The Trauma Therapist Transgender and Queer Service Providers with Dr. Shanéa Thomas
Jan 10, 2026
Dr. Shanéa Thomas, a clinical social worker and award-winning sexuality educator, dives into the intriguing intersection of grief and sexuality. They recount their journey from working at a morgue to advocating for LGBTQ youth. Shanéa distinguishes sex, gender, and attraction while emphasizing the crucial need for identity-informed care in various organizations. They reveal insights from their forthcoming book aimed at supporting trans and queer service providers, sharing the importance of resilience and community in navigating today's political landscape.
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Mentor Sparked Morgue And Sexuality Path
- Shanéa credits a mentor, Dr. Philip Lucas, for steering her toward grief work and human sexuality education after learning he worked at a morgue.
- That mentorship led her to work two years at the morgue and shaped her focus on grief, loss, and self-care.
Clear Distinction Between Sex And Gender
- Shanéa differentiates sex as body composition and gender as identity between your head and your body.
- She highlights attraction as a separate dimension that includes romantic and platonic ties.
Working At The Morgue Shaped Grief Lens
- At Recover she helped identify bodies, attended morning meetings, and sat with families when shown photos for positive ID.
- She found unclaimed or unrepresented mourners were the most emotionally difficult part of the morgue work.
