Transform Pain with Presence: How Listening to Your Body Fosters Connection

The intention of Whatsjust presents is to bridge divides and address our epidemic of loneliness by providing tools to have conversations in a productive, informed, and connecting way. One of the paths to achieving this is through the Yes, and... podcast where Dr. Abbie Henson hosts thought-provoking conversations with world-renowned leaders, thinkers, innovators, scientists, practitioners, and more. Every other week, Dr. Abbie and her guest use “yes, and…” to explore perspectives, break down defenses, and ultimately reach synthesis on complex ideas and deep-seated beliefs that impact our day-to-day lives. The intention is to teach skills to engage in deeper, more meaningful conversations and better connect with those around you.

Transform Pain with Presence will be a conversation between Dr. Abbie Henson and somatic therapist and author of , Prentis Hemphill. The event will take place at Walter Studios and center on ways to enhance connectivity with ourselves and others by tuning into our bodies.

• How recognizing and understanding bodily sensations and ingrained habits sparks personal and relational healing
• How addressing personal and collective traumas enhances social justice
• How imagining and committing to new possibilities drives personal and societal transformation

Prentis Hemphill (They/Them) uncovers the connections between healing, community accountability, and social transformation. As a therapist, somatics teacher, facilitator, political organizer, writer, and founder of The Embodiment Institute, Prentis has spent over 10 years guiding individuals and organizations through leadership transitions, conflict, and realigning values. They focus on an embodied approach, ensuring intentions are lived through the body.

Previously, Prentis served as the Healing Justice Director at Black Lives Matter Global Network and a lead somatics teacher with generative somatics and BOLD. They hold an M.A. in Clinical Psychology and have worked in low-cost mental health clinics. In 2016, Prentis received the Buddhist Peace Fellowship Soma Award for community work inspired by Buddhist thought.

Prentis is the author of What It Takes to Heal, and has work featured in The New York Times, Huffington Post, and Shondaland. They are a contributor to The Politics of Trauma, You Are Your Best Thing, and Holding Change, and the host of the podcast Finding Our Way, which reached the iTunes Top 100 in its first week.

Their belief is that reclaiming feeling and relationship opens space for justice. Prentis lives on a farm in Durham, NC.

Abigail Henson (she/her) is an assistant professor of Criminology and Criminal Justice at Arizona State University. She earned her Ph.D. in Criminal Justice from Temple University in 2020. Dr. Henson's research focuses on issues of transformative justice, program evaluation, and the impact of corrections and policing on identity, families, and communities. Her work strives to shift narratives and eliminate stigmas by engaging strengths-based human-centered frameworks and applying a critical gaze toward systemic injustices.

In addition to her academic work, Dr. Henson is also the host of the "WhatsJust presents Critical Conversations” podcast, which features interviews with scholars and experts on various topics related to justice, inequality, and social change. Dr. Henson also co-hosts a YouTube series, "Office Hours with Abbie and Juwan," where she and her colleague Juwan Bennett have deep yet casual discussions on issues related to justice and transformation. She believes in disseminating research findings and engaging with the community to promote social change and justice. Beyond social media, Abigail has participated in public conversations at the National Academies of Sciences and Arnold Ventures on engaging community and shifting perceptions of safety.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Walter Studios, 747 West Roosevelt Street, Phoenix, United States