Sidney Shaw
Dr. Sidney Shaw has been a professional counselor since 2001. He has worked in a variety of settings, including in a rural community in Alaska as a mental health counselor, in medical clinics for native peoples, as a school counselor, adventure-based counseling, and in private practice.
Dr. Shaw has conducted trainings and presentations at international, national, regional, state, and local levels; he has also been a keynote speaker for state-level counseling conferences and an international counseling conference. Dr. Shaw has published in numerous peer-reviewed journals and co-published a professional training video on Cultural Humility in Counseling with Alexander Street Press. He was a committee member for the American Counseling Association Presidential Task Force on Artificial Intelligence in Counseling (2021 - 2025) to help establish ACA recommendations for the role of AI in counseling. Dr. Shaw is also a Trainer with the Montana Happiness Project, an organization dedicated to promoting well-being and advancing suicide prevention efforts. He has local television media appearances as a mental health professional providing commentary and strategies for putting research into daily practice on the topics of seasonal depression and daily practices to increase emotional well-being (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tkpzbyOaO4A).
Dr. Shaw’s research and clinical interests include anxiety disorders, depressive disorders, suicide assessment and intervention, working with Indigenous communities, artificial intelligence in counseling, and psychological flexibility. Dr. Shaw became a core faculty member in Walden’s MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program in 2014. When he’s not teaching, counseling, or wrestling with statistics, he enjoys trail running and playing stringed instruments.
Courses Taught
RSCH 8260 - Advanced Quantitative Reasoning
COUN 6722 - Counseling and Psychotherapy Theories
COUN 8560 - Capstone Experience
COUN 6723 - Multicultural Counseling
COUN 6326 - Research and Evaluation
COUN 6720 - Diagnosis and Assessment
COUN 6785 - Social Change in Action: Prevention, Consultation, and Advocacy
COUN 6316 - Techniques of Counseling
COUN 6730 - Counseling Addictive Disorders
RESI 6601 - Residency 1
COUN 6101 - Foundations of MS Counseling in Graduate Studies
Education
EdD, University of Montana
MA, University of Montana
BS, Kennesaw State University
Public Service
Poverello Center for Homelessness, Volunteer - Missoula
Alaska Immigration Justice Project, Volunteer - Anchorage
New Mexico Veterans Affairs Hospital, Guest Speaker -
Awards / Honors
Bertha Morton Fellowship, University of Montana, 2012
RMACES Scholar, Rocky Mountain Association for Counselor Educators and Supervisors, 2012
Publications
Henry, B., bridges, c. W., Shaw, S. L. (2025). The Correlation of Adverse Childhood Experiences and Pornography Consumption Among Males.. Journal of Counseling Sexology & Sexual Wellness: Research, Practice, and Education
King, K., Bridges, C., Shaw, S. (2024). Counselor lesbian, gay, bisexual competency: Christian and non-religious addiction counseling programs.. Journal of Social, Behavioral, and Health Sciences 18, 187–198. https://doi.org/10.5590/JERAP.2024.18.1.12
Shaw, S. L., Oswin, S. L., Xi, Y., Calandriello, F., Fulmer, R. (2023). Artificial Intelligence, Virtual Reality, and Augmented Reality in Counseling: Distinctions, Evidence, and Research Considerations. Journal of Technology in Counselor Education and Supervision
Rides At The Door, M., Shaw, S. (2023). The other side of the ACESs pyramid: A healing framework for Indigenous communities. . International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Shaw, S. L., Green, J. (2022). Cognitive-Behavioral theories. In D. Capuzzi & M. D. Stauffer (Eds.), Counseling and psychotherapy: Theories and interventions (7th ed., pp. 193-216). American Counseling Association..
Shaw, S. L., Lombardero, A., Babins-Wagner, R., Sommers-Flanagan, J. (2019). Counseling Canadian Indigenous Peoples: Therapeutic alliance and outcome. Journal of Multicultural Counseling & Development, 47(1), 49-68
Shaw, S. L. (2020). Learning from highly effective counselors.. Counseling Today
Shaw, S. L. (2017). Cultural Humility: Embracing the Client’s View of Culturally Responsive Counseling. Counseling Today, 59(1), 42-48.. Counseling Today
Sommers-Flanagan, J., Shaw, S. (2017). Suicide risk assessment: What psychologists should know. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 48(2), 98-106. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/pro0000106. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice
Sommers-Flanagan, J., Shaw, S. L. (2017). Clinical interviews. In A. Wenzel. (Ed.). The SAGE Encyclopedia of Abnormal and Clinical Psychology. SAGE Publications..
Shaw, S. L., Murray, K. W. (2015). Incorporating feedback-informed treatment into counseling Practice. Counseling Today, 57(12), 44-51.. Counseling Today
Shaw, S., Murray, K. W. (2014). Monitoring alliance and outcome with client feedback measures. Journal of Mental Health Counseling, 36(1), 43-57. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/1526139253?accountid=14593. Journal Of Mental Health Counseling
Polanchek, S., Shaw, S. (2015). Ten intimate relationship research findings every counselor should know. Counseling Today,59(6), 34-39. . Counseling Today
Sommers-Flanagan, J., Polanchek, S., Zeleke, W. A., Hood, M., Shaw, S. L. (2014). Effectiveness of Solution-Focused Consultations on Parent Stress and Competence. The Family Journal, 23(1), 49-55. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1066480714555696. The Family Journal
Presentations
Shaw, S. (2025). Walden Commencement Address - Summer 2025. Walden University
Shaw, S. (2024). Minds and Machines: Navigating Artificial Intelligence in Counseling and Counselor Education. [Invited Keynote]. International Turkcess Education and Social Sciences Congress, Kosovo.
Shaw, S. L. (2022). Psychological Flexibility as a Target for Student and Faculty Well-Being. . Rocky Mountain Association of Counselor Education and Supervision
Shaw, S. L., Oswin, S. (2022). Psychedelic Assisted Counseling: Preparing Students for Emerging Trends. . Rocky Mountain Association of Counselor Education and Supervision
Shaw, S. L. (2022). A Strength and Wellness-Focused Approach to Suicide Assessment and Intervention. Keynote Speaker. South Dakota Counseling Association Annual Conference. April 30th, 2022..
Sophie, O., Shaw, S. (2022). (2022, April 7-9). Preparing Counselors In Training for Suicide Assessment and Intervention [Poster presentation]. American Counseling Association, Atlanta, Georgia. .
Shaw, S. L. (2020). Cultural Humility in Primary Care Practice. Family Medicine Residency of Western Montana. 10/7/2020.. Family Medicine Residency of Western Montana
Shaw, S. L., Lombardero, A. (2020). Marriage, Intimate Relationships, & Medicine. University of Nevada-Reno, School of Medicine. University of Nevada, Reno
Shaw, S. L. (2020). Multicultural Orientation in Community Mental Health. Family and Child Abuse Prevention Center
Sommers-Flanagan, J., Shaw, S. L. (2013). The Clinical Interview: Themes, Variations, and Solutions. American Counseling Association, Annual Conference. Cincinnati, OH. 2013
Shaw, S. (2019). Race and Racism in Medicine. WWAMI Medical School. University of Washington. Anchorage, AK. 3/20/19
Shaw, S. (2018). Ten Multicultural Counseling Research Findings for Counselors to Know. Rocky Mountain Association of Counselor Education and Supervision Conference. Park City, UT. 10/5/18
Shaw, S. L. (2018). Culture, Kids, and Family. Invited Lecture. University of Alaska, Anchorage. Clinical Psychology Program
Shaw, S. (2017). Practice-based Evidence: Improving Client Outcomes through Feedback- Informed Counseling. New Mexico Counseling Association Annual Conference. April, 28, Albuquerque, NM..
Shaw, S. (2017). Cultural Humility: Improving Counseling Outcomes and Privileging the Client’s Voice. New Mexico Counseling Association Annual Conference. April, 28, Albuquerque, NM..
Shaw, S. (2017). Increasing Psychotherapy Effectiveness with the Partners for Change Outcome Management System. Training at the New Mexico Veterans Affairs Hospital. New Mexico Veterans Affairs
Shaw, S. (2016). Shaw, S. L. (2016). Feedback Informed Counseling: An Evidence-Based Approach to Empower Clients and Increase Effectiveness. New Mexico Counseling Association Annual Conference. June 4, Albuquerque, NM.
Shaw, S. (2017). Increasing Psychotherapy Effectiveness with the Partners for Change Outcome Management System. Training at the New Mexico Veterans Affairs Hospital. New Mexico Veterans Affairs
Shaw, S. (2016). Cultural Humility: Embracing the Client’s View of Culturally Responsive Counseling. American Counseling Association Conference and Expo. Montreal, Quebec, Canada. .
Shaw, S. (2016). Feedback Informed Counseling: 3 Simple Steps to Improve Effectiveness and Empower Clients. Walden University Wow Workshop. 1/13/2016.
Shaw, S., Murray, K. (2015). Strengthening the Supervisory Alliance through Supervisee Feedback. Association for Counselor Education and Supervision Annual Conference..
Shaw, S., Murray, K. (2014). Shaw, S. L. (2014). Are All Counselors from Lake Wobegon: Addressing Self-Assessment Bias and Improving Counseling Outcomes. Rocky Mountain Association for Counselor Education & Supervision, 2014 Conference..
Shaw, S. L. (2014). Shaw, S. L. (2014). Counseling Canadian Aboriginal Peoples: Alliance, Outcome, and Counselor Training Level. Poster Session at Walden University Research Symposium.
Shaw, S., Murray, K. (2014). Murray, K., & Shaw, S. L. (2014). Navigating Layers of Feedback: Assessing the Supervisory Alliance. Rocky Mountain Association for Counselor Education & Supervision, 2014 Conference..
Polanchek, S., Shaw, S. (2014). Polanchek, S., & Shaw, S. L. (2014). 10 Relationship Science findings that every counselor should know. American Counseling Association Annual Convention..
Shaw, S. L. (2014). Shaw, S. L. (2014). Feedback informed counseling: Improving outcomes and increasing accountability. 3 hour Learning Institute at the American Counseling Association Annual Convention..
Shaw, S., Murray, K. (2013). Shaw, S. L., & Murray, K. (2013). The Power of Feedback: Improving Counselor Training, Accountability, and Supervision with Formal Client Feedback.
Shaw, S. L. (2020). Cultural Humility in Mental Health Practice. Walden University