The Savannah Trauma Institute

As a trauma survivor herself, Shawn had the vision no person should ever feel alone in their recovery. This vision prompted her to embark on her therapeutic journey, obtaining her Certified Peer Specialist (CPS) certificate and a Clinical Mental Health Counseling Master’s in the psychoanalytic discipline from Northwestern University. Later, she became an LPC, with certifications in addiction (CAADC), trauma (CCTP-II), and personality disorders (C-PD), with a subspecialty in mass shooting survivors, first responders, and combat veterans. Shawn is also trained in Level Two EMDR techniques and utilizes this in her private practice. In 2015, she served on the Board of Advisors for The Ranch Recovery Center in Tennessee, specializing in trauma and addiction recovery, further cementing her passion for the cause.

Shawn often lectures throughout Georgia on trauma and recovery, introducing others to her innovative approach to trauma therapy with a unique connection to community. These experiences motivated her to establish TraumAnon, a peer-led, 12-step trauma support group. Founded in 2019, TraumAnon now has an over 9,000-member community spanning across the U.S. and multiple other countries. Shawn publishes a podcast, Trauma Talks with Shawn Witt, focused on trauma and addiction which can be found on Spotify.

She founded The Savannah Trauma Institute, est. 2023, which offers group therapy and day treatment to those suffering from mental health issues related to trauma and addiction. 

Additionally, Shawn has been quoted in The Washington Post and is currently used as a source for Politico, regarding trauma and its effects on survivors. She has been a guest speaker at the Georgia Mental Health Consumer Network Conference and hosts certifications and training for CPSs throughout Georgia. https://www.washingtonpost.com/wellness/2022/10/29/therapists-waiting-lists-depression-anxiety/?

Shawn lives in Savannah, GA with her husband, four children, and her mastiff, Ellie Mae. She coaches cheerleading for CHAA, a local Christian homeschool association, and is active in her church and community.