EPISODE SUMMARY What if the reason you can't talk your way through your money stress… is because money doesn't live in words? In this episode of The Money Healing Club podcast, host Rachel Duncan, certified financial therapist and art therapist, sits down with her dear friend and fellow art therapist Bonnie Walchuk to explore how creativity, imagery, and non-verbal processing can crack open the emotional side of your financial life in ways that talk therapy alone sometimes can't reach. They dig into what art therapy actually is (hint: stick figures are very welcome), what happens in a real session, and why making something ugly might be the most healing thing you can do today. 💬 "Our minds, bodies, and hearts are holding a lot — art therapy is about getting what's going on out on paper, in front of us, so we can look at it a different way." — Bonnie Walchuk ✅ Key Takeaways You do not need to be "good at art" for art therapy to be deeply transformative. Ugly art can be the most healing art. The three C's to avoid in art therapy: Criticism, Comparison, and Critique of yourself and others Making a visual image of something (grief, money stress, the inner critic) externalizes it from your body, which is part of the healing A simple at-home practice: close your eyes, set a timer for one minute, and scribble your feelings about money. Then ask the image: What do you need right now? Money stress shows up in therapy rooms constantly, often layered with shame, self-doubt, and "am I enough?" thinking Seasonal thinking about money (rather than rigid monthly budgeting) can offer more compassion and groundedness, especially for self-employed folks About Bonnie Walchuk: Bonnie is a board-certified art therapist and licensed marriage and family therapist who has spent years supporting people through cancer care, medical trauma, grief, chronic illness, and major life transitions. She is the president and founder of Dream Big Wellness, a Seattle-based nonprofit dedicated to increasing equitable access to art therapy and integrative wellness services, including sliding scale individual care, workshops, retreats, and community programs. Rachel is proud to serve on their board of directors. ⏰ EPISODE BREAKDOWN 00:00 | What Art Therapy Actually Is (and Isn't) Bonnie demystifies art therapy as a credentialed mental health profession: not arts and crafts, not "fun time," and definitely not just for artists. It's a tool for processing what words alone can't reach. ~10:00 | The Three C's — Criticism, Comparison & Critique Bonnie shares the core rules she sets for every group she facilitates, and why even the most well-meaning "that's so pretty!" can undermine the whole process. ~22:00 | When Money Enters the Room From couples therapy to cancer care, Bonnie shares how financial stress almost always shows up — and how art therapy helps clients externalize and dialogue with their inner critic around money. ~25:00 | A DIY Art Practice for Your Money Feelings Bonnie walks listeners through a one-minute eyes-closed scribble exercise and shows how to use it to build distress tolerance and self-compassion around money — no art supplies required beyond a pen and paper. ~28:00 | Money as a Weather Pattern: Bonnie's Live Money Visualization Rachel puts Bonnie in the hot seat with her signature "money as a creature" prompt — and Bonnie's response about seasons, ebbs, flows, and the quiet groundedness of autumn is genuinely moving. 💌 Connect with Bonnie Dream Big Wellness Website 📓 RESOURCES MENTIONED Mixed Emotions Card Deck — An evocative deck of image-based emotion cards 💬 Join the Conversation Did this episode inspire you to make some art? Rachel would genuinely love to see it. Did you try the money scribble exercise? Did a creature, a color, a season show up when you thought about your money? Hit the big orange button on our site and share your story: 👉 https://www.moneyhealingclub.com/podcast 🌍 This Episode is Part of Podcasthon This episode is our contribution to Podcasthon — an international initiative where podcasters worldwide dedicate one episode to a charity, releasing them simultaneously in mid-March 2026 to create a massive wave of awareness. We're dedicating this one to Dream Big Wellness. No donations needed — it's purely about connecting incredible organizations with new audiences. The last edition brought together 1,500+ podcasters from 40+ countries. If you're a host and this resonates, registration is free and easy: 👉 https://podcasthon.org/register 💝 Support the Podcast Help keep the Money Healing Club podcast going! If this show has helped you feel less alone or more grounded with money, please consider contributing: 👉 https://www.moneyhealingclub.com/podcast 🎧 Your next listen: If this episode resonated, you might love any episode where Rachel explores how your nervous system, body, and emotions are at the root of your money patterns. Search the archive at moneyhealingclub.com/podcast for more financial therapy goodness. 💫 Visit the Money Healing Club website to start your money healing process! https://www.moneyhealingclub.com Full transcript: https://www.moneyhealingclub.com/podcast 🎙️We're a proud member of the Feminist Podcasters Collective where creators like me are uplifting diverse voices and driving meaningful change.
