Shenaaz Janmohamed is a therapist, educator, organizer and somatic coach supporting social movements, organizations, and individuals at the intersections of justice, healing and transformation. Most recently, Shenaaz was the Founding Executive Director of Queer Crescent, a national LGBTQ Muslim organization, where she brought healing justice to Muslim communities to confront islamophobia and advance gender justice.
Additionally, Shenaaz has worked as a psychotherapist since 2012 in various roles - with youth of color as a school-based clinician; the Assistant Director of Mills College Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS); leading case conference at The Psychotherapy Institute; as well as offering a long-standing small private practice. Shenaaz recently joined the California Institute for Integral Studies (CIIS) as an Lecturer in the Integral Counseling Psychology program and she is currently getting certified through the Strozzi Institute Somatic Coaching program. Her therapeutic work is guided by relational, liberation, and somatic psychology frameworks, as well as Buddhist, Shia Muslim and Sufi spiritual practices and rituals.
Shenaaz believes that collective liberation can only be achieved through the parallel work of attending to the self, while attending to the world. Shenaaz raises her 10-year old daughter in Oakland, CA, is rooted in Sacramento where her parents are aging, and spends time making home in Philadelphia.
What People Are Saying
“As my first therapist, Shenaaz's practice was a great way to welcome me into my healing journey towards compassion (for myself and others), self-love, and insight. Her warm spirit, adept questions, and grounding presence guided me as I struggled to find answers to questions such as, "Why do I treat myself far worse than I would treat a friend?" or "How do I find balance in my life?" Shenaaz's grounding in social justice values ensured that I could bring my whole self to our sessions, and talk about my work, my family, my romantic relationships, and my community. I knew that whatever I brought to our conversations, Shenaaz would be rooted in respect for diverse cultures, experiences, and open-mindedness. She also shared extremely practical resources based on our conversations, including TED talks, books, and articles. Honestly, I would not be where I am today without the support and therapy I received from Shenaaz.”
— former client
“You have helped me know myself more, and with this knowing I can do more for our communities.”
— COACHING CLIENT
“Shenaaz is a gifted healer and facilitator. She's incredibly welcoming, thoughtful, and compassionate. We worked with her during a particularly stressful and tumultuous time, and her careful listening and guidance was, truly, what got us through it.”
— Organizational partner
Somatic Coaching Certification, Strozzi Institute | September 2025 - present
Licensed Clinical Social Worker #75300, Board of Behavioral Services | 2015 - present
Relational Psychotherapy Training Program, The Women’s Therapy Center | 2011-2013
Somatics & Trauma, generative somatics | 2011-2013
Community Education Training for Trainers, School of Unity and Liberation (SOUL) | 2010
CERTIFICATIONS, LICENSES & SELECT TRAININGS
Master of Social Work, University of Michigan School of Social Work | 2007
Urdu Study, American Institute for Indian Studies - Lucknow | Summer 2006
Arabic Language Institute, American University of Cairo | Spring 2004
Bachelor of Arts Sociology, California State University of Sacramento | 2004
EDUCATION
100 Women We Love: Class of 2024, Go Magazine
2020 Movement Maker, Move to End Violence Novo Foundation
2010 Fellow, American Muslim Civic Leaders Institute (AMCLI)
recognitions
PUBLISHED materials
Resisting Pinkwashing, KPFA APEX Express. May, 30, 2024.
Opinion: I'm a queer Muslim. Dearborn schools pulling LGBTQ books puts kids in danger, Detroit Free Press. October 28, 2022.