Speaker: Shannon McGhee, LCSW

Shannon McGhee is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with a desire and commitment to infuse her Yoga and Clinical experience and expertise to offer an alternative to traditional therapy within the Black Community (Community).  Historically, the concept of dealing with and suffering from mental health issues has been taboo in the Community.  The ills of the Community weigh heavily on Black Woman as the expectation is for Black Woman to be the backbone of the Family Unit. This leads to unrealistic demands placed on Black Women which at times is self-inflicted.  Due to the stigma, around mental health and seeking therapy within the Community, people struggle with their mental health. This can also be attributed to lack of education, around mental health issues and accessibility, attainability, and affordability of traditional therapy. As a result, there is a sub-population of undiagnosed and untreated individuals, in the Community, suffering, in silence physically, mentally, and emotionally. 

Shannon received her Bachelor of Arts in Human Communications Studies in 1998 and a Master of Social Work with a focus on Families and Children, in 2001 from Howard University. She is a LCSW in the state of Maryland and the District of Columbia.  Shannon has taught, with the Department of Social Work, at Bowie State University and as a consultant, with Salisbury University’s TRiO program, providing training and mentoring to Social Work students. She has worked in the field of Social Work for over 30+ years with a focus on mental health/psychiatric care, domestic/teen dating violence, child abuse and neglect, and Unaccompanied Alien Children.