Jennifer Salima Holt, Ph.D. is an author, Educational Psychologist and Sufi Music Minister who provides workshops, talks, and music multimedia performances. Her mission is to be a force of healing on the planet, by building bridges of peace, acceptance and love among all people and spiritual disciplines around the world.

EDUCATIONAL PSYCHOLOGIST/SPIRITUAL COUNSELOR

Jennifer Salima Holt, Ph.D. holds Masters and Doctoral degrees in Educational Psychology from the University of Minnesota. She is also a certified EMDR Level II therapist, and holds a Masters in Ministry Studies from the University of Spiritual Healing and Sufism. As a counselor, she utilizes a broad spectrum approach, combining her training and skills to help clients achieve optimum health spiritually, emotionally, mentally and physically. In most cases, through a very effective and unique synthesis of techniques including EMDR (a system of brain reprocessing), re-parenting, NLP (neurolinguistic programming), and forgiveness work, her clients are able to reclaim their lives, and learn to thrive rather than just survive (see Techniques page for more information). The spiritual aspect to the counseling is not based within a particular religion: Jennifer honors the spiritual path of each of her clients.  

Jennifer works with clients via Skype, so she can “see” and talk with clients directly no matter where they live around the globe. (Please see Products and Services for more information on the cost of individual and couples sessions.) As a professor, Jennifer has taught psychology and sociology college courses at a variety of colleges, including the University of Minnesota, St. Cloud State University, and the University of St. Thomas.

AUTHOR

Jennifer, who believes strongly in the importance of community service, has volunteered within the U.S. prison system extensively, and also served for many years as a death and dying midwife. Her stories of serving those experiencing grief and loss are now available in her book, Sacred Gateway of Grief and Loss: Freeing the Imprisoned Soul (Indigo Heart Publishing, 2009). The book has been highly recommended by Michael Bernard Beckwith (spiritual leader of Agape International Spiritual Center, star of the movie, The Secret, and author of Spiritual Liberation: Fulfilling Your Soul’s Potential), who writes, “Reading Dr. Holt’s book is a healing experience in itself. Her compassionate wisdom teaches us how to keep opening our hearts wider and wider, without limits, which results in unconditional love and acceptance of oneself and others. Her ability to combine depth with humor, psychology with spirituality, empowers us to nurture our own heart-commitment to all beings.”

                                                    MUSICIAN

Jennifer Salima Holt is also a singer and violinist (shown at left playing the violin for her original sacred chant, "E Kala Mai," at the Agape International Spiritual Center in Los Angeles, CA to several thousand attendees). Ecstatic Groove: Sacred World Chant Infusions (Salima's Whirled Peas, 2009), a musical "sister project" to her book, was inspired by sacred chanting groups she has led around the country, including prisons. Jennifer recently premiered a  live multimedia project, "Songs and Stories of Love, Light and Liberation," which combines interfaith sacred chants, stories about prisoners who have attained enlightenment and a continual slide show of hundreds of unique and stunning photographs.

Jennifer is also a professional vocal consultant and sound healer, specializing in personal transformation and healing through the voice and throat chakra. She was the founder and leader of feminist folk-punk band Tetes Noires in the 1980's, which released three musical recordings including Clayfoot Gods (Rounder Records, 1987), produced by the Violent Femmes. The band received critical acclaim from such sources as the New York Times, the Village Voice, Spin Magazine and London’s New Music Express. (See music biography for more information.)