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Increasing Awareness. Changing Lives.

is a published author and founder of ILERA. She serves as a spiritual psychotherapist, Ifa-Orisa priestess, Interfaith minister and writer. Her work focuses on healing spiritual injury, sexuality, vicarious trauma, sustainable self-care & wellbeing.

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DeShannon Barnes-Bowens

ILERA'S MISSION

"To support healing and affirm the authentic sacredness of human beings to be seen

and valued as a whole."

SERVICES

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COUNSELING & COACHING

Spiritual counseling &/or coaching is available for individuals, couples and groups over the age of 18. All sessions take place on-line. A free consultation is needed to determine if the clients' needs can be met.

PROFESSIONAL

DEVELOPMENT TRAINING

Customized training is available focused on vicarious trauma & wellness, self-care & sustainability, the impact of racial justice work on activists, and how the intersection of sexuality & sexual abuse is crucial in preventing ongoing cycles of abuse.

INSPIRATIONAL TALKS

DeShannon delivers customized presentations highlighting the work of her book Hush Hush as well as encouraging messages about healing, freedom and wellness for conferences, agencies, colleges and universities.

"DeShannon Bowens is an exceptionally skilled and sensitive facilitator and educator on issues of sexual abuse, sexuality, vicarious trauma & wellness. ILERA workshops make a real difference for people working on the front lines of trauma and abuse."

Rev. Sally N. MacNichol, PhD

Co-Executive Director, CONNECT

Pink Fluffy Clouds

"Reclaiming Wholeness is a heart-centered and practical guide to support recovery from spiritual injury. Those who have been wounded and practitioners assisting them will benefit from the wisdom contained in these pages."

— Rev. Dr. Salome' Raheim, ACSW
Dean Emeritus, Social Work, University of Connecticut

RECLAIMING WHOLENESS

Reclaiming Wholeness is Iya Rev. DeShannon Barnes-Bowens insightful new ebook on Spiritual Injury. She offers compelling examples of spiritual injury from her own life as well as stories from communities often ignored. Components of healthy spiritual leaders and communities are explored and as well as a process for healing and living in the world according to one’s spiritual authority.

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HUSH HUSH

A new 3rd edition of Hush Hush is coming in 2026! In the 2015 2nd edition, DeShannon Bowens revisited her insightful interviews with the Peterson family. Bowens made a compelling case that intergenerational healing from sexual abuse cannot happen in Black communities without releasing shame-based sexuality narratives from the past. Hush Hush, stresses the importance of empowered sexuality narratives and communication within families as a key component in preventing and ending child sexual abuse.

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"In Hush Hush, DeShannon has created an innovative tool for spurring conversations about sexuality and sexual violence in the African American community. Kudos."

Lori S. Robinson,

Author of I Will Survive: The African-American Guide to Healing from Sexual Assault and Abuse

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