Film
The movie “Wounded Healer” shows that even therapists struggle with mental health
“Wounded Healer” is a brand new film concerning the lifetime of Mandy, a 30-year-old black therapist from Atlanta who struggles with her own mental problems while raising teenage children. As she battles a relapse of a childhood autoimmune disease, Manda joins “The Wounded Healers Group,” a support network for counselors. The journey takes her back to her hometown in North Carolina, where she confronts her past and learns the importance of prioritizing her own healing.
Directed by Aleshia Cowser Jackson and written by Shamanda Burston, the film stars Katelynn Bennett (“Zoey 102,” “Breaking Girl Code”), Rashan Ali Smith (“All the Queen’s Men”), Christal Jordan (“Iyanla Vanzant: Fix My Life” “), Moses Jones and Michael Mau. Together they form a robust ensemble that vividly portrays the intersection of family life and mental health.
According to Yahoo EntertainmentBurston, who can also be an executive producer on the project, stated that the film is deeply personal and based partially on her own experiences as a licensed therapist. “This is my first kinetherapy film,” Burston explained. She added that “Wounded Healer” was inspired by psychologist Carl Jung’s theory that “the best healers heal their own wounds.” Burston hopes the film will encourage viewers to “start meaningful conversations and take the journey to healing together — because it’s not only possible; This is the path we all walk together.”
“People often assume that therapists and mental health professionals are invincible when it comes to emotional and mental challenges, but we are human too,” Burston told Yahoo Entertainment.
According to the most recent data from the American Psychiatric Association (APA), only two percent of the estimated 41,000 psychiatrists within the US are black.
Freestyle Digital Media, the digital distribution arm of Allen Media Group, is owned by media mogul Byron Allen. Freestyle Digital Media will release the film on October 22 on all major digital platforms in North America, followed by a DVD release.
Freestyle Digital Media’s acquisition of “Wounded Healer” underscores its mission to amplify diverse and underrepresented voices in film, a core philosophy of Byron Allen’s media empire. Independent sales representative and distribution consultant Liz Manashil negotiated the film deal.
With mental health now an integral a part of mainstream conversations, Wounded Healer is especially timely, offering a rare look into the pressures and internal battles faced by those working within the care field. The film highlights the importance of self-care for healers, especially Black women, who are sometimes expected to be resilient and powerful while ignoring their very own needs.
Watch the official trailer for “Wounded Healer” below.
