Shenise Nicole Henderson MBA, MSS LCSW has been in the field of social work for 16 plus years and has dedicated her work to trauma informed care and practice with children, adults, families and communities through psychotherapy practice, consultation, advocacy and training. Ms. Henderson works very closely with the foster care system helping to implement trauma informed practice within organizations through continued clinical work and training of foster parents and professionals. Ms. Henderson also directly supports children and families on the road to permanency working to directly reduce the impact of intergenerational trauma. In order to provide her clients with the best care, Ms. Henderson underwent extensive training and had the opportunity to work on a 4-year grant as a Trauma Specialist employed by the Health Federation of Philadelphia with services provided to the caregivers of the Early Head Start Program. Ms. Henderson along with a colleague clinician were among the first to utilize a trauma informed psycho educational intervention based on the Sanctuary Model (Dr. Sandra Bloom), entitled S.E.L.F (Safety, Emotions, Loss and Future) co- written by Ruth Ann Ryan, APRN, BC and Joe Federoa, LCSW in the home on an individual level.
Shenise developed a love for yoga some years ago and went on to complete her 200- hour teacher training in December 2016. Currently she is completing a 95-hour children’s teaching certification that is due to be completed in January 2019. She has been able to obtain a trauma informed yoga certificate through Street Yoga while also completing an additional trauma sensitive Youth Yoga Leadership Program through the Baptiste Training Institute entitled Unstoppable. Yoga and mindfulness practices have been able to help those who have suffered from PTSD and traumatic experience heal in a way that typical talk therapy could not provide. Shenise has helped both children and adults create a safe space for healing through the practice of yoga. She teaches yoga in a professional studio, various schools/recreational centers within the School District of Philadelphia. Shenise is also a co-founder and running coordinator of an active running group for minority women in the City of Philadelphia.