© 2019. Pandora's Awakening | PS

Renée Burwell

LCSW, MPA, AASECT Certified Sex Therapist and Educator

Renée Burwell, LCSW, MPA, CST is a skilled psychotherapist and educator with a specialization in sex therapy and trauma. Her practice, Pandora's Awakening, offers services and educational outreach that help destigmatize mental and sexual health services. In addition to her private practice, she is a skilled facilitator offering trainings and workshops to healthcare and social services professionals on mental health, sexual health, and reproductive choice. In addition to her work at Pandora's Awakening, she is also the executive director of the Tennessee Alliance of Sexual Health, AASECT’s Mid-Continent Representative, an active member of the Association of Black Sexologist, and is a writer and educator for Bedroom Kandi. She has presented all over the country regarding sexual health and reproductive rights, and was awarded “Family Life Educator” of the year by Planned Parenthood of Tennessee and North Mississippi.

I live by the philosophy that everyone on this earth plays a vital part in the success and failures of their community, and I prefer to play on the side of success. Analyzing and learning functions of relationships has always been a great passion of mine. I believe relationships are the driving force behind our existence. It isn’t money, power, or wealth that makes or breaks a person, but the encounters they have had with others that develop their personality. In my years of working as a Social Worker in both mental health and healthcare settings, I see the importance of having clear knowledge and expertise in understanding the role mental and sexual health play in individual identity. My goal is to help empower relationships and individuals.

My therapeutic style is client-centered and integrative. I approach every client as a distinctive system requiring unique and personalized modalities of care. I work within the best of my abilities to meet each client from their personal lens of the world, and actively collaborate with the client and their resources to best develop their treatment plan. I actively use strengths-based techniques when working with clients, and include cognitive-based theory, mindfulness techniques, systems theory, and grieving models to help clients explore techniques that work best for their unique circumstances. I also include a spiritual and personal development component in treatment plans if requested. Previously, I have worked as an Academic Advisor at The University of Southern California, and I am willing to assist with providing academic and career counseling in therapeutic sessions if desired by clients.

  • Bachelor of Psychology

    Spelman College
  • Master of Social Work

    University of Southern California
  • Master of Public Administration

    University of Southern California
  • Post Graduate Certificate in Sex Therapy and Education

    University of Michigan
  • Sex Therapy

    Specialty
  • Trauma

    Specialty
  • Couple’s Therapy

    Specialty
  • PTSD

  • Mood Disorders (Depression/Bipolar)

  • Anxiety

  • BDSM/Kink

  • Non-Monogomy

  • Transgender Hormone and Surgery Referrals

  • LGBTQI + Affirming

  • Co-Occuring

  • Affair Recovery

  • Grief

  • Career Counseling

  • Coping Skills

  • Family Conflict

  • Self Esteem

  • Sex Addiction/OCSB

  • Substance Abuse

  • Intimacy Issues

Awards

2021 Award for Integrative Approaches to Sex Therapy

AASECT

2018 Family Life Educator Award Winner

Planned Parenthood of Tennessee and North Mississippi
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