Poetry as Survival: Laura Van Prooyen on Grief, Healing, and the Power of Words

<p>Host Natalie Buster welcomes poet and restorative writing facilitator Laura Van Prooyen for a conversation about how poetry can become a lifeline in times of grief, trauma, and transition. From her work with soldiers experiencing PTSD to healthcare workers navigating burnout and loss, Laura shares how writing offers a sacred space for emotional honesty, resilience, and healing.</p><p>Through personal stories—including the loss of her brother and mother—Laura reveals how poetry helped her survive, process, and transform grief into art. Whether you&#39;re intimidated by poetry or drawn to its quiet power, this episode invites you to explore how language can hold us when nothing else can.</p><p><strong>Topics Covered:</strong></p><ul><li><p>Laura’s journey from academic poetry to trauma-informed writing workshops</p></li><li><p>Her transformative work with soldiers at Brooke Army Medical Center</p></li><li><p>The evolution of grief through writing: from raw emotion to published chapbook</p></li><li><p>How poetry creates accessible, sacred space for processing loss</p></li><li><p>The role of emotional honesty in facing mortality</p></li><li><p>Mission Belonging’s free weekly writing group for healthcare workers</p></li></ul><p><strong>Resources Mentioned:</strong></p><ul><li><p>Gregory Orr’s <em>Poetry as Survival</em></p></li><li><p>Mission Belonging’s Tuesday night virtual writing group (free and open to all)</p></li><li><p>Laura’s upcoming chapbook (Spring release)</p></li></ul><p><strong>Call to Action:</strong> Join Laura’s free Tuesday night writing group through Mission Belonging. Whether you’re a caregiver, healthcare worker, or someone navigating grief, this space is for you.</p><ul><li><p><strong>00:00 – Opening Reflection</strong> Natalie shares her evolving relationship with poetry and how it intersects with mortality and meaning. </p></li><li><p><strong>02:00 – Introducing Laura Van Prooyen</strong> Laura’s background in poetry, education, and trauma-informed writing.</p></li><li><p><strong>04:00 – Poetry Meets PTSD</strong> Laura’s first experience facilitating writing for soldiers at Brooke Army Medical Center—and the unexpected power of six-word memoirs.</p></li><li><p><strong>07:00 – Grief as Catalyst</strong> Laura opens up about losing her brother and how poetry became a survival tool during her deepest grief.</p></li><li><p><strong>10:00 – Mission Belonging &amp; Weekly Writing Groups</strong> Laura describes her free, virtual Tuesday night workshops for healthcare and hospice workers.</p></li><li><p><strong>13:00 – Writing Through Loss</strong> How Laura continued facilitating workshops while grieving her mother—and how the group became a lifeline.</p></li><li><p><strong>15:00 – Creating Safe, Sacred Space</strong> The trauma-informed approach Laura brings to every session, and how poetry invites emotional honesty.</p></li><li><p><strong>17:00 – Craft, Accessibility, and Prompts</strong> Laura’s method for selecting poems, crafting prompts, and guiding participants through reflection and response.</p></li><li><p><strong>19:00 – Final Reflections</strong> The healing potential of poetry, the importance of emotional honesty, and how writing helps us live fully—even as we face death.</p></li></ul>