Welcome back, fearfully and wonderfully made human. I'm Diana, licensed therapist and consultant, and today's episode of The Holistic Counselor Podcast is a deeply healing conversation that blends faith, trauma recovery, and creativity with one powerful guest: Katana Malone.

Katana is an award-winning actress, filmmaker, educator, poet, and founder of Melanated Scribes Publishing. But more than that, she's a mother, a survivor, and a storyteller who's turned personal pain into purpose. Whether you're navigating postpartum recovery, cultural identity, or reclaiming your voice after trauma, this episode is for you.

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 In This Episode, We Talk About:

• How postpartum trauma ignited Katana's creative journey

• Turning grief, loss, and identity struggles into children's books and film

• Shadow work, EMDR, and reframing old narratives for deep healing

• The unique mental health stigma in Caribbean and church communities

• Raising Gen Z and Gen Alpha with emotional intelligence

• Why storytelling and creativity are critical tools for healing trauma

• Building safe spaces in education, art, and community work

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 Tools & Takeaways:

• You are not broken — you're becoming.

• Healing requires looking inward and giving yourself grace.

• Creativity can be both a survival strategy and a spiritual calling.

• It's okay to rest. Rest is resistance to hustle culture.

• Therapy isn't weakness — it's wisdom.

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 Featured Books by Katana Malone:

• Mommy's Magic – A celebration of maternal love and childhood wonder

• Mommy's Garden – A poetic journey through emotional healing and growth

• Rainbow Baby – Helping children process grief after miscarriage

• His Flowers – A powerful poetry collection honoring men's emotional lives

 Available on Amazon and Katana's website: www.katanamalone.com

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 Resources Mentioned:

• West Indian Actors Database – Supporting authentic casting in Caribbean film roles

• Reach Within (Grenada) – Nonprofit supporting youth mental health

• Verb Kind – Mentorship and volunteer work with incarcerated youth

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 Connect with Katana Malone:

• Website: www.katanamalone.com

• Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, YouTube, Twitter/X: @katanamalone

• IMDb: Katana Malone on IMDb

• Books: Search "Katana Malone" on Amazon

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 Let's Keep Healing Together:

Loved what you heard today? Please leave a review on Apple Podcasts and share this episode with a friend who needs encouragement.

Want to learn more about faith-based, trauma-informed therapy and holistic wellness?
Visit www.throughthevalleytherapy.com
Or book a free 15-minute consult at this link

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Remember: Trust in the Lord, guard your heart, and renew your mind.

Listen to Episode 80 now on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you stream your podcasts.

 

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