Unlock an Exciting Career
Unlock an Exciting Career
Generalist Forensic Social Work is a skill set comprised of essential legal and social work concepts that social work practitioners or students attain through formal training or professional development. Generalist Forensic Social Work in Canada is not a professional designation in Canada (at this time). It is a unique and intriguing skill set in the field of social work practice.
As an emerging subspecialty, our specialized services and training programs are offered by social work, law, or both professionals. We are highly skilled individuals who work as social workers, social justice advocates, educators, professional mentors, and consultants to the courts, private and professional organizations, government, and corporations. We are the professionals you want for specialized services and training.
As industry professionals, we provide the professional training, guidance, and service you need and deserve. Call us today if you are seeking a strategic alliance or plan to develop and enhance a special skill set. Together, we will create and refine your goals for success. We didn’t get here alone, and neither will you.
Contact us today at info@nifsw.com to discuss how we can help.
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Be a part of this exciting and emerging sub-specialty in social work practice. Learn the law that is essential to social work practice. Develop practical skills in forensic social work advocacy, investigation, testimony as an expert witness, and assessment.
Unlock an Exciting Career
The possibilities are endless when you have people committed to providing you with the best service, training and support.
Our Founder
Shawna Paris-Hoyte O.N.S., KC, JD, BCCH, MSW, RSW-CS, PhD(std).
The National Institute of Forensic Social Work is the brainchild of Shawna Paris-Hoyte, a practicing lawyer, social worker, psychotherapist, clinical hypnotherapist, generalist, forensic social worker, and educator in Canada. After years of simultaneous practice in both professions, Shawna saw the need for lawyers to understand social work concepts, theories and approaches and for social workers to enhance their understanding of the law relevant to social work practice.
Shawna is a highly regarded and sought-after interdisciplinary and inter-professional practitioner. She is a psychotherapist, hypnotherapist, and registered social worker. Her focus is on mental health and addiction services. Her clinical specialty is depression care, anxiety, and trauma. She is also a well-known lawyer for her work in family law, criminal youth criminal law, and human rights as a social justice advocate.
As an educator, she teaches clinical law practice, cross-cultural studies, law and social work, social work and diversity in Canada and Human Development and Environments at several universities in Canada.
As a PhD student, her doctoral research and studies were in trans-generational and intergenerational transmission of trauma and the impact on the biopsychosocial development of African Canadians and Indigenous Black Nova Scotians.
Shawna has experience in trauma-informed practice as a lawyer and clinician, in cultural competency consulting, and working with many NGOs, government, grassroots, and community-based organizations by assisting in program development and implementation.
Shawna's clinical and forensic skills framework includes anti-oppressive, feminist, culturally competent interventions that are trauma-informed, client- and solution-focused, and employ critical thinking and a race lens.
Program Development: trauma-informed lawyering with sexual assault victims, with lawyers, cultural competency education and program development, race and culture equity- policy development, human development and environments, corrections programming, court reports and assessments - race and culture impact assessments, parental capacity and access reports in family law, criminal law and child protection cases.
Photo by Megan Mahon
Bio: Clinical & Legal
Additional Information
Shawna Paris-Hoyte is one of the few dual professionals practicing law and social work concurrently. With over 22 years of experience as a private practice clinical social worker, she combines her expertise in psychotherapy, clinical hypnotherapy, and EMDR with her extensive legal background in Family Law, Child Protection Law, Criminal Law, Youth Justice Law, and Human Rights. Shawna provides a unique interdisciplinary approach, integrating the knowledge and skills from law and social work to offer comprehensive legal and social justice support. She provides comprehensive treatment for a range of issues, including crisis intervention, life transitions, suicidal ideation, relationship and couples counselling, domestic violence, grief, and self-esteem, utilizing approaches such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT), and Trauma-Focused Therapy. Shawna is also an expert in conducting assessments, including consultation on race and culture reports, parental capacity, access reports, and child wishes statements.
In addition to her clinical work, Shawna brings over 30 years of experience in law as a defence lawyer, with expertise in Family Law, Child Protection Law, Criminal Law, Youth Justice Law, and Human Rights. She has appeared at all levels of court, including the Supreme Court of Canada (R. v. L.T.H., SCC 2008), and provides trial consultation, particularly related to race and culture. Shawna also serves as a Clinical Instructor, teaching social work courses at Dalhousie University and the University of Calgary, and contributes to policy development and program consulting. Her PhD research focuses on forensic social work education.
Awards & Honors
- Nova Scotia Barrister's Society Distinguished Service Award- 2022.
- Recipient of Queen Elizabeth II 70 Anniversary Platinum Jubilee Medal - 2022
- The Order of Nova Scotia Awarded in 2020- Investiture Ceremony November 2021
- Canadian Association of Social Workers- National Distinguished Service Award- 2016.
- The Honorable Justice Bertha Wilson Honor Society Inductee, October 17, 2014.
- Nova Scotia Legal Aid, Service Recognition Award, October 15, 2014
- Lifetime Achievement Award –National Black Law Students' Association of Canada- January 2014
- Queen’s Counsel Designation – February 2011
- The Inaugural recipient of the Hon. Justice Lorne Clarke, Q.C Award for Access to Justice, 2010.
- National Black Law Students Association: People Making a Difference Award – March 2009.
- Elizabeth Fry Society - Rebels with a Cause - 2006 Recipient, May 2006.
- Black Community Advocates Association of NS- Recognition Award as Founding Member, 2002.
- Treasury Board of Canada - Award of Recognition - Embracing Change Task Force- 2001.
- Recipient of numerous contribution awards from local universities, schools and organizations. Current research and studies in social work focus on the transgenerational transmission of trauma and the impact on the biopsychosocial development of African Canadians and Indigenous peoples.
Private Practice Services
Shawna has a small private practice as a psychotherapist and clinical hypnotherapist. If you are interested in accessing her clinical services, please click the button below. You can also visit the website at www.sphlifesolutions.com. All contact is confidential and private.