Basic Blaque After Dark, hosted by Blaque Diamond, began a three-part mental health awareness series on September 5, 2025. Streaming on the DA CREW PODCAST network, the first episode, “Breaking the Silence: Understanding Mental Health,” featured Clinical Christian Therapist Dr. Carolyn Stephens. Episode 1 highlights: Awareness: Discussions focused on recognizing signs and understanding mental health. Stigma and silence: The conversation addressed barriers that prevent people from seeking care. Faith and therapy: The episode explored how spiritual support can be integrated with clinical tools. Community care: The role of family, friends, and faith spaces in supporting mental health was covered. Series format: Podcast network: The series is streamed on the DA CREW PODCAST, which is available via various platforms including Facebook, YouTube, Twitch, and KICK. Upcoming episodes: The remaining parts of the series were planned to feature more in-depth discussions with Dr. Stephens, focusing on practical tools for managing stress and anxiety, healing pathways, and a live Q&A session. How to listen: Live: Listeners can watch live on the DA CREW PODCAST channels. Replay: The replay of the first episode is available for those who missed the live broadcast. Notifications: Viewers are encouraged to turn on notifications to catch the next installments of the series. Support: The podcast can be supported via a Spreaker link provided in the show notes. Disclaimer If you or someone you know is in crisis, call or text 988 (in the U.S.) for 24/7 support. For those outside the U.S., local resources should be consulted. Dr. Carolyn Stephens is a multi-talented Christian therapist, community advocate, author, and speaker from Brooklyn, New York. With over 15 years of experience, she is dedicated to serving the mental health needs of the Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) community. Professional background Clinical and spiritual qualifications: Dr. Stephens holds a Master’s degree in Psychology and a Doctorate in Theology. This combination allows her to integrate faith and spiritual support with evidence-based clinical tools in her practice. Therapeutic roles: Her expertise spans multiple areas, including: Clinical Therapist Anger Management Specialist Children’s Behavior Therapist Licensed Pastoral Counselor Community advocacy: After starting her career in education, she shifted her focus to mental health after working with underserved populations and witnessing the social disparities affecting their well-being. She now serves as a community advocate. Empowering women: She is a women’s empowerment coach and offers individual and group therapy through her company, Empowered 4 Life. She is committed to creating a safe and non-judgmental environment to help women explore their struggles and build resilience. Other ventures Author: Dr. Stephens is a bestselling author and the founder of the “I AM A BLACK WOMAN” book series. Media presence: She is the CEO of a television network and has hosted talk shows and appeared on podcasts, including the Basic Blaque After Dark mental health series. Holistic retreats: She leads holistic retreats that combine learning therapeutic life skills with activities like aromatherapy to promote well-being. Overall approachDr. Stephens is guided by the belief that true healing involves the whole person—mind, body, and spirit. Her work focuses on helping individuals, particularly Black women, find hope, purpose, and strength by navigating their mental health journey through a practical, profound, and faith-centered approach. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/da-crew-podcast--5763835/support .
