Shannon Nelson

Get to know me

Shannon is a Licensed Professional Counselor with 9 years of experience in the behavioral health field. In order to help her clients, ranging from birth to adults, to achieve their mental wellness goals Shannon utilizes a combination of traditional and holistic therapies. Combining expressive arts therapies, music, role-playing, and mindfulness with more traditional talk and play therapy techniques she develops a strong and safe rapport with clients. She is a Social-Emotional Consultant for children ages birth to three with development delays and disabilities with Illinois’ Early Intervention Program. Her previous work experience includes being a counselor for adolescents with substance abuse issues in an inpatient setting.

As a contracted school counselor, community mental health clinician, and while performing crisis assessments and interventions Shannon continues to work as a friend and advocate for communities that have been historically marginalized within society. She is an ally to BIPOC and LGBTQIA populations. Shannon received her Bachelor’s in Science degree at Rockford College and her Master’s degree from National-Louis University. In addition to her degrees Shannon is a certified State of Illinois Gateways Registry Infant Early Childhood Mental Health Consultant.

While growing up in the Rockford area Shannon currently resides in Oregon, IL with her husband, dog, and two cats. She is a mother to two children. She continuously works to stay current with mental health trends, especially focusing on access and improvement for all through policy at local, state, and federal levels.

Shannon is a die-hard Cubs fan and counts seeing Ryne Sandberg inducted into the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown as one of her greatest memories. She is currently a trainee in the University of Illinois Master Gardener Program and loves to spend time outdoors in her garden. Shannon hopes to one day run her own food truck on a beach overseas.