About Play Wise Consulting

Play Wise Consulting is an athletic consulting service specializing in support for teenagers and young adults. We help athletes navigate complex social dynamics—including locker room culture, digital ethics, consent, healthy boundaries, and leadership development. Our mission is to empower individuals and teams to thrive both on and off the field, court, and rink, guiding them toward becoming confident, respectful adults as they transition into college, university, and the workforce.

Shawn McCarthy

Shawn McCarthy is the founder and lead consultant of Play Wise Consulting.

A father of two teenage boys who play team sports, Shawn brings both personal insight and professional expertise to his work with young athletes and organizations.

With close to 20 years of experience in the Department of Justice for the Province of Manitoba, Shawn currently serves as a Program Facilitator, delivering intervention programs to at‑risk individuals in correctional facilities. Over the past 12 years, he has provided long‑term intervention programs, accumulating thousands of hours in group and individual counselling. His specialization includes sexual education, intervention, and cognitive behavioral therapy, giving him a unique perspective on how education and prevention can reduce harmful choices before they occur.

Shawn is a graduate of the University of Manitoba’s Applied Counselling program and has several years of experience coaching and managing youth sports teams. This combination of professional training, hands‑on counselling experience, and direct involvement in athletics allows him to connect authentically with young athletes, parents, and organizations.

“I work from the belief that ignorance, not ill intent, drives many of the harmful decisions we see from young people today, prevention is more than possible”