Shanéa P. Thomas, Ed.D, LICSW, CSE

Dr. Shanéa Thomas, LICSW (He/She/Dr.) is a bold lecturer and seasoned scholar–practitioner with more than 19 years of professional clinical social work experience in the Washington, D.C. metro area. Dr. Thomas’ main commitment in the field is training and strategizing with social workers, educators, and service providers around building safer therapeutic and educational spaces for all people. This is especially for those working in communities that are underserved and under resourced, and those identifying as Black, Indigenous, People of Color, and LGBTQI+ folks. Dr. Thomas has facilitated over 90 workshops centering DEI needs, grief and loss, mental health, sex and gender, and LGBTQI+ populations. Dr. Thomas ended his 10-year position at the University of Southern California School of Social Work as a Senior Lecturer in 2022 to further the commitment to LGBTQ+ inclusivity through the University of Maryland School of Public Health as their LGBTQ+ Training Specialist and Assistant Clinical Research Professor. Dr. Thomas is assisting the Prevention Research Center in launching their national training program using evidence-based tools to build LGBTQ+ competency in practice amongst mental health professionals.  

Dr. Thomas still maintains a clinical private practice through Thomas Consulting and Therapeutic Services, where he is trauma-focused first and inclusive always. His clinical training and education through the International Psychotherapy Institute (Bethesda, MD), Howard University (Master of Social Work), and Widener University (Master of Education: Human Sexuality Studies, along with an Advanced Certificate) are grounded in psychodynamic psychotherapy, frameworks of intersectionality, Empowerment Theory (Solomon), Decolonizing/Oppressionist Theory (Fanon), and disability and healing justice. Dr. Thomas is also a Certified Compassionate Bereavement Care Provider through the Center of Loss and Trauma and MISS Foundation, Online (Sedona, AZ), and a Guest Lecturer for the Wendt Center for Loss and Healing's (Washington, DC) Grief Institute Certification Program, Healing at the Intersection: Grief & Trauma.