107 | Writing From the Body: Permission, Reverence, and the Power of Being Witnessed | Johanna Franzel

What happens when we stop thinking of writing as something we do from the neck up and instead let the body have a voice?

In this episode of Beyond Trauma, I’m joined by Johanna Franzel, biodynamic craniosacral therapist, teacher, and author, to explore Embodied Writing—a practice that creates a bridge between language and the body, and between the body and language. We talk about how writing from the body can bring us into real time, shifting our relationship with what is happening in the present moment rather than keeping us caught in old stories or familiar patterns.

Johanna shares how embodied writing can support people living with chronic illness, drawing from what she has learned through her own experience. We also explore why the goal of being “fixed” isn’t always the goal when it comes to mental health—and what becomes possible when we approach ourselves instead with permission, reverence, and curiosity.

We talk about the healing power of having our stories witnessed, what happens when we share our writing with others, and why practicing embodied writing in community can be so powerful. Johanna also leads us through an embodied writing practice that engages all of the senses, so have your journal ready and give yourself a few minutes to write along with us.

This is an episode about listening differently—to our bodies, our stories, and the wisdom that can emerge when we give ourselves permission to be exactly where we are.

Johanna's book, Write Yourself Home, is now available.

Learn more about Johanna on her website and Instagram.

Lara Land-Wittich, MHC, hosts Beyond Trauma. Lara is an integrative Mental Health Counselor specializing in trauma recovery, anxiety disorders, and life transitions. She works with adult individuals and couples in New York State.