Hi, I'm Sharnise Hendrick.
Co-owner of Lotus Embodied Counseling.
I am an LCPC, RYT500, EMDR Certified, EMDRIA - Approved EMDR Consultant.
I help clients reconnect with their bodies in the present to process painful experiences from their past.
I am passionate about working with adults who experience dissociation related to a childhood history of sexual abuse, neglect, disruptions to early attachment, and/or organizational, narcissistic, and sadistic abuse. Feeling disconnected from your physical and emotional experiences is how we survive terrifying experiences and is a common outcome of living in a prolonged state of moving through life in survival mode.
NOTE: Please understand that I maintain a limited caseload specific to the above concerns and I will not be able to accommodate all requests.
What to expect from me
Together, we will collaborate to identify your goals, values, and needs and explore mindful ways to enhance your quality of life.
I believe you have the ability to change and grow. We will work together to acknowledge, reinforce and expand the abilities you already have but may not even realize. I’ll be right alongside you as you explore and process past life events and the impact these events have had on your relationship with yourself and others.
I’ll support you in finding a home in yourself by reconnecting with your body and creating safety by being grounded in the present moment.
In addition to talk therapy, I also teach yoga classes focused on reconnection to self via mindful movement.
My Style
Trauma is how you respond to what happened to you; it is not who you are.
I am interested in learning about you as a whole person, not just your trauma history. I will meet you where you are, and we can take as much time as you need to prepare for processing work.
My approach to therapy respects the necessary therapeutic processes, however, I am not rigid in prescribing homework or overly structured sessions. You are unique and we will find the pace that works best for you.
Although the concerns addressed in therapy may be heavy and quite serious, I’ll encourage us to find joy and invite laughter into the therapy room.
As humans, we have a built-in ability to heal–and humor and laughter are part of that!
We would be a great fit if:
You are seeking treatment specifically for managing trauma-related dissociation.
You experienced repeated negative life events throughout your childhood.
You feel disconnected or detached from your daily experiences and/or your body.
You have tried therapy in the past and still feel that past trauma is unresolved.
You have been previously diagnoses or suspect that you live with Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) and are seeking a therapsit with experience working with DID.
You recognize that your childhood experiences were harmful but aren’t sure how to begin talking about them.
You were raised in a cult and/or a high-control family system or religion.
You tell yourself “it wasn’t that bad,” but also experiences intrusive memories or body sensations that feel unbearable.
My Story
I opened Lotus Embodied Counseling in 2021 with the mission of providing accessible treatment of trauma to complex trauma survivors. In 2023, Carly and I decided to merge our private practices into one, thus creating a co-ownership of the practice that enables us to offer the services we are so very passionate about.
I primarily work with adults who experience dissociation as a result of surviving childhood sexual abuse, incest, neglect, and/or isolation. The impact of such harm is monumental and can effect every aspect of our lives from day-to-day functioning to our relationships. I utilize parts work and interpersonal dynamics within the therapeutic relationship to help make unconscious patterns accessible so that we can work together to help you identify your emotions, name the beliefs that got engrained early on, find and new choices, and befriend the body that has always attempted to keep you safe.
The absence of safety and protection during childhood must be acknowledged, mourned, and reorganized alongside the ability to restore power and safety in adult life. We can’t talk ourselves out of the reactions we developed to survive ongoing threats. I believe that we don’t begin to feel like the harm has really ended until we begin to cultivate a relationship with all parts of ourselves. Learning to listen to your body, acknowledge the language of your nervous system, and identify new resources takes time, but it is possible to live a life that finally feels like your own.
Beyond my professional life, I am an auntie to some of the coolest kids I know. I enjoy reading books and browsing local bookstores. I value relaxing moments with the people and animals. Yoga, travel, olympic weightlifting, and lots of laughter keep me grounded and energized to do this work with the people that I have the pleasure of sharing space with.
More about my background & training
I earned my bachelor of science in psychology with a minor in family studies from Towson University. From there, I earned my master's degree in Applied Psychology with a specialization in Counseling from the University of Baltimore.
I am a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) in the state of Maryland
I am an EMDR Certified Therapist and an EMDRIA-approved EMDR Consultant. I offer consultation to therapists who have completed EMDR Basic Training.
I am a Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT-500), and have completed the 300-hour Trauma Sensitive Yoga Facilitator certification through the Center for Trauma and Embodiment at Justice Resource Institute.
I have advanced training in EMDR for dissociative disorders, attachment concerns, eating disorders, and personality disorders. I have completed continued training in the treatment of dissociative identity disorder and other dissociative disorders.
I am an adjunct professor at Towson University where I teach a graduate course in the treatment of trauma. I enjoy supporting the education of both clients and fellow clinicians.
Ready to get started?