ABOUT SHĀNA

Ambassador Shāna Boutté, MA, IMC, MLC, defied every limitation others placed on her. Diagnosed with 12 neurological and learning disabilities by age 24—and autism at 26—she was told she would never finish high school, never attend college, and was repeatedly denied entry into graduate psychology programs solely because she is autistic.

 

After 14 years of rejections, Shāna earned her master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling with a 3.9 GPA, was selected as a graduation speaker, and went on to become an award-winning mental health professional, international advocate, and United Nations Ambassador.

 

With more than 20 years of experience, she is now a leading voice in disability rights, mindfulness-based mental health, and trauma-informed support. Shāna is a Cornell University Certified ADA Instructor, former Certified Autism Specialist, licensed Master Life Coach, trauma-trained practitioner, and Reiki Master. She has earned multiple national humanitarian awards and international humanitarian awards through the United Nations. 

 

Once excluded from academia for being autistic, Shāna now trains universities, government leaders, medical teams, first responders, and global organizations on disability inclusion, neurodiversity, and human rights—proving that successful lived experience and extensive education is expertise.

 

Her mission is not just to educate, but to redefine what’s possible for people with disabilities everywhere through direct contact.

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CERTIFICATIONS AND AWARDS

MA, Clinical Mental Health Counseling Mindfulness Based Transpersonal Counseling Psychology — 

Naropa University 

BA, Humanities and Human Sciences — University of Houston Clear Lake, Houston, Texas 

United Nations Ambassador of Humanity -- ECOSOC

United Nations Ambassador of Peace

United Nations Global Disability Representative

Cornell University Certified Americans with Disabilities Act Instructor 

Center, Denver, CO 

Interactive Metronome Certified 

Protecting Human Research Participants — National Institute of Health Office of Extramural Research 

Licenced Master Life Coach – Elite Coach Seminary

Licensed Life Coach — Elite Coach Seminary 

Licensed Weight Loss Coach — Elite Coach Seminary 

Reiki Level 1 Through Master Level 2 Certified — HealCreateThrive, Boulder, CO 

Courting Reiki Certified — HealCreateThrive, Boulder, CO 

Certified Understanding and Responding to Domestic Abuse -- Alison

Nonprofit Ready Certified – Nonprofit Essentials

Certified Media, Film, High Fashion Make Up Artist – Award Studios, Los Angeles, CA 

Certified Autism Specialist (former) — Autism Society of America

United Nations Sustainable Development Goals Trained

Dialectical Behavior Therapy Facilitator Training — Noeticus Couseling and Training

Trauma-Informed Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga (TIAVY) trained -- Jen Peters, Denver, CO

NOVA Prize Recipient 2025 – United Nations

National Presidential Humanitarian Lifetime Achievement Award – President Joseph Biden

National Presidential Humanitarian Lifetime Achievement Medal of Honor – President Joseph Biden

President’s Lifetime Achievement Award – AmeriCorps and President Joseph Biden

National Presidential Humanitarian Gold Award – President Joseph Biden

National Presidential Humanitarian Gold Status Medal of Honor –President Joseph Biden

Mental Health Professional of the Year 2025 -- Top 100 Registry

Top 100 Registry 2025

Marquis Who’s Who Publications Board 2023-2024

University President’s Award for Community Service — Southwest Texas State University 

City of Houston Proclamations — Shāna Boutté Williams Day, May 20, 2000 and August 3, 2001 

American Counseling Association member

Autism Society of America member

Firefly Autism – Internal Review Board

Colorado Goat Walkabouts board member

Bettie Bubbles board of directors

Lead Mental Health Professional and Administrator -- Colorado Goth Society

Gilpin County Arts Association member