From Psalm 23 to The Holistic Counselor Podcast: Why This Work Grew Beyond the Therapy Room

Liberation Lunes — Monday, September 28, 2026

What started with Psalm 23 has grown into something I honestly did not completely see coming.

If you have been connected to Through the Valley Therapy for a while, there is a good chance you have seen me talk about Psalm 23. Through the Valley Therapy was named from Psalm 23:4.

The valley has always meant something to me because life has taught me that faith does not guarantee we will avoid valleys. We walk through them.

Through grief, trauma, anxiety, illness, church hurt, and changing relationships.

Through seasons when God feels close—and seasons when we are simply trying to remember what we believe.

A couple of years ago, I created a Psalm 23 resource because the practices inside it were helping me.

I thought, If this helps me, maybe it can help somebody else too.

So I put it out into the world.

Over time, Psalm 23 became one of the clearest pathways through which people discovered Through the Valley Therapy and joined this little community.

Behind every search, download, click, or email address is an actual human being.

Someone may have simply typed Psalm 23 into Google during a very dark night.

I may never know.

But I know what it means to need something that helps you take the next step.

And in many ways, that same idea eventually became The Holistic Counselor Podcast.

Why Did I Start

The Holistic Counselor Podcast?

Back in 2023, I had been invited onto a few podcasts.

I loved the conversations, the creativity, the questions, and the ability to take one topic and start connecting it to five other things.

Maybe it is the therapist in me, the former film-and-production part of me, or simply how God wired me.

By early 2024, I started wondering:

Maybe I should start a podcast.

I am one therapist.

There are only so many people I can sit across from in a week.

And I began thinking about all the conversations, resources, research, stories, perspectives, and professionals that could potentially help someone I would never meet inside a therapy room.

So in February 2024, I launched The Holistic Counselor Podcast.

I signed up with PodPopuli and basically said, “Okay. Teach me.” I learned, made mistakes, and kept going.

That journey is also how I met Dorian Duff, my editor and publisher, who has been beside me since the beginning.

Now, more than two years and more than 137 conversations later, I understand the purpose of the podcast much more clearly.

It was never supposed to simply advertise my therapy practice.

It was supposed to extend the conversation beyond it.

What Does “Holistic Mental Health” Actually Mean?

The word holistic gets misunderstood.

Sometimes people hear it and immediately think anti-science, alternative medicine, New Age, or “woo-woo.”

That is not what I mean.

Holistic means whole.

I became interested in whole-person mental health because of my own healing journey—physically, psychologically, emotionally, relationally, and spiritually.

There were times when one explanation simply was not enough.

And I kept asking:

What happens when we look at the whole human being?

For me, that often comes down to three big areas:

Biology. Psychology. Theology.

Sleep, nutrition, trauma, relationships, culture, the nervous system, community, and faith all deserve a place in that conversation.

And no responsible professional should pretend that every person needs exactly the same thing.

That is why I remain curious.

The Holistic Counselor Podcast creates a place where faith, science, psychology, culture, lived experience, and whole-person wellness can be explored in the same conversation without forcing everything into one box.

Why Every Episode Begins With “Fearfully and Wonderfully Made”

If you have listened to the podcast, you have probably heard me begin with the reminder that you are fearfully and wonderfully made, from Psalm 139:14.

Before we talk about trauma, a diagnosis, or somebody else’s opinion of you, I want you to remember who you are.

You are not simply a diagnosis.

You are not the worst thing that happened to you.

You are not a label someone handed you.

Psalm 139 is a prayer to the God who knows our thoughts, sees us even in the darkness, and formed us in the womb.

The Hebrew behind “fearfully” carries the sense of awe and reverence. “Wonderfully made” expresses the extraordinary nature of God’s work. As the psalmist considers how he was formed, he responds with praise.

And that is what gets me. God Almighty. The Creator of the universe. He knows us that intimately.

I cannot fully wrap my mind around that.

The more I learn about the brain, the human body, and creation itself, the more reasons I find to praise Him.

Science does not make me afraid of God.

It often makes me even more fascinated by Him.

And Why Every Episode Ends With “Trust. Guard. Renew.”

Just as intentionally as I begin each episode, I end it with three words:

Trust. Guard. Renew.

They are reminders I need in my own life.

Trust

Proverbs 3:5–6 reminds me to trust in the Lord rather than believing my own understanding is always complete.

Trust does not mean pretending everything makes sense. For me, it means remembering where I place my foundation when it does not.

Guard

Proverbs 4:23 reminds me to guard my heart because everything I do flows from it.

That means practicing discernment, setting boundaries, and paying attention to who has access to me, what I repeatedly consume, and what I allow to shape my beliefs.

Renew

Romans 12:2 reminds me not to simply conform to the patterns around me, but to be transformed through the renewing of my mind.

Our brains can learn. Patterns can change. Beliefs can be examined.

When my mind becomes overwhelmed, I often return to Scripture I have memorized.

Sometimes I need to remember what has held me when I did not feel amazing at all.

Trust. Guard. Renew.

That is what I want people to leave with.

So How Do You Actually Use The Holistic Counselor Podcast?

Here is what I want my Through the Valley Therapy community to know:

The Holistic Counselor is becoming a resource library, not simply a podcast feed.

You do not need to catch up on every episode or add another thing to your to-do list.

Use it when you need it.

Here is how I would begin:

1. Get to know the heart behind the podcast. If you are new, begin with “Can Christian Faith and Therapy Work Together? Why I Created The Holistic Counselor Podcast.” It explains why I created this space and what whole-person mental health means to me.

2. Search for what is on your mind right now. Visit the episode library, type a topic, question, phrase, or guest’s name into “Search Episodes,” and select “Search Archive.” Try something like grief, anxiety, relationships, or faith. You do not have to listen in order or catch up.

3. Choose the conversation that makes you curious. Open an episode to learn more and find listening options. If you are unsure where to begin, explore the listening guides by topic. These offer starting points for subjects such as church hurt, faith and anxiety, relationships, culture, nutrition, and different approaches to therapy.

4. Go beyond the audio. Read the episode’s show notes and explore the links and resources provided. You can also visit the growing Holistic Counselor blog for deeper reflections and the Resources page for free guides and practical tools.

5. Take what is useful and keep thinking. The goal is not for every guest or every episode to tell you what to believe. The goal is to introduce thoughtful conversations, questions, perspectives, and resources that may help you make more informed decisions for yourself.

Maybe you are walking your dog.

Driving to work.

Cooking dinner.

Gardening.

Sitting in a hospital waiting room.

Trying to understand something happening in your family.

Or lying awake wondering, Where do I even start?

I Vet My Guests Because Your Time and Trust Matter

Something listeners probably do not see is how much happens before I ever press Record.

One episode can take me three to seven hours—from researching a guest and preparing the conversation to recording, writing show notes, and gathering resources.

I choose guests carefully. Sometimes I reach out because someone’s work makes me curious. Other times, I turn down an interview because it is not the right fit for the show.

I do not want The Holistic Counselor to become a revolving door where anyone with a product, book, program, or publicist gets an hour of your attention.

It is about trust.

In an age of artificial intelligence and carefully edited realities, I think being real matters more than ever.

It is one reason I do not heavily edit my conversations. You may hear laughter, tears, stumbled words, or a pause while we think something through.

Good. We are human.

Why I Am Building Blogs and Resources Around the Podcast

The website gives these conversations a home beyond social media, where even a helpful post can quickly get buried.

I want useful information to remain findable.

That is why the growing Holistic Counselor website includes episodes, blogs, and resources.

Articles can explore podcast topics more deeply, offer additional guest insights, and connect research with lived experience and practical tools. I also hope to create free reflection guides and, eventually, workbooks.

I do not know exactly what every part will become yet, and I am okay with that. Some of the most meaningful parts of my life began without a perfect five-year plan.

Sometimes God lets me see the next step. Then the next.

A Win for the Guest. A Win for Me. A Win for You.

This is where my creative life and my clinical life seem to be meeting.

The producer in me gets to create.

The therapist in me gets to educate.

The endlessly curious part of me gets to ask questions.

A win for the guest. A win for the show. And most importantly, a win for the person who needed that particular conversation that day.

Maybe that person is you.

If Something Has Helped You, You Can Help Someone Else Find It

If an episode genuinely helped you, you can help another person discover it.

Follow or subscribe to The Holistic Counselor Podcast.

Subscribe to the YouTube channel and like the episodes you find useful.

If your podcast platform allows ratings or reviews, leave an honest one.

Subscribe to the Holistic Counselor blog so future articles and resources do not get lost in an algorithm.

Most importantly, share the specific episode or article that helped you with someone who may need it.

From One Therapy Room to Something I Can Leave Behind

There is another reason this matters to me.

Legacy.

One day, God will take me home. That makes me think carefully about what I am building while I am here.

Something I record today might help someone I will never meet five years from now. That possibility means something to me.

I do not think I am supposed to have every answer. I am a vessel. I am still learning, wrestling with Scripture, and willing to change my mind when I discover better information.

I still go down ridiculous research rabbit holes.

And I think that is exactly why The Holistic Counselor feels like home.

To Everyone Who Found Me Somewhere Along the Valley

Some of you have been receiving my Liberation Lunes emails since I began them in January 2024.

However you got here, thank you.

Through the Valley Therapy and The Holistic Counselor Podcast are different spaces, but they grew from the same heart.

Help people understand themselves.

Reduce shame and stigma around mental health.

Point people toward resources—not dependence.

And continue walking through the valleys with hope.

If you have never visited The Holistic Counselor, come take a look. Choose a conversation, read a blog, or follow a rabbit trail.

Come back whenever you need another conversation.

You are fearfully and wonderfully made.

And wherever life finds you today:

Trust. Guard. Renew.

In Service, Faith, Hope, and Love,

Diana

Disclaimer

The content shared through Liberation Lunes is provided for educational, informational, and reflective purposes only. It is not intended to replace professional medical, psychological, mental health, legal, or spiritual advice, diagnosis, or treatment. The thoughts and opinions expressed here are my own and should not be interpreted as representing the views of any organization, licensing board, employer, church, or professional association with which I am affiliated. Every person is responsible for their own decisions, beliefs, health care, and spiritual journey. My hope is to encourage thoughtful reflection, not to tell you what to think. I encourage you to study Scripture for yourself, seek wise counsel, think critically, and consult appropriately qualified professionals regarding your individual circumstances. Nothing shared on this blog should be interpreted as establishing a therapeutic relationship. Reading this blog does not constitute mental health treatment or clinical advice. If you are experiencing a medical or mental health emergency, call 911 (or your local emergency services) or contact 988 if you are in the United States. Reliance on any information provided through Liberation Lunes, its guest contributors, or linked resources is solely at your own discretion and risk.

Confidentiality Notice

If you are a current or former client, please remember that commenting publicly on this blog or interacting through social media may unintentionally reveal personal or clinical information. To protect your privacy and to uphold my ethical and legal responsibilities as a licensed mental health counselor, I cannot respond to comments, messages, or public disclosures that involve clinical concerns or requests for therapeutic guidance. Your confidentiality is deeply important to me. If we have worked together therapeutically, please use the secure communication methods established within our professional relationship for any clinical matters.