Certified Clinical Sexologist, LMFT
Dr. Thelma Tennie is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) and Certified Clinical Sexologist. Born in Washington, DC, she is of Jamaican descent on her father’s side and Native American heritage on her mother’s side. Dr. Tennie is the founding CEO of Healing Arts, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, where, since 2015, she has supervised and mentored master’s and PhD-level therapists.
In 2018, Dr. Tennie launched a wellness spa, Dr. Thelma Tennie and Associates, LLC, where she offers life coaching and promotes positive self-care.
Expanding her commitment to education, in 2020 she founded Healing Arts Institute’s Graduate School of Therapy and Clinical Sciences. The institute’s programs, approved by the Florida Department of Education, provide affordable doctoral degrees in Clinical Sexology and Marriage and Family Therapy, a master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy, and a Certificate in Clinical Sexology. These residential programs aim to make advanced training more accessible for bachelor’s and master’s-level therapists nationwide.
Dr. Tennie holds a Bachelor’s in Psychology, a Master of Science in Marriage and Family Therapy, a PhD in Clinical Sexology, and has completed all coursework (ABD) for a second PhD in Marriage and Family Therapy. With over fourteen years of experience in trauma therapy and more than ten years in autism research, she focuses on early diagnosis, treatment, and psychoeducation for autism. Her interests extend to Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Early Childhood Sexual Education, and she previously served as a certified schoolteacher in Social Science in Broward County.
Dr. Tennie has presented internationally, including at The Normal University in Beijing, China, on autism prevalence, and at the National Sex Conference in Munich, Germany, on polyamorous systems. Recognized as a Qualified Supervisor in Florida for Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Interns and Licensed Mental Health Counselor Interns, she is an active professional member and approved supervisor with the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (AAMFT), the Association of Black Sexologists and Clinicians, the International Society for Sexual Medicine (ISSM), and the American Board of Sexology (ABS).
Recently, Dr. Tennie authored A Mindfulness Daily Reflection Journal and Our Relationship Business Plan: A Complete Workbook to Learn About Yourself and Your Partner, and co-authored Our Marriage Business Plan: A Complete Workbook to Learn About Yourself and Your Partner, a premarital counseling guide. All three are available on Amazon.