I Saw a Gap I Couldn't Ignore.
I started in counseling. In Part 121 training operations, I watched the pilot shortage put students and instructors under pressure the training wasn't built for. So I built Aviation Conversations.
Book a Free Discovery Call
A Counselor's Background, Applied to Aviation
I'm Shannon Torres, founder of Aviation Conversations.
I'm a counselor, private pilot, and aviation training professional who believes pilots deserve practical support that understands both the human side of flying and the realities of aviation.
My path into aviation wasn't a straight line. I started in counseling, where I learned how much trust, communication, and the right kind of support can change the way someone handles pressure. When I moved into aviation, I began seeing those same human factors show up in a completely different environment.
And eventually, I realized there was a gap I couldn't ignore.
Where the Gap Became Undeniable
During my time in Part 121 training operations, I watched the aviation industry change rapidly during the pilot shortage.
Training systems that had been built around pilots coming from the military or regional airlines were increasingly being used with pilots coming straight from a Cessna. The timeline stayed tight. The expectations stayed high. The materials weren’t always built for the person sitting in the seat.
I saw what that pressure did to students and instructors. It was killing the students and the instructors.
I had seen something similar from the counseling side: when people are overwhelmed, telling them to simply perform better rarely solves the problem. They need someone who can understand what is happening, build trust quickly, and help them turn that pressure into something they can actually work with.
I started by creating training for instructors on how to build rapport quickly and give useful feedback when the pressure is high. Through a partnership with 1StepPrep’s AX3 Leadership training, I’ve taught it to sim and line check airmen at Atlas Air. That work grew into something broader: a place where pilots, instructors, and aviation organizations can address the human side of performance before it becomes the thing standing between someone and where they want to go.
Today, that’s the work I do through coaching, training, workshops, and partnerships.
What I Bring to the Conversation
My background sits at the intersection of counseling, aviation, and training.
I hold an M.Ed. in Counseling Education and a Private Pilot Certificate, and I spent six years in Part 121 training operations, including my work as a Supervisor, Crew Training Planning at Spirit Airlines.
I’ve worked with the people behind the operation: pilots, instructors, training teams, and leaders navigating high expectations, limited time, changing circumstances, and the pressure to get things right.
I’ve also written about aviation mental health and well-being as a former Aero Medical Columnist for Aero Crew News, where my work covered topics including talk therapy and pilots, FAA mental health updates, aviation medication transparency, military aviation mental healthcare, mental health legislation, recovery and resilience, and stress management.
That combination matters.
I understand what it means to sit across from someone as a counselor. I understand what it means to sit in an aviation training environment. And I understand that pilots don’t need generic advice about “self-care.”
They need support that makes sense in their world.
- AeroPeer, Director of Training, Pilot Peer Support
- Pilot Mental Health Campaign, Medical Committee
- FSAI, Wellness Committee Chair
“Pilots don’t just need technical training. They need a safe place to build resilience and confidence, because mental readiness is just as important as flying skills.”
Trusted by Students and Career Aviators Alike
The people I’ve worked with describe different reasons for coming to coaching, but a common thread runs through them: they wanted to feel more capable, more confident, and less alone in the process.
I wanted to share that I passed my checkride! … I feel more confident and self-assured now that I have this under my belt, and I could not have done it without your help! Thank you so much for your time, knowledge, and for being in my corner.
I followed your advice and everything went well. I would like to thank you for your help, I will forever be grateful. Today I start Commercial license training and we might meet again in the future.
Coaching has made a remarkable impact in every area of my life and truly continues to change how I see the world and those around me. It is a continuous journey of personal growth and development. I can’t recommend it highly enough and I wish I was able to learn some of these valuable skills earlier in my life and career.
Want to see more stories from pilots and aviation organizations? Read the Testimonials →
Ready to Build Your Confidence in the Aircraft?
You don’t have to wait until something feels overwhelming to work on it.
Whether you’re preparing for a checkride, navigating a career transition, feeling stretched as a CFI, or simply want a place to think things through, coaching gives you a confidential space to work on what’s getting in the way.
Book a Free Discovery Call →This is coaching, not therapy or medical treatment: everything we discuss stays confidential and is not reported to the FAA, your employer, or your flight school, and it's not a substitute for care from a licensed mental health or medical professional.