answers How the blend of visual image and expressive writing carries a power that neither holds alone The inner cast of characters we all carryPractical WisdomEvie shares practical starting points for anyone curious about visual journalling or expressive arts, including:The scribble technique: fill a blank page with marks until an image appears, then outline it and begin a written conversation with itUsing a line of poetry as a place to begin, with no expectation of where it will leadApproaching creative resistances with gentleness rather than force, finding a settled internal place before pushing throughConnect With EviePlease connect with Evie Lindemann to follow her work and stay connected.WebsiteLinkedInAlso Mentioned in This PodcastThe Light of Days: Women's Resistance Fighters in the Ghettos by Judy BatalionThe Wind in the Willows by Kenneth GrahameFerdinand the BullKitchen Table Wisdom by Rachel Naomi RemenKay Adams and the Center for Journal TherapyWilliam Worden, grief therapist and researcherElizabeth Kübler-Ross, grief researcher and authorCarl Jung's 'active imagination' conceptMeher Baba / Meher Archive CollectiveInternational Poetry Therapy AssociationThe Bamiyan Valley UNESCO World Heritage Site, AfghanistanPodcast Chapters00:00 Introduction03:39 Exploring Grief and Courage Through Literature06:27 The Role of Art in Therapy and Personal Journey08:56 Childhood Experiences on Creativity14:14 The Intersection of Travel, Art, and Cultural Understanding16:41 The Significance of Children's Literature24:18 The Stages of Grief and Personal Reflections27:03 Finding Meaning in Loss and Moving Forward37:33 Enduring Connections and Memory41:27 The Power of Shared Stories46:05 Art as a Healing Medium51:07 Engaging with Creativity55:06 Self-Discovery through Art01:04:08 Future Endeavours01:09:05 Community Engagement01:09:30 The Benefits of Journalling Workshops_ _ _A new episode is released every other Saturday at 8 am.Loved this episode? Leave a review or share your thoughts on social media – your feedback helps others discover the podcast and keeps the conversation going.Download a free PDF journal planner and entrance meditation to kickstart your journalling journey.Connect with meJoin my bi-weekly newsletter