Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Trainings and Certifications
Timeline
Generic
Shannon Whitelaw

Shannon Whitelaw

Bellingham

Summary

Dedicated mental health professional with 11+ years of experience supporting school-aged children, including 4 years in community mental health and 7 additional years working with neurodivergent youth. Trained in EMDR, TF-CBT, DBT, HeartMath, and Eagala equine-assisted psychotherapy. Utilizes evidence-based interventions tailored to individual needs and aligned with IEP goals. Skilled in providing individual, family, and group therapy across various settings. Collaborates with educators, caregivers, and service providers to create trauma-informed, inclusive environments that foster emotional regulation, behavioral growth, and student success. Committed to supporting students through trauma and life challenges with compassion, professionalism, and integrity.

Overview

12
12
years of professional experience

Work History

Child and Family Mental Health Professional

Compass Health
10.2021 - Current
  • Deliver individual counseling services to K–12 students using evidence-based therapeutic approaches tailored to needs.
  • Manage an average caseload of 50 students, ensuring high-quality care for diverse behavioral and emotional concerns.
  • Completed comprehensive intake assessments and developed individualized treatment plans with students and families.
  • Achieve an average of 65% clinical productivity, consistently meeting organizational expectations for service hours.
  • Facilitate group and family therapy sessions.
  • Earned a strong reputation for the quality of care, with frequent student-to-student referrals stemming from positive experiences in therapy.
  • Maintain accurate clinical documentation and scheduling while adapting to changing school environments and student needs.
  • Collaborate with families, caregivers, CPS, and external providers to ensure continuity of care and support.

Equine Mental Health Professional

Northwest Hearts United
06.2024 - Current
  • Provided trauma-informed psychotherapy integrating equine-assisted modalities to support client self-regulation and emotional resilience.
  • Facilitated somatic-based interventions, including grounding exercises and body awareness techniques, to enhance nervous system regulation.
  • Partnered with therapy horses to co-create a safe, relationally attuned environment for clients navigating trauma, anxiety, and emotional dysregulation.
  • Modeled and encouraged co-regulation and present-moment awareness through embodied therapeutic presence.

Lead Registered Behavior Technician and Lead

First Steps for Kids
06.2013 - 05.2018
  • Worked one-on-one with children diagnosed with autism in schools, homes, and in the community.
  • Incorporated play-based techniques into therapy sessions, making learning enjoyable while still meeting targeted objectives.
  • Acted as the lead and supervisor to all instructors on each client's teams, ensuring accurate implementation of programs, behavior interventions, and the collection and analysis of data.
  • Trained new employees in the field, in addition to leading ongoing skill-building workshops.Using various scientific techniques and methods, such as data collection and analysis, I worked to produce improvements in communication, social relationships, self-care, and play.
  • Developed programs using creative and effective tools to implement them to best fit each individual's needs, and to ensure successful skill acquisition.
  • Using various scientific techniques and methods, such as data collection and analysis, I worked to produce improvements in communication, social relationships, self-care, and play.


Education

Master of Arts - Human Behavioral Psychology

National University
La Jolla, CA
01-2021

Bachelor of Arts - Sociology

University of California, Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz, CA
06-2013

Skills

  • Client-centered
  • EMDR
  • Play Therapy
  • TF-CBT
  • Grief and Loss
  • Family and Groups
  • Treatment Planning
  • Crisis Intervention
  • Assessments and Diagnosis
  • Cultural Sensitivity
  • Internal Family Systems
  • Child and adolescent therapy

Trainings and Certifications

  • Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR)
  • Trauma Focused (TF) - CBT
  • Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)
  • Complex Trauma
  • WA State Hypnotherapy License
  • Certified Grief Informed Specialist
  • Equine Mental Health Specialist
  • Seattle Children’s FAST Trauma, Depression, and Anxiety programs

Timeline

Equine Mental Health Professional

Northwest Hearts United
06.2024 - Current

Child and Family Mental Health Professional

Compass Health
10.2021 - Current

Lead Registered Behavior Technician and Lead

First Steps for Kids
06.2013 - 05.2018

Master of Arts - Human Behavioral Psychology

National University

Bachelor of Arts - Sociology

University of California, Santa Cruz

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