Shannon Winslow, LMSW

Shannon Winslow, LMSW is a Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) and behavioral health clinician dedicated to supporting children and adolescents in the foster care system. Currently working with Together for Youth (formerly Berkshire Center and Services for Youth), a statewide nonprofit agency, Shannon provides trauma-informed therapy to youth ranging from infancy through age 21. Her work focuses on strengthening family bonds, addressing mental health needs, and equipping caregivers with practical strategies to support healing and growth.

Shannon’s journey to social work is deeply personal. When her youngest son was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer at just two years old, Shannon navigated the emotional and logistical challenges of his three-year treatment. During this period, she enrolled in college as a coping mechanism, ultimately earning her Bachelor’s degree in Social Work from Marist University and her Master’s degree from Adelphi University in 2021 through their advanced standing program. These experiences have shaped her empathetic, trauma-informed approach and provide her with a unique perspective on resilience and recovery.

Before entering social work, Shannon worked for over a decade as a Certified Nursing Assistant in skilled nursing and memory care facilities, providing care for elderly populations. This early experience taught her the importance of compassionate patient care, interdisciplinary collaboration, and the value of advocacy—skills she continues to apply in her work with foster youth.

Clinically, Shannon specializes in trauma-informed care, child development, and supporting children affected by placement in the foster care system. She is particularly skilled in working with infants and young children exposed to substances in utero, conducting developmental assessments, and identifying delays that require early intervention. She also provides biannual training for foster parents on trust and attachment, teaching caregivers how trauma impacts a child’s ability to bond and offering strategies to promote secure relationships. Shannon is currently working toward her clinical license (LCSW) and is approximately 400 hours from qualifying for the licensing exam.

Shannon’s approach to social work is informed not only by her professional training but also by her personal experiences with trauma, domestic violence awareness, and family members affected by addiction. She plans to develop a training program for fellow clinicians focused on working with children ages 0-5 in foster care, emphasizing play therapy, art therapy, and developmental monitoring. Through her work, Shannon combines professional expertise, lived experience, and authentic empathy to help children and families heal, thrive, and find hope for the future.

• Master’s Degree in Social Work, Adelphi University, 2021 (Summa Cum Laude)
• Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work, Marist University, 2020 (Magna Cum Laude)

• LMSW (Licensed Master Social Worker)
• Certified Clinical Trauma Professional
• Certified Nurse Assistant (Prometric, 2014)

• Summa Cum Laude (MSW),
• Magna Cum Laude (BSW)

• Cancer survivor advocate for her son’s journey
• Mentorship and support for foster parents through biannual training sessions

While I haven’t published any articles or books yet, I’m very interested in doing so in the future once I’ve gained more clinical experience. In the meantime, I lecture twice a year, providing biannual training for foster parents on Trust and Attachment. These sessions focus on how trauma impacts a child’s ability to trust and bond with caregivers, and offer practical strategies to support healthy attachment. This summer, I will be hosting a training for my fellow clinicians on working with children ages 0-5 in foster care, covering techniques such as play therapy, art therapy, and developmental monitoring for infants exposed to substances in utero. I was specifically asked by the directors of our clinical program to develop this training due to my expertise in child development and early childhood trauma.