Erin Shaheen

Erin has been providing education and support to families for over twenty-five years. After receiving a Social Service Worker Diploma in 1993, she worked in the area of mental health and homelessness for 7 years before joining the birth community with the Ottawa Childbirth Education Association. With a passion for lifelong learning, she returned to school to complete a Master’s in Education for Healthcare Professionals in 2018. Most recently, she has supported neurodivergent students as an Accessibility Counsellor / Learning Strategist at a post-secondary institution.

Through these varied education and front-line clinical experiences, Erin has developed a focus on supporting individuals, including post-secondary students and and parents with compassion and respect. She recognizes that difficult behavior is a form of communication, and that children, youth, and adults alike demonstrate a natural curiosity and ability to connect when the environment supports their unique strengths, interests, and needs. Erin is familiar with unschooling, homeschooling, Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) and alternatives to the traditional school system to provide inclusive soft launching into adulthood.

Erin is available for individual counselling for youth ages 17+ and adults. She recognizes the strength of family relationships and the importance of working collaboratively with individuals and their networks in a client centred manner. Erin also provides services in group format to empower young adults and parents with the knowledge and community they need to thrive. Erin provides services in English, in Ottawa and across the province.

Erin is a proud parent to four amazing humans, including twins. Intimately familiar with lived experiences as a parent of neurodivergent children and late-identified ADHD herself, she is unapologetically dependent on colourful post-it-notes, coffee and the power of knitting. 

Therapist, M.Ed, RSSW

College of Social Workers and Social Service Worker
The MEHRIT Centre level 2
Certified Autism Spectrum Disorder Clinical Specialist (ACDCS)
Creative Solutions for school refusal (Sick Kids)
Circle of Security
Making Sense of Anxiety (Dr. Neufeld)
Trans Health in the Champlain & Intro to Gender Affirming Care
Always Online: Therapeutic Approaches in the Age of Chronic Screen Use
Bebo-Mia Infant Sleep Educator Training
DONA Postpartum Doula training 
BRIA Menopause training
Sir Wilfred Laurier CBT and Mental Health (in progress)

Professional training