Licensed mental health counselor, educator, & advocate dedicated to helping others cultivate wellness
Dr. Shainna is a mental health counselor, educator, and advocate who is passionate about destigmatizing mental health counseling and helping individuals worldwide recognize the importance of fostering mental wellness. She is the author of The Self-Love Workbook, The Self-Love Workbook for Teens, and the soon to be released children’s book Luna Finds Love Everywhere. Dr. Shainna is the owner and op
erator of Integrated Counseling Solutions, LLC, a strengths-based clinical mental health and consulting practice located in Downtown Orlando. She enjoys teaching future counselors as she presently serves as affiliate faculty at Northwestern University. Beyond the classroom, she is committed to mental health advocacy in a variety of ways such as by providing free educational information on her Psychology Today-hosted blog, A Modern Mentality, by serving on the Mental Health Association of Central Florida’s Board of Directors, and offering mental health commentary for media outlets such as ABC, CBS, NPR, Washington Post, and Insider. Dr. Shainna has been honored with the Association for Specialists in Group Work's Al Dye Award, the Pete Fischer Humanitarian Award, and the 30 under 30 award by her alma mater, the University of Central Florida for her efforts in promoting mental wellness. You can learn more through her website www.DrShainna.com or follow along on Instagram .
08/22/2025
Thrilled to share that I was included in a timely piece in Parents. This topic has shown up in my life several times and I recognize how common of a concern this is, yet often overlooked and underdiscussed.
Thinking of taking a deeper dive into this on a feature episode of The Mental Wellness Practice Podcast--let me know if that interests you!
Most people choose friends who they share things in common with, who make them laugh, who they trust, and who they enjoy spending time with. But what happens when a friend embraces all the basic qualities valued in a friendship, but has a completely different parenting style?
08/20/2025
Celebrating 4 years since Luna was published! Thank you to each and every one of you who have shared this book with a little that you love—you’re the change makers ✨
Swipe through for a behind-the-scenes Q&A about the journey, inspiration, and what’s next!
📚 Orlando friends—keep your eyes out! We’re planning a special Luna storytime this fall. 🍂 Stay tuned!
08/19/2025
Healing starts in moments like these: one meal, one conversation, one connection at a time.
Let’s gather to nourish more than our plates.
I am honored to be invited by to guide mothers and daughters cultivating love and nourish their bond at this one-of-kind experience!
On September 27th, we’re gathering at The Kitchen House in Orlando for The Nourished Thread — a half-day retreat for mothers and daughters (ages 12+) to reconnect through shared meals, meaningful conversation, and a little culinary magic.
✨ Explore emotional inheritance & self-love
✨ Create & bottle your own salad dressing
✨ Walk the garden, cook together, and cultivate confidence in the next generation
💛 Space is limited, and it will sell out. A waitlist will open for a second date soon.
📍 The Kitchen House & Garden, Orlando, FL
👉 Register at the link in bio or DM for details!
08/15/2025
Mentally, I’m here. ⬆️
These mantras arose out of my biggest challenges, my greatest lessons, and my strongest values.
I return to them from time to time as a reminder of who I was, who I am, and who I am becoming.
I share them here in case they serve you too.
Sending love to all who are on their healing journey
💛 Shainna
08/11/2025
Somewhere along the way, we learned to treat rest like a luxury: something you “earn” after pushing yourself to exhaustion.
But deep down we all know the truth:
Rest is not weakness.
Rest is a requirement.
Rest is foundational for wellbeing
If you’ve been feeling guilty for slowing down…
If you find yourself restless even when you’re resting…
If you’re craving peace but don’t know how to give yourself permission…
You’re not alone. 💛
On this week’s episode of The Mental Wellness Practice Podcast we explore the power of deconstructing reclaiming your power by seeing rest as essential & empowering. When you honor your need for rest, you’re not falling behind; you’re building a life you don’t need to escape from.
🎧 Tap the link in bio to listen and in the meantime let these mantras hold you in the reminder you deserve to slow down, breathe, and just be.
I hope these mantras help offer you centeredness, which resonates most for you?
08/05/2025
Huge announcement 🗣️
I specialize in long-term counseling, and as a result I’m fortunate to walk with clients through many seasons of growth. On the other hand, new spots don’t open often.
I’m incredibly proud of the healing and progress my current clients have made, and I’m honored to now create space for others who are ready to begin or deepen their journey.✨
If you’re seeking support that is intentional, holistic, strength-based, and rooted in self-love and generational healing, I’d love to connect.
Key logistics:
💛 Online only
💛 Serving Florida residents
💛 Out-of-network/self-pay
💛Complimentary consultation available to explore fit
If this feels aligned, I invite you to schedule a call and see if we’re a good match. I’d be honored to walk alongside you.
08/04/2025
It can be an overwhelming experience to recognize that the pattern you are caught in is actually a snippet of a wider generational cycle.
Rinses and repeated,
over and over,
deteriorating wellness at least and perpetuating abuse and trauma at its worst…
It can be empowering to break these chains, but contrary to what folks make it seem like, it is NOT easy. It’s a form of toxic positivity to blindly nudge this change in someone without seeing the wider context, history, and culture.
So what can we do?
Recognize where dynamics may link to wider generational cycles.
Reflect on how these patterns affect wellness for the individual and the systems they exist in.
Do your own work regarding breaking these chains—caution encouraging someone without this ongoing investment yourself.
Hold space for people who are going through this process. Listen to their needs and check your discomfort.
For support, you’re in the right place. 💛
08/04/2025
✨Call for stories: Generational Healing
I’m gathering stories from people who have courageously explored their past to transform their present, including:
⛓️💥Breaking harmful generational patterns
💗Reclaiming cultural wisdom or family rituals
❤️🩹Healing wounds that were never yours to carry
🔍Rediscovering identity and purpose
Whether you’re just beginning or you have been walking this path for years, if this rings true for you and feel called to share, I would love to hear from you.
DM or email me (hello@drshainna.com)
& even if you’re not ready to share yet you are on this journey, thank you for being a part of this work.
08/02/2025
If you told this girl, freshly stepping away from the pursuit of the “perfect professor position,” that one day she’d work with hundreds of clients, create 5 books, launch a podcast, be featured in outlets like VOGUE (OMG 😭), teach thousands of students, and sell over 100,000 books (yes I still check my math every time I type this)... she wouldn’t have believed you.
I opened my practice with a simple but powerful mission: to help use strategies to boost their mental wellness. I wanted it to be accessible, empowering, and practical. I thought I was going to focus on counseling, but in this near decade my intention had manifested into a multi-faceted business that is essentially a dream I couldn’t have even imagined to dream.
None of this would have been possible without my favorite entrepreneur who championed this dream from the very beginning, and every new opportunity since. I literally wouldn’t have been brave enough without you babe!
To every person who’s supported this journey : from sharing articles, showing up at workshops, collaborating in wellness events, engaging with discussions, listening to the podcast, or gifting a book: you’ve made a lasting impact, I appreciate you.
Last and never least: to my clients (past and present) thank you for trusting me with your stories. It is the deepest honor to walk alongside you through growth, heartbreak, healing, and transformation. I’ve watched people grow up, graduate, find their voice, shift toxic dynamics, heal from trauma, cultivate generational healing, embrace their sensitivity as a superpower, and cultivate lives full of meaning. To say I’m grateful is an understatement.
Mental wellness is my passion and I feel so blessed to call this my life’s work.
Thank you everyone for 9 unforgettable years!
✨ oh and for the first time years I have space to welcome one new client into my practice. If that’s you, or someone you love (and you live in FL), I’d be honored to connect.
08/01/2025
Backpacks and pencils are easy to check off your list… but what about the strategies that make a difference not just at the start of the year, but for years to come?
Swipe through for 10 practical, research-informed strategies to help your family ease into the transition of the new year with less stress and more balance.
07/29/2025
Freely sharing these gentle reminders for all of the tender hearts who need to be reminded of their strength. Many of us were taught to believe strength looks a certain way—louder, larger. Time has reminded me that some of the most powerful forms do not scream, do not belittle, and do not hurt.
I wish I could say these forms came naturally to me, but they don’t. They’re not what I witnessed, they’re not what I was taught, and my mind body has been programmed much differently.
But please know that if you’re like me, change is possible. Energy-matching isn’t always the answer. It isn’t about retreating, it’s about finding stillness in your center.
If you want to learn more about coping with difficult people checkout the article and episode 44 of 💛
07/29/2025
Difficult people often pull us out of alignment, they lure us into reactions, and they drain our energy. This article isn’t just about them, it’s about you. While you can’t always change a difficult person, you can choose how you show up.
Difficult people often pull us out of alignment, they lure us into reactions, and they drain our energy. This article isn’t just about them, it’s about you. While you can’t always change a difficult person, you can choose how you show up.
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Integrated Counseling Solutions, LLC is a strengths-based counseling and consulting practice dedicated to highlighting mental health awareness, promoting mental health knowledge, and providing quality mental health counseling and education.
The owner and primary therapist at Integrated Counseling Solutions is Shainna Ali, a mental health clinician, educator, and advocate. She is a licensed (MH15290) and nationally certified counselor (717226). Dr. Shainna is passionate about utilizing an intentional strengths-based framework to empower clients to improve self-awareness, promote growth, and foster wellness. While she works within general areas of mental health, she enjoys in healing through anxiety, depression, trauma, identity, and cultural concerns. Additionally, in her integrated approach she often tailors the use of existential, narrative, creative, and 2nd and 3rd wave cognitive therapies to honor the unique needs of each individual client.
Beyond clinical concerns, Dr. Shainna promotes mental health awareness through writing. She has recently authored The Self-Love Workbook, a practical guide to assist individuals in improving their self-love and happiness. Most of her mental health writing can be seen in her blog Modern Mentality, hosted by Psychology Today. She also contributes her writing to associations such as the American Counseling Association and the National Alliance on Mental Illness. As a mental health advocate, Dr. Shainna has been featured in the media in outlets such as NPR, Yahoo, Insider, NBC, and the Daily Mail.
Dr. Shainna also enjoys conveying mental health knowledge through education. As an avid lifetime learner, she is often involved in workshops and research to improve her ability to help others. Additionally, Dr. Shainna has provided dozens of tailored presentations from intimate learning workshops to international conferences. In addition to spreading general mental health awareness, Dr. Shainna empowers counseling students at the University of Central Florida and the Chicago Professional School of Psychology. Common courses Dr. Shainna enjoys teaching include Multicultural Counseling, Human Sexuality, & Group Counseling. Similar to her areas of practice, her areas of focus in research are identity and culture, emotional intelligence, and creativity in counseling.
For more information on local counseling services provided please visit: IntegratedCounselingSolutions.com
