Prentis Hemphill

Prentis Hemphill is a writer, therapist, somatic facilitator, and political organizer whose work focuses on the intersection of embodiment, trauma healing, and social justice. Hemphill is the founder and director of The Embodiment Institute, a training and research organization that applies somatic practices to individual, organizational, and collective care within a healing justice framework. As a trained psychotherapist with a master's degree in clinical psychology from Antioch University Los Angeles, Hemphill has taught and practiced somatics in social movement organizations, supporting individuals and communities through periods of change and transformation. Hemphill's approach explores how trauma, power, and social conditioning are expressed through the body, and how embodied awareness can foster resilience, accountability, and relational repair.

Prior to founding The Embodiment Institute, Hemphill served as Healing Justice Director at the Black Lives Matter Global Network, contributing to the integration of healing justice frameworks in movement organizing. Hemphill has also been a lead somatics teacher with generative somatics and Black Organizing for Leadership and Dignity, focusing on bridging healing work with political organizing. Through The Embodiment Institute, Hemphill launched the Black Embodiment Initiative, which centers somatic practices rooted in Black cultural and political traditions, and hosts the podcast "Becoming the People," which examines embodiment, relational practice, and healing justice through interviews and guided reflections.

Hemphill is the author of the bestselling book "What It Takes to Heal: How Transforming Ourselves Can Change the World," published by Random House, which presents healing as a non-linear, collective, and embodied process. The book combines personal narrative, somatic therapy, and cultural analysis to frame healing as a lifelong journey toward liberation. Hemphill has partnered with figures such as Brené Brown, Tarana Burke, and Esther Perel, and has contributed to anthologies including the chapter "The Wisdom of Process" in "You Are Your Best Thing" edited by Burke and Brown, "Boundaries Can Be Love" in "Holding Change" by adrienne maree brown, and contributions to "The Politics of Trauma" by Staci Haines. Hemphill's work and writing have appeared in The New York Times and HuffPost.

Hemphill has been recognized as a Roddenberry Fellow for work in embodied healing. Drawing on clinical expertise, movement-building experience, and personal storytelling, Hemphill works with individuals and organizations to navigate leadership transitions, support community accountability, and foster transformation. Hemphill's message emphasizes that healing is not solely self-care but an ongoing practice that connects personal transformation with social change.