Shawna Murray-Browne, Ph.D., LCSW-C

Dr. Shawna Murray-Browne, LCSW-C is an award-winning author, liberatory strategist, cultural historian, keynote speaker, and mind-body medicine practitioner. She is the Principal Consultant at Kindred Wellness LLC and trained as an integrative psychotherapist. Dr. Shawna is curious about what happens when we question colonial thinking and make space for the ways of knowing held by folk of African descent in every aspect of life.

In her hometown of Baltimore, Dr. Shawna is a trusted leader in creating healing spaces for Black women and their families, empowering them with tools for generational healing. With over 15 years of expertise in culturally attuned, trauma-responsive care across community organizing, child welfare, and mental health, she founded Kindred Wellness to provide transformative psychotherapy for Black women and girls. Recognizing the need to shift larger systems to support true healing, she expanded her work, creating the Liberation-Focused Healing Framework. This approach is now adopted by organizations, nonprofits, and universities nationwide to foster cultures grounded in ancestral wisdom and authenticity.

As an executive advisor to high-stakes organizations and their leaders, Dr. Shawna influences how people think about systems, strategy, and the communities they serve—guiding them to recognize that healing themselves is essential to healing others. Named by The Huffington Post as one of the “Ten Black Female Therapists You Should Know,” Dr. Shawna has also been featured on PBS’s Mysteries of Mental Illness and Therapy for Black Girls.

She completed her doctorate at the University of Maryland, School of Social Work where she gained her Master of Social Work. Her dissertation explored oral histories as a decolonial site of inquiry around the healing ways of Black women advocates during the civil rights movement. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Criminology and Family Science from the University of Maryland, College Park. She served on the Advisory Board of Cllctivly, was the former Committee Co-Chair for the Trauma Informed Care Task Force for the City of Baltimore, and is a former Minority Fellow for the Council on Social Work Education and SAMSHA.

Dedicated to continued growth, her practice in QiGong, Black spiritual traditions, and sitting at the feet of elders maintain. She lives in Baltimore with her excitable 7-year-old, and her husband, "B."

Curriculum Vitae

Education

Licensure

Research Experience

Publications

Independent Teaching

Presentations

Refereed Presentations
- Murray-Browne, S. (March 17, 2023). “Decolonizing Mental Health Care: The Healing Power of Black Communities” at Psychotherapy Networker Symposium.
- Murray-Browne, S. (July 2022). “The Case for CRT in the Fight for Social Change (Panelist) at African American Policy Forum CRT Summer School.
- Murray-Browne, S. (March 12, 2022). “Healing Generational Trauma: Centering the Needs of Our Children” at Psychotherapy Networker Symposium.
- Murray-Browne, S. (March 2021). “How to Heal a Sista: A Grassroots Approach to Helping Black Women” at Psychotherapy Networker Symposium.
- Murray-Browne, S., Hardy, K., Menakem, R., Young, D. and Daphne Fuller. (March 2021). Mental Health and the Black Community” (Panel) at Psychotherapy Networker Symposium.
- November 17, 2020. Diversity, Equity & Inclusion: MFP Perspectives as Students and Faculty. (November 17, 2020). Panelist at CSWE APM Conference.
- Murray-Browne, S. (November 17, 2020). MSW Program Student Cultural Awareness and Student Anti-Racist Behavior, CSWE APM.
- Peak, G., Murray-Browne, S., Love, D. “Combating Epistemicide and Deflecting the White Gaze through Liberatory Accountability as an expansion of Culturally Responsive and Equitable Evaluation Practice.” at 6th Annual Center for Culturally Responsive Evaluation and Assessment Conference— Postponed due to COVID-19
- Harris, T. and Murray-Browne, S. (April 16, 2021). “Cultivating a Liberatory Community for Black Mamas,” at BlackMaternal Health Virtual Conference, Black Mamas Matter Alliance.
- Sharps, P., Wilson, P., Campbell, J., Alexander, Hill, K., Peay, A., Murray-Browne, S., Shabazz, B., & Ingram, N. (2018, September). Passport to freedom: A women’s reentry program promoting health after trauma. Podium Presentation at the 22nd Conference of the Nursing Network on Violence Against Women International (NNVAWI), Ontario, Canada.
- Murray-Browne, S. (2017, April). Meditation for melanated people: Methods and insights for healing generations. Presented at the National Association of Black Social Workers Conference, Washington, D.C.
- Jackson, E., Murray-Browne, S., & Gilliam, J. (2016, June). Black social workers and community schools: Empowering the village. Presented at the National Association of Black Social Workers Conference, New Orleans, LA.
- Murray-Browne, S. (2010, June). Colorado consortium on differential response. ePoster presented during roundtable discussion at Westat, Rockville, MD.

Select Invited Presentations
- Murray-Browne, S. (February 2022). “First, Reclaim Yourself: Lessons in Wellness from the Black Radical Tradition” at Bryn Mawr College for Black History Month Keynote Address.
- “Decolonizing Mental Health in the Hospital.” Guest lecturer at University of Maryland Medical Center (April 7, 2021)
- “Decolonizing Mental Health in a Campus Setting.” Guest lecturer for Goucher College Counseling Center (April 21, 2021)
- “Channeling Audre: Self Care as Radical Resistance.” Panelist at African American Policy Forum 6th Annual Her Dream Deferred Conference. (April 6, 2021).
- “Merging Macro Skills in Clinical Practice.” Guest speaker at University of Maryland School of Social Work (March 31, 2021).
- “Cultural Humility, Social Justice and Social Work Practice.” Co-facilitator at Council on Social Work Education Master’s MFP (March 29, 2021).
- “Mental Health and the Black Community.” Panelist at Psychotherapy Networker Symposium in Washington, D.C.
- (March 20, 2021).
- “How to HealASista: Grassroots Methods for Helping Black Women.” Workshop presented at Psychotherapy Networker
- Symposium in Washington, D.C. (March 19, 2021).
- “Healing Wounds of White Supremacy.” Guest lecturer at the Probono Counseling Project. (November 19, 2020).
- “Compounded Trauma: The Response to Black Wellness.” Panelist at the Black Policy Lab held virtually (October 22, 2020).
- “Creating Trauma Informed Organizations and Communities.” Panelist at Point Source Youth 4th Annual National Symposium (October 20, 2020).
- “African-centered Social Work Practice.” Presenter at Association of Black Social Workers African Centered Social Work Symposium. (October 9, 2020).
- “Anti-racism in the Workplace.” Guest speaker at the University of Maryland, School of Social Work, held virtually (October 6, 2020).
- “Decolonizing Mental Health.” Guest lecture for the DOVE Program at Lifebridge Health in Baltimore, MD (September 24, 2020).
- “Racial Equity and Healing in the Human Service Sector.” Guest Lecturer for Leaders of a Beautiful Struggle (August 8, 2020).
- “Liberation-focused healing: Transforming mental health care.” Presented at the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Center for Health Equity before the Mayor’s Black Mental Health Advisory Board, New York, NY. (October 2018).
- “Healing and sustaining for collective justice.” Plenary at Planned Parenthood Federation of America Solidarity Conference, Atlanta, GA. (June 2018)
- “Intentional social work practice: Exploring anti-racism, pro-blackness mindfulness in action. and in action.” Roundtable discussion at the Alliance of Anti-Racist Practitioners, Baltimore, MD. (2017, March).
- “Mental health disparities for Black women and girls: Prevalence, violations and recommendations." Paper presented before the United Nations Working Group for People of African Descent at the Eubie Blake Center, Baltimore, MD. (2016, June).

Select Community Workshops
- Reclaiming the Sacred: 6 Crucial Steps to Honoring Yourself Off Stage. Presenter. Women of the World Poetry Slam. (March 29, 2023).
- “Healing From an Enduring Legacy of Racism.” Panelist at Healing City Baltimore Truth and Healing Conversations. (June 24, 2020).
- “Building Black Power.” Panelist for Leaders of a Beautiful Struggle. (July 6, 2020)

Docuseries
- PBS Docuseries, Mysteries of Mental Illness: Decolonizing Mental Health. (June 10, 2021).

Podcasts
- Decolonizing Practice Building. Episode 199 of Abundance Practice Podcast
- Decolonizing Therapy as Liberation Work. Episode 184 of Fare of the Free Child Podcast
- Reclaiming Healing Space. Episode 515 of Practice of the Practice Podcast
- Liberation from Racialized Trauma. Episode 72 of A Date with Darkness Podcast
- Mindfulness. Session 78 of the Therapy for Black Girls podcast
- Mental health needs of activists. Session 46 of the Therapy for Black Girls Podcast

Community Initiatives Support

Training and Consulting

Clinical Social Work Experience

Executive Director and Founder, 2017-2021, Kindred Community Healing
- Manage team of five in grassroots and in-school program implementation
- Develop curriculum for community-based, wellness initiatives serving activists, youth and women
- Fundraise and write grants for government and foundation funding

Practice Owner and Integrative Psychotherapist, 2014-2018, Kindred Wellness, LLC
- Administered psychotherapy to African American teen girls, women and activists
- Utilized mind-body medicine, DBT, CBT and social justice oriented methods to address trauma
- Facilitated QiGong workshops for individuals, staff development and community

Community School Coordinator 2015-2016 University of Maryland, School of Social Work Social Work Community Outreach Service
- Conducted Community needs assessments through ongoing community
- Brokered partnerships in community to address school and community needs
- Developed community programming and events calendars to foster positive school climate

Mental Health Clinician / Social Worker, 2013-2015, Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Regional Institute for Children and Adolescents- Baltimore
- Facilitated individual, group and family psychotherapy weekly through use of DBT in residential treatment with adolescent boys
- Field Instructor/Supervisor for two graduate level social work interns

Community Based Psychotherapist, 2014, Regenerations Counseling Services
- Facilitated individual and family psychotherapy with clients in Baltimore City
- Deescalated crises in the home setting

Social Worker II 2012-2013 Baltimore City Department of Social Services Sex Abuse Unit
- Interviewed child and family victims as well as the alleged offenders in collaboration with police officers
- Provided direct crisis intervention services, city-wide crisis intervention services and case management

Family Preservation Social Worker, 2011-2012, Baltimore City Department of Social Services Family Preservation Unit
- Implemented in-home activities with families to counsel and mediate familial issues
- Conducted weekly home visits with families and refer to community services

Social Work Policy Intern, 2010-2011, Department of Human Resources Social Services Administration
- Served as a liaison between Local Department of Social
- Services and Social Services Administration

Permanency Social Work Intern, 2009-2010, Baltimore City Department of Social Services Permanency Unit
- Managed out of home placements of youth
- Facilitated family involvement meeting

Community Service

Honors

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