At Healing Through the Art of Prevention, our growing consultancy is powered by a team of dedicated leaders who share a passion for fostering holistic healing through artistic expression.

Cathy S. Kent, CEO and Founder of Healing Through the Art of Prevention LLC, brings over 14 years of passionate advocacy and leadership dedicated to transforming mental health, youth empowerment, and systemic change. She considers herself a cross system advocate, as she states "working as an advocate no person walks in with no system interaction all walk in many times and touched many systems such as homelessness, criminal justice system/ Juvenile Justice system, foster care system, hospitalization in the mental health system or navigating that system, and receiving public benefits this is why as advocate we have to learn all systems". Cathy is a public speaker, host, and a friend she quotes "if you would like to be". 

Her journey is one of resilience and hope—shaped by her own experiences growing up in a household affected by domestic violence from birth to age 12. Navigating the Domestic violence/ NYC shelter system in New York as a young girl, Cathy was diagnosed with PTSD at 18, a reflection of the trauma she endured and the gaps she faced in accessing compassionate, trauma-informed care.

Deeply committed to breaking the cycle of trauma, Cathy’s work is driven by a personal understanding of the importance of early intervention and equitable support for youth and families. She has dedicated her career to ensuring that others don’t have to face the same barriers she did—struggling to find services that truly understand and meet their needs.

Cathy’s extensive experience spans child-serving systems, where she has worked tirelessly to promote equity and prevention. She has served as a youth and family advocate, guiding young people through complex systems and empowering parents with knowledge of their rights within child protective services, special education, and housing. Her leadership on several New York City boards, including mental health community board for the department of Mental Hygiene and Mental Health (DOHMH) Maternal mental health board, with The office of Mental Health (OMH) National Youth Advisory Boards and sitting on NYC District 75 CEC30 to help parents navigating IEP processes and applying for OPWDD services, underscores her commitment to community-driven change.

With compassion at her core, Cathy leads by example—empowering communities to heal, thrive, and create a future where every child and family has access to the care and support they deserve. Her story is a testament to resilience and the transformative power of prevention, inspiring others to invest in a healthier, more equitable future. 

Cathy's healing journey is rooted in the arts. She is gifted in writing poetry, dance, and has a deep passion for music. 🎵 Her passion fueled the development of this for-profit agency inspired by her circle of artists, community activists, organizers, and advocates who do this work truly out of kindness and heart. Her inspiration also comes from her son and mother.

Rest in peace to her sister, who passed away in 2020. This is dedicated to her. Shout out to my god brother JMAC; who is an amazing artist