Shawna MacKellar Provider of Psychoeducational Assessments and special education consultant

Shawna MacKellar, M.Ed.

Passion, Experience & Collaboration

‘Miss Shawna’ as her students often call her, provides Psychoeducational Assessment (testing) and Educational consulting services based out of Courtice, ON.

Shawna has over 20 years of experience in the field of School Psychology attained in Canada and the United States, and is a mother to 3 busy boys. Like most people, she has also faced her own share of family challenges and so she knows first hand how important it is to receive quality care, support, and service. She is passionate about seeing people become all they were meant to be, and considers it a blessing to be a part of their journey.

In addition to working for the local school board (part time) where she conducts Psychological Assessments and is in her second term as President of the Student Services Union, Shawna offers private Psychoeducational Assessment, speaking, teaching, and consulting services. Shawna is a frequently requested guest speaker and presenter within schools and the local community, has been a professor of Child Development with Durham College, and is often asked to consult and collaborate with local Psychologists about complex cases and to assist with various training initiatives. During the Covid-19 pandemic Shawna completed the "Science of Well Being" online course through Yale University, and also created and ran several online mental health support groups as well as created and filmed a series of professional videos designed to help children with their mental health, with the support of Their Opportunity (see resource page). Career and personal highlights for Shawna include speaking at Church on the Beach in beautiful Crystal Beach, Ontario, and joining WDCX radio to speak about the trauma and impact of divorce, and reality of single parenting.

Outside of work, Shawna loves spending time with her family (including 2 dogs), reading, writing, good coffee, dreaming in Home Sense, travelling, and anything to do with lake life. In 2015 Shawna and her younger boys traveled to Villa Altagracia in the Dominican Republic to meet one of their World Vision sponsor children, Maria, which was a life-changing experience for all. To read about this life-changing experience, check out page 5 of the WV Magazine at http://www.helpmesara.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/World-Vision-Canada-Childview-Magazine-Summer-2015.pdf

Training & Credentials

Shawna earned both of her degrees at the University of New Brunswick, and has a Master's of Education Degree (specializing in School/Educational Psychology) and a Bachelor of Arts Degree (in Psychology and Law in Society). Additional training pertaining to mental health and learning is ongoing as part of Shawna’s commitment to understanding the changing and complex needs of children. Shawna is a trained ASIST provider (suicide intervention) and has completed threat assessment, non-violent crisis intervention, selective mutism, ASD, DBT, mental health first aid, and various trainings related to equity, diversion & inclusion.

Prior to moving to Ontario, all licenses were in good standing which include an Education Specialist Credential in Mild-Moderate Disorders (California) as well as a Clinical Psychologist License (Michigan). Shawna is a member of the Ontario Association of Mental Health Professionals (OAMHP), and provides Psychological services in consultation with Registered Supervising Psychologists in order to meet the legal and ethical standards in the province of Ontario (which is a very common practice in Ontario for those trained outside of Ontario).