Ibet Hernandez holds a Master’s Degree in Social Work from Fordham University and a Baccalaureate in Psychology and Bilingual Special Education from Lehman College. Ms. Hernandez is currently a Sanctuary Faculty Consultant at the Andrus Sanctuary Institute.

Ms. Hernandez has served as an effective leader in the South Bronx community for over 15 years in the area of Mental Health, Counseling, Early Childhood Education and Community Organization. She began her career as a community organizer employed at Hunts Point Multi-Service Center providing outreach and educational services to parents of special needs children in the community.

She joined Bronx-Lebanon Hospital Center in 2002 in the aftermath of the World Trade Center disaster when she was recruited to develop and coordinate Project Liberty, the FEMA initiative to provide a psychological and emotional response to the 9/11 tragedy.

Personally affected by vicarious trauma and stress, Ms. Hernandez embarked on cultivating her life long passion of treating the traumatized individual with an integrative approach and developing a holistic Program of Alternative Integrative Healing Arts. She has dedicated her time to learning the art and healing power of massage therapy, breathing, yoga, meditation, guided visualization, aromatherapy, Chakra cleansing, spiritual counseling and psychotherapy and combines all of these methods to provide a tailored approach to wellness and empowerment. This approach treats the whole person, Mind, Body and Spirit in a three dimensional way. She has developed her organization OWL Wellness Inc. (Optimum Wellness Living), has a private practice, and designs retreats and educational and wellness events for groups in the Pocono Mountain area. She trains and provides workshops on stress management and wellness. Ms. Hernandez has brought to her practice her philosophy that: healing the mind supports the body, healing the body supports the mind and healing the Spirit supports both mind and body. Creating a stronger, healthier, happier more balanced individual that can continue to sustain and maintain Wellness.