Hey, friend.
I see you carrying that grief and heartache around.
Maybe it’s weighted down with a bit of regret. Or bitterness. Or fear.
And you’re ready to give it a proper goodbye so you can move forward and love those around you with everything you’ve got.
You’re ready to experience freedom, lightness of heart, joy, and a deeper intimacy with God.
Consider this your personal invitation to Journal Gently.
What grief are you carrying?
Whether it was the loss of a loved one, the betrayal of a friend or spouse, a false accusation, or unforgettable abuse, chances are you are carrying things you were never meant to carry.
And you’re feeling it…
…the heaviness of dragging those burdens around with you everywhere you go.
…the impact it has on your everyday life.
…the influence it has on the way you interact with those you love.
You’ve sensed God inviting you to bring it all to Him, to let Him heal the hurting pieces inside of you.
And you’re ready. Ready to bring your grief and pain to God.
But HOW?
Being the proactive lady you are, you tried to work through it on your own. You…
- Wrote it all out, but it only stirred up bad memories and lots of fear.
- Started journaling, then grew frustrated when you couldn’t seem to keep it up.
- Talked with a friend, only to realize they didn’t understand…
or found it to be too sacred a topic for a random, everyday conversation. - Met with a counselor, yet discovered you couldn’t answer their questions during sessions, even though you desperately wanted to.
Maybe eventually, you decided to…
- Push the hurt back down so you wouldn’t have to deal with it.
- Focus on serving others at church or in your community.
- Numb the pain with food or alcohol.
Can you relate?
If so, then you can probably raise your hand to these things, too.
You consider yourself quiet.
Put yourself in a room with others and you’re probably the quietest one in the bunch. It’s not that you don’t have something to say. You’d rather listen and take the time to think about what words are worth speaking.
You process life through writing.
Journaling allows you to figure out what’s stirring inside of you. You may not have the words to speak out loud, but they come to you once you put pen to paper.
You value privacy and space.
Not everything is meant to be shared with everyone. Some things are sacred. Like what’s going on inside your heart and soul. You like time and space to think and reflect on your own–away from others.
That’s why the other methods don’t work for you. You need something designed for you.
Introducing Journal Gently
Journal Gently is an 8-week program designed to help you use writing as a way to process hurt, grief, and trauma with God.
>> Trauma-sensitive approach
Specifically designed for those seeking to write after experiencing deep grief or hardship.
>> Gentle pace
Plenty of time to reflect on and explore what you are learning. Go as slow or as fast as you’d like.
>> Safe + sacred space
Private email correspondence and audio messaging that allows you to ask the questions you have or to have someone witness your story.
>> Personalized support
1:1 guidance from a certified writing guide and spiritual director, so you receive the encouragement, prayer, and support you desire.
>> Power of choice
You choose what to write about and how much you want to share–if anything.
>> Holistic care
Care for your heart, soul, mind, and body as you do the holy work of healing.
“I can’t even begin to tell you how pivotal Journal Gently was to my healing journey. Not only did God meet me on the pages of my journal regarding the wounds in my marriage, but it’s also where I began to unpack some pretty heavy trauma that I had stuffed away for nearly a decade. God lovingly and gently taught me through the program that grief isn’t linear, that it’s not about ‘feeling better’ but about feeling and letting the emotions pour out honestly and unfiltered before God, and how to hold safe space for my grief and pain as a way of honoring my experience. God used Journal Gently to open the door to the deep and lasting healing that I had been desperately searching for for a long time!”
Celia M., Journal Gently participant
Face Your Grief in a Gentle Way
Coming close to your grief and entering into it can be scary. Overwhelming, even.
Through Journal Gently, you’ll learn how to take a gentle, graceful approach so you can care for your heart, body, and soul.
- Create a space for writing and reflecting
- Explore a writing rhythm and routine that works for you
- Name what is stirring deep within you–with curiosity, not judgment
- Set your writing aside when you need to
- Discover ways to care for your body and soul
- Identify your support and care team
- Notice God’s presence there with you
Because the truth is, your grief won’t magically be gone in 8 weeks. But you’ll have the tools, habits, and skills you need to keep talking to God about it.
What does Journal Gently look like?
8-Week Program
Receive training each week in your inbox that teaches you how to write after experiencing grief and trauma.
- Reclaim your voice if it has been silenced or taken away.
- Piece together and make sense of your story.
- Write about your grief/trauma–or simply start writing again (about anything) if you’ve stopped.
- Invite God into the entire process.
Plus 1:1 Support and Care
But this is more than a course.
You get 1:1 private access to me as your spiritual director and writing guide… so you can get the care you need as you do the hard and holy work of healing.
- Ask questions about what you’re learning.
- Share your writing exercises (never any pressure here!).
- Get personalized recommendations for resources and journaling prompts.
- Receive prayer along the journey.
You can email me, send me audio messages, or pass along pictures of your journal pages–you get to choose WHAT to share and HOW to do so.
And if you decide you want to keep it all to yourself… well, that’s just fine, too.
Snippets from Journal Gently
“It brought some closure to a lot of things, and to that part of my story.”
“Journal Gently has been so good for my soul.”
“The Lord has used these past several weeks to add another layer of healing on this journey I’m on.”
“It brought me a lot of joy this week!”
“This week was freeing for me.”
“I am feeling lighter and more optimistic through the first two lessons and the writing exercises, and am excited to see where this journey will lead me.”
“It has been liberating for me to learn how I can best write at a pace and in a way that works for me, rather than trying to force myself into a certain mold or follow what works for someone else.”
“Journal Gently reignited my passion for meeting God on the blank pages of my journal!”
Weekly Work
Start by listening to a brief audio invitation from me. Then read the short training materials and complete one writing exercise each week (you’ll have options to choose from). You can do the work in 1-2 hours all at once, or split it up and do a little bit each day.
>> Week 1: A Room of One’s Own
Create space to write and meet with God.
>> Week 2: Begin Writing
Learn how to listen to your stories–and to God.
>> Week 3: Self-Care
Explore how to care for your self as you write.
>> Week 4: The Writing Body
Examine your body as a keeper of stories.
>> Week 5: Genres
Explore different writing forms to share your stories.
>> Week 6: Topics
Take a closer look at your writing topics.
>> Week 7: Creating Wholeness
Learn how writing can bring healing.
>> Week 8: Expressing the Wordless
Explore ways to express those experiences that have no words.
Start Journal Gently as soon as you sign up.
8 weeks of audio and written training
Over 20 writing exercises specifically designed for processing trauma and grief
Recommended spiritual practices to use when writing and grieving
1:1 private support, guidance, and care via email or voice messaging
Follow-up support once the program ends
Additional resources to continue learning and healing
$197 $97
Hi, I’m Kari.
I have been writing ever since I was a little girl–journaling, crafting poems and short stories, writing devotionals and Bible studies for church.
But there came a time when my writing was taken away from me.
And I lost my words.
It took several years for me to recover what I had lost, to let God redeem those experiences and bring me even closer to Him.
The process of writing and journaling has been one of the greatest gifts God has given me to reflect on what I have experienced.
But more than that, it has been one of the places where I have met and experienced God Himself.
And I’d love to support you as you use writing to meet with Him, too.
“[Through Journal Gently,] I felt a deeper understanding of how God’s word heals. David was a passionate man after God’s own heart, and so much of his life story, his pain, trauma, was turned into song, poetry. This is what awakened within me. I never have written poetry before, yet found words flowing out of my soul. God’s words heal, and God’s words within us express healing. How great is that!”
Cindy, Journal Gently participant
Q&A’s
How do I know if Journal Gently is a good fit for me?
Here are some questions to help you discern if Journal Gently is right for you in this season:
- Are you ready to talk to God about your grief and heartache?
- Do you tend to process life through writing and journaling?
- Do you have 1-2 hours a week to commit to going through the training and writing practices (either all at once or in shorter chunks of time)?
- Do you desire the prayerful support of a trusted guide?
If so, then yes, I encourage you to dive in. If you’re still not sure, email me and we’ll figure it out together.
What tool do you use for voice messaging?
My favorite is Voxer, a free walkie-talkie app that allows us to send both text and audio messages. It works just like a walkie-talkie: you push the button while you talk and I can either listen in real-time or later (and vice versa).
What if I don’t want to share my writing with you?
Completely okay! In fact, I believe some things are just between you and God. If and when you are ready to share, I would be honored to bear witness to your story. Also, you are welcome to share other things: your favorite quote from the reading, questions you have, etc. The point is, you get to choose what to share and when.
What if I get behind?
There is no getting behind. 😉 You go at the pace that is right for you. While you’ll still get the trainings in your inbox each week, you can simply set them aside until you’re ready for them. I’ll keep checking in to see how you’re doing.
I am currently working with a therapist/counselor. Should Journal Gently be done on its own or would it work well alongside therapy?
Counselors and therapists do a great work! Journal Gently is not therapy itself, but it can be a great tool for you to process what you and your therapist talk about. You can also share what you wrote with your therapist and discuss it together.
What if I try Journal Gently and decide it’s not right for me?
If you go through the first week’s materials and realize it’s not right for you, it’s okay. I applaud you for trying! Just email me within 7 days of purchase and I’ll refund your money.
