Shanéa Thomas
Dr. Shanéa Thomas, LICSW(He/She/Dr.) is a seasoned scholar-practitioner with more than 15 years of professional social work experience in the Washington D.C. metro area. Dr. Thomas was also a Senior Lecturer within the University of Southern California's Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work for the last 10 years (since 2011). Dr. Thomas has facilitated over 60 workshops centering DEI needs, grief and loss, mental health, sex and gender, and LGBTQI+ populations.
Areas of Interest
Core FacultyLGBTQ+ Mental Health; Dissemination and Implementation Research; Human Sexuality Studies; Organizational Change and Leadership; Social Work Education
Dr. Shanéa Thomas, LICSW(He/She/Dr.) is a seasoned scholar-practitioner with more than 15 years of professional social work experience in the Washington D.C. metro area. Dr. Thomas is, first, a licensed clinical social worker whose clinical training and education are grounded in psychodynamic psychotherapy with an interest in attachment and the holding environment, including frameworks of Intersectionality, Empowerment Theory (Solomon), Decolonizing/Oppressionist Theory (Fanon), and Disability and Healing Justice. His main commitment in his work is training and strategizing with social workers, educators, mental health professionals and service providers around building safer therapeutic and educational spaces for all people. This is especially for those working in communities who are underserved and under resourced, and those identifying as Black, Indigenous, people of color, and LGBTQI+ folks. Dr.Thomas has facilitated over 60 workshops centering DEI needs, grief and loss, mental health, sex and gender, and LGBTQI+ populations. Dr. Thomas was a Senior Lecturer within the University of Southern California's Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work for the last 10 years (since 2011). When creating organizational change through strategic planning, Dr. Thomas' work unapologetically centers marginalized voices with community organizations and healthcare institutions to help shift power, privilege, and organizational accountability. Read how Dr. Shanéa Thomas Creates a Better World for LGBTQ+ People Through Education and Training
- Ed.D., Organizational Change and Leadership, May 2021, University of Southern California, Rossier School of Education, Los Angeles, C.A.
- Advanced Graduate Certificate in Human Sexuality Studies, April 2018, Widener University, Chester, P.A.
- M.Ed., Concentration: Human Sexuality Studies, May 2017, Widener University, Chester, P.A.
- M.S.W., Direct Services, Concentration: Families and Children, May 2006, Howard University, Washington, D.C.
- B.S., Psychology, May 2004, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, V.A.
- FMSC 383 - Health and Human Service Delivery and Evaluation
- Graduate Student Graduation Speaker, University of Southern California (Rossier School of Education) May 2021
- Jane Addams Teaching Award Runner-Up, USC School of Social Work May 2016
- Thomas, S. P. (2022). Navigating Roe v. Wade with LGBTQ+ clients. University of Maryland Prevention Research Center.
- Thieleman, K., Cacciatore, J., & Thomas, S. (2022). Impairing Social Connectedness: The Dangers of Treating Grief with Naltrexone. Journal of Humanistic Psychology.
- Kink Clinical Practice Guidelines Project. (2019). Clinical Practice Guidelines for Working with People with Kink Interests
- Thomas, S. P. (2021). Attachment Theory of Love. In Armstrong, H. L. (Ed.). Encyclopedia of Sex and Sexuality: Understanding biology, psychology, and culture. Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CILO Greenwood.
- Thomas, S. P. (2021). Coming Out. In Armstrong, H. L. (Ed.). Encyclopedia of Sex and Sexuality: Understanding biology, psychology, and culture. Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CILO Greenwood.
- Thomas, S.P (2021) Gender Roles, Socialization and. In Armstrong, H. L. (Ed.). Encyclopedia of Sex and Sexuality: Understanding biology, psychology, and culture. Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CILO Greenwood.
- Thomas, S.P. (2021). Polyamory. In Armstrong, H. L. (Ed.). Encyclopedia of Sex and Sexuality: Understanding biology, psychology, and culture. Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CILO Greenwood.
- Thomas S.P (2021). Social Learning Theory, Gender and. In Armstrong, H. L. (Ed.). Encyclopedia of Sex and Sexuality: Understanding biology, psychology, and culture. Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CILO Greenwood.
- Thomas, S. P. (2019). Being Who You Are Makes You a Change Agent: Making Inclusive Space Online for Growth During Hard Times. In R. Paul Maiden (ed.), The Transformation of Social Work Education through Virtual Learning Cambridge Scholars Publishing (pp. 191-204). United Kingdom: Cambridge Scholars Publisher.