Full Name
Iya Rev. DeShannon Bowens
Job Title
Founder
Company
ILERA Counseling & Education Services
Speaker Bio
Iya Rev. DeShannon Barnes-Bowens, M.S., is the founder of ILERA Counseling & Education Services, and works as a psychotherapist, professional development trainer, and spiritual counselor. Through ILERA, she offers workshops and programs focusing on sexuality and spirituality, sexual abuse, vicarious trauma, and wellness. Iya DeShannon received a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Missouri - St. Louis, and a master’s degree in Counseling from Pace University. She has practiced the Ifa-Orisa spiritual tradition for twenty years and is an initiated priestess. She was ordained as an Interfaith Minister in 2010 through One Spirit Interfaith Seminary in Manhattan and now serves as the Co-Director of the seminary.
Iya DeShannon has presented and taught at the 2021 Parliament of the World’s Religions, national and eastern regional conferences of the American Academy of Religion, Harvard University, Union Theological Seminary, Interfaith Center of New York, New York Theological Semin¬ary, The Children’s Aid Society, Georgia Campaign for Adolescent Power & Potential (GCAPP), Washington University, University of Connecticut, and the Values Caucus of the United Nations. She was the first recipient of the Bill T. Jones Award from the American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors and Therapists (AASECT), an Emeritus Scholar for State of Formation and was published in the Journal of Interreligious Studies 23rd issue, The Color of God in 2018.
She is the author of Hush Hush: An African American Family Breaks their Silence on Sexuality and Sexual Abuse (2007, 2015). The second edition of her book inspired a full length play of the same title, as well as an arts education program called Hush Hush the Healing Project. Iya DeShannon was also a member of CONNECT Faith’s Ending Child Sexual Abuse Collaborative and coordinated their Safe Faith Community Project to help religious communities in New York City prevent sexual abuse.
For more information about Iya DeShannon and her work visit www.ilera.com.
Iya DeShannon has presented and taught at the 2021 Parliament of the World’s Religions, national and eastern regional conferences of the American Academy of Religion, Harvard University, Union Theological Seminary, Interfaith Center of New York, New York Theological Semin¬ary, The Children’s Aid Society, Georgia Campaign for Adolescent Power & Potential (GCAPP), Washington University, University of Connecticut, and the Values Caucus of the United Nations. She was the first recipient of the Bill T. Jones Award from the American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors and Therapists (AASECT), an Emeritus Scholar for State of Formation and was published in the Journal of Interreligious Studies 23rd issue, The Color of God in 2018.
She is the author of Hush Hush: An African American Family Breaks their Silence on Sexuality and Sexual Abuse (2007, 2015). The second edition of her book inspired a full length play of the same title, as well as an arts education program called Hush Hush the Healing Project. Iya DeShannon was also a member of CONNECT Faith’s Ending Child Sexual Abuse Collaborative and coordinated their Safe Faith Community Project to help religious communities in New York City prevent sexual abuse.
For more information about Iya DeShannon and her work visit www.ilera.com.
Speaking At
