Lea S. Denny

Lea S. Denny, MS, LPC, NCC, NMT, a globally sought out expert with a visionary and innovative perspective, is a National Board-Certified Licensed Counselor and a Neurosequential Model of Therapeutics trainer with a focus on Indigenous healing. She is of Hawaiian and Filipino descent and her family is Indigenous to the Oneida and Ojibwe Nations. Beyond her roles as a wife, mother of two, and valued community member, Denny holds the responsibility and care of the notable positions of Chief Executive Officer, Visionary, Founder, and Clinical Director at the HIR Wellness Institute, a survivor and women led organization that serves survivors of violence, especially sexual assault, domestic violence, intimate partner violence, sex trafficking, and MMIW/R (missing & murdered Indigenous women/relatives). This institute is dedicated to pioneering advancements in addressing historical and intergenerational trauma through the provision of free mental health care and wellness services.

Denny has an impressive track record of over 20 years in the mental health field and she has been at the forefront of transforming how mental health care services are delivered to Indigenous and underserved communities worldwide. Leading a diverse interdisciplinary team of 16 professionals and continuously expanding, she is actively shaping the narrative around decolonizing mental health and embodying the paradigm shift towards healing-informed care and matriarchal shared leadership. Denny’s groundbreaking Lea S. Denny CAM™ Framework™ and Mental Health Without Borders Approach™, along with her innovative CAMPsite™ model, have revolutionized access to mental health providers and support within community spaces.

Committed to workforce development, Denny has created a healing-informed organization that focuses on nurturing the next generation of helping providers and workforce development initiatives through her CAM™ Advanced Placement Training site. Her involvement as a community researcher on historical trauma healing, particularly in projects such as the CDC Indigenous research initiative on healing Adverse Childhood Experiences and tackling issues like the opioid epidemic and healthy homes, showcases her dedication to making tangible impacts in the field.

In addition to her active roles in various local and national councils and committees, including noteworthy positions such as Committee Member of the Wisconsin State Task Force on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and honorary faculty member at the University of California Davis, Denny’s influence is felt globally. She is an international speaker and trainer with a focus on Indigenous Wellbeing. She has shared her expertise with over 10,000 individuals and has graced prestigious events worldwide while being recognized for her contributions in health justice and mental health service delivery.

For further insights into the remarkable work of Lea S. Denny, visit her website at LeaSDenny.com.