Writing with Purpose Podcast 73: Visual Journalling for Grief, Healing, and the Art of Becoming with Evie Lindemann
What 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 Episode
- Geographic loss as a form of grief
- The 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 carry
Practical Wisdom
Evie 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 it
- Using a line of poetry as a place to begin, with no expectation of where it will lead
- Approaching creative resistances with gentleness rather than force, finding a settled internal place before pushing through
Connect With Evie
Please connect with Evie Lindemann to follow her work and stay connected.
Also Mentioned in This Podcast
- The Light of Days: Women's Resistance Fighters in the Ghettos by Judy Batalion
- The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame
- Ferdinand the Bull
- Kitchen Table Wisdom by Rachel Naomi Remen
- Kay Adams and the Center for Journal Therapy
- William Worden, grief therapist and researcher
- Elizabeth Kübler-Ross, grief researcher and author
- Carl Jung's 'active imagination' concept
- Meher Baba / Meher Archive Collective
- International Poetry Therapy Association
- The Bamiyan Valley UNESCO World Heritage Site, Afghanistan
Podcast Chapters
00:00 Introduction
03:39 Exploring Grief and Courage Through Literature
06:27 The Role of Art in Therapy and Personal Journey
08:56 Childhood Experiences on Creativity
14:14 The Intersection of Travel, Art, and Cultural Understanding
16:41 The Significance of Children's Literature
24:18 The Stages of Grief and Personal Reflections
27:03 Finding Meaning in Loss and Moving Forward
37:33 Enduring Connections and Memory
41:27 The Power of Shared Stories
46:05 Art as a Healing Medium
51:07 Engaging with Creativity
55:06 Self-Discovery through Art
01:04:08 Future Endeavours
01:09:05 Community Engagement
01:09:30 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.
