Shawn Canning

Shawn canning, M.S.W., R.S.W.

Therapists

Shawn Canning is a Registered Social Worker who provides individual and couples therapy for adults and teens, with a particular interest in supporting men and young people who feel overwhelmed, stuck, or caught in patterns that are affecting their relationships, emotional well-being, or day-to-day life.

Shawn has experience working across addictions, crisis response, psychiatric outpatient, forensic, youth residential treatment, and family law settings. His clinical training includes Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), Motivational Interviewing, ADHD-focused treatment, crisis intervention, and intimate partner violence risk assessment. He uses a strength-based, relational and trauma-informed approach to help clients better understand their emotions, behaviours, relationships, and the patterns that may be keeping them from moving forward.

Shawn has a particular interest in working with men, teens, and couples, including concerns related to masculinity, ADHD, emotional regulation, anxiety, relationship conflict, life transitions, and harmful or difficult-to-change patterns. His approach is approachable, collaborative, and practical. He works with clients to build greater self-awareness and self-compassion while developing strategies that support healthier relationships, increased confidence, and meaningful, lasting change.

Shawn holds a Master of Social Work from the University of Victoria. Before becoming a therapist, he worked as a youth worker in residential treatment programs and as a social worker with Legal Aid Alberta’s Family Law Office.

More than just his work: Shawn is also a musician and finds a sense of ease and enjoyment through playing and listening to music. He once even built his own guitar.