Shainna Ali, Ph.D.

Curriculum Vitae

Shainna Ali

Ph.D., LMHC, NCC, ACS — Counselor · Educator · Advocate

Licensed mental health counselor, best-selling author of six books, counselor educator, podcast host, and advocate dedicated to cultivating mental well-being at individual and collective levels. Owner and Director of The Mental Wellness Practice in Central Florida.

Mental Health Counseling Self-Love & Boundaries Counselor Education Advocacy & Policy Keynote Speaking
6
Published Books
100k+
Books Sold
100+
Presentations
40+
Published Articles
10+
Years in Practice

Education & Credentials

Licenses, Degrees & Awards

Education & Licenses

Ph.D. in Counselor Education & Supervision
University of Central Florida, 2016
M.A. in Mental Health Counseling
University of Central Florida, 2012
B.A. in Anthropology, Cum Laude
UCF Burnett Honors College, 2010
Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC)
State of Florida — License #MH15290
Nationally Certified Counselor (NCC)
NBCC — #717726
Approved Clinical Supervisor (ACS)
Center for Credentialing & Education — #ACS 3047

Awards & Honors

Al Dye Award
Association for Specialists in Group Work
Pete Fischer Humanitarian Award
Florida Counseling Association
UCF 30 Under 30
University of Central Florida Alumni Recognition
Noble Knight Award
University of Central Florida
1st Place — Graduate Research Forum
Education Category — University of Central Florida
1st Place — Florida Statewide Research Symposium
Education Category — Florida Statewide Competition
Emerging Leader
Association for Counselor Education and Supervision (ACES)

Clinical Practice

Areas of Expertise

Dr. Shainna draws on a strengths-based, holistic, and culturally affirming approach to support individuals navigating a wide range of mental health experiences.

Mental Wellness Self-Love Generational Healing High-Functioning Anxiety Trauma Recovery Identity & Culture Existentialism Strengths-Based Therapy Holistic Wellness

Clinical practice through Integrated Counseling Solutions • Supervision available (ACS)

Service & Leadership

Professional Organizations & Board Roles

Dean’s Council Member

Appointed to the Dean’s Council for the University of Central Florida’s College of Community Innovation and Education.

Higher Education

ACA Foundation — Co-Chair

Co-chairs the American Counseling Association Foundation’s Growth and Giving Committee, supporting the future of the counseling profession.

Professional Leadership

Board of Directors — To Write Love on Her Arms

Serves on the Board of Directors for To Write Love on Her Arms, a nonprofit dedicated to suicide prevention, self-harm recovery, and mental health advocacy.

Nonprofit Board

Past President — FAMCD

Past president of the Florida Association for Multicultural Counseling and Development, advancing culturally responsive counseling practices statewide.

Advocacy

Board of Directors — MHACF

Served on the Board of Directors for the Mental Health Association of Central Florida, supporting community mental health services and advocacy.

Community Leadership

Journal for Creativity in Mental Health

Serves on the editorial board of this peer-reviewed journal, which advances creative and expressive approaches to mental health counseling and education.

Editorial Board

Journal of Counseling Sexology & Sexual Wellness

Serves on the editorial board for the Journal of Counseling Sexology & Sexual Wellness: Research, Practice, and Education — advancing inclusive and affirming counseling scholarship.

Editorial Board

Speaking Engagements

Keynotes, Panels & Presentations

Florida Counseling Association
Annual Conference — Plenary Session
Plenary Speaker
National Career Development Association (NCDA)
National Conference — Plenary Session
Plenary Speaker
411 Luncheon
Featured Keynote Address
Keynote Speaker
American Counseling Association (ACA)
National Annual Conference — Multiple Sessions
Presenter
Association for Counselor Education & Supervision (ACES)
National Conference — Research & Practice Sessions
Presenter
Association for Multicultural Counseling & Development (AMCD)
National Conference — Multicultural Counseling Research
Presenter
Association for Specialists in Group Work (ASGW)
National Conference — Group Counseling with LGBTQ+ Populations
Presenter
Florida Association for Multicultural Counseling & Development (FAMCD)
State Conference — Multiple Years, Various Topics
Keynote & Presenter
Southern Association for Counselor Education & Supervision (SACES)
Regional Conference — Counselor Education Research
Presenter
North Central Association for Counselor Education & Supervision (NCACES)
Regional Conference
Presenter
UCF Graduate Research Forum
University of Central Florida — 1st Place, Education Category
Award-Winning Research
Florida Statewide Research Symposium
1st Place, Education Category — Statewide Competition
Award-Winning Research
Corporate Wellness Workshops
Burnout prevention, self-care, and mental wellness for organizations nationwide
Workshop Facilitator
University & Campus Keynotes
Mental health awareness, self-love, and wellness for higher education communities
Keynote Speaker
International Conference Presentations
LGBTQ+ counseling, cultural identity, and self-love frameworks presented globally
International Presenter

Academia

Teaching Experience

Dr. Shainna has taught graduate and undergraduate courses across counseling, psychology, and human services — bringing clinical expertise and lived scholarship into the classroom.

University of Central Florida

Adjunct Faculty • Department of Counselor Education
  • Multicultural Counseling
  • Group Counseling Theory & Practice
  • Introduction to Counseling
  • Career Counseling

The Chicago School of Professional Psychology

Adjunct Faculty • Online Campus
  • Counseling Theory
  • Cultural Diversity in Counseling
  • Group Dynamics

Rollins College

Adjunct Faculty • Hamilton Holt School
  • Human Development
  • Psychology of Gender

Northwestern University

Instructor • School of Professional Studies
  • Mental Health Counseling
  • Professional Practice in Counseling

Northern Illinois University

Adjunct Faculty • Counseling Department
  • Counseling Skills & Techniques
  • Multicultural Issues in Counseling

Stetson University

Adjunct Faculty • Human Services
  • Introduction to Human Services
  • Self-Care & Professional Development

Self-Love & Self-Care for Helping Professionals

Evidence-informed workshop translating The Self-Love Workbook framework into practical strategies for counselors, social workers, and healthcare providers experiencing burnout.

CE Workshop

Culturally Affirming Counseling Practice

Training for mental health practitioners on building culturally responsive therapeutic relationships, with attention to intersectionality, microaggressions, and identity-affirming approaches.

Professional Training

LGBTQ+ Affirming Group Work

Workshop grounded in research on group counseling with LGBTQ+ populations — covering the coming out process, strengths-based approaches, and facilitating safe therapeutic spaces.

Specialist Training

Mental Wellness in the Workplace

Corporate training series addressing burnout, boundary-setting, emotional intelligence, and building sustainable wellness cultures for organizations and teams.

Corporate Training

Scholarship & Inquiry

Research

Research Focus

Guyanese American Mental Wellness

Exploring the lived experiences of Guyanese Americans, the intersection of culture and mental health stigma, and culturally affirming counseling practices for this underrepresented community.

Research Focus

Generational Healing

Examining how intergenerational trauma, inherited emotional patterns, and family systems shape mental wellness — and how individuals and communities can foster generational healing.

Research Focus

Self-Love as a Clinical Construct

Advancing self-love as a measurable, evidence-informed framework — articulating its seven components and translating the construct into practical interventions for diverse populations.

The Impact of Strengths-Based Group Counseling on LGBTQ+ Young Adults in the Coming Out Process
Ali, S., & Lee, S. M. (2019). Journal for Specialists in Group Work.
doi:10.1080/15401383.2019.1632767
Strengthening Counseling Students’ Awareness of LGBTQ+ Adolescent Experiences Through Innovative Group-Based Instruction
Ali, S., & Bloom, Z. (2019). Journal for Specialists in Group Work.
doi:10.1080/15401383.2018.1535922
Group Counseling With LGBTQ+ Individuals: A Review of the Literature
Ali, S., & Lambie, G. (2019). Journal of LGBTQ Issues in Counseling.
View on ResearchGate
Coming Out and Mental Health: Implications and Counseling Considerations
Ali, S., & Lambie, G. (2018). Journal for Specialists in Group Work.
View on ResearchGate
The Coming Out Journey: A Phenomenological Investigation of a Lifelong Process
Ali, S., Lambie, G., & Bloom, Z. (2017). The Professional Counselor, 7(3).
View on ResearchGate
Inside Out and Counseling: Creative Interventions to Facilitate Emotional Intelligence
Ali, S. (2017). Journal for Creativity in Mental Health.
View on ResearchGate
Counselor Self-Care: The Foundation for Optimal Mental Health
Bloom, Z., Ali, S., Lambie, G., & Brack, G. (2016). Journal of Mental Health Counseling, 38(4).
doi:10.17744/mehc.38.4.04
The ADHD Family: An Exploration of the Lived Experience
Barden, S. M., Ali, S. R., & Shannonhouse, L. (2016). The Family Journal.
doi:10.1177/1066480716648699
The Influence of Emotional Intelligence on ADHD Symptom Management
Barden, S. M., Ali, S. R., & Shannonhouse, L. (2016). Counseling & Values.
doi:10.1002/cvj.12034
Diversity and Dance: Exploring the Therapeutic Implications of World Dance
Ali, S., Cushey, K., & Siddiqui, A. (2016). Journal for Creativity in Mental Health, 12(1).
doi:10.1080/15401383.2016.1203855
Considering the Cycle of Coming Out: Sexual Minority Identity Development
Ali, S., & Barden, S. (2015). The Professional Counselor, 5(4), 501–515.
doi:10.15241/sa.5.4.501
Hijra Identity in Guyana: An Exploration of the South Asian Diaspora
Ali, S. (2010). UCF Undergraduate Research Journal.
Intersectionality and Mental Health: Implications for Counseling
Ali, S. (2018). In P. Arredondo (Ed.), Multicultural Issues in Counseling: New Approaches to Diversity (5th ed.). American Counseling Association.
Counseling Considerations for Clients with Opioid Use Disorder
Ali, S. (2017). In S. Barden & M. Shannon (Eds.), Beyond the Prescription: A Counselor’s Guide to Treating Those with Opioid Use Disorder. American Counseling Association.

Press, Writing & Podcasts

Media

60+
Psychology Today articles
8
ACA Blog posts
3
NAMI articles
7+
publishing platforms
Psychology Today 6 Steps to Design Healthy Holiday Boundaries Psychology Today Why Do People With Anxiety Love Halloween? Psychology Today 5 Ways Businesses Can Enhance Burnout Prevention Psychology Today 7 Things to Know About 988 Psychology Today 5 Mental Health Lessons We Can Learn from Simone Biles Psychology Today What Meghan Markle Shares About Her Mental Health
Psychology Today Should We Stop Preaching Self-Love to New Moms? Psychology Today Using Dance to Cultivate Self-Love Psychology Today Using Writing to Cultivate Self-Love Psychology Today Using Fashion to Cultivate Self-Love Psychology Today Using Fitness to Cultivate Self-Love Psychology Today Using Photography to Cultivate Self-Love Psychology Today Creating Meaningful Resolutions for 2022 Psychology Today Rethinking Pandemic Fatigue Psychology Today Take a Deeper Dive into Your Spotify Wrapped Psychology Today Can Memes Benefit Mental Wellness? Psychology Today How to Cope With Pandemic Stress During Pregnancy Psychology Today Does Prenatal Mental Health Matter? Psychology Today When Holiday and Pandemic Stress Collide Psychology Today The Supreme Court Rules In Favor of LGBTQ+ Workplace Rights Psychology Today 4 Commonly Overlooked Forms of Discrimination Psychology Today Telemental Health During the Coronavirus Pandemic Psychology Today Self-Care and Social Distancing Psychology Today Coping with Coronavirus Stress Psychology Today Self-Care for the Holiday Season Psychology Today How to Maintain Your Digital Wellness on Instagram Psychology Today The Cost of Caring Without Self-Care Psychology Today Five Signs of Workplace Burnout Psychology Today Remembering Avicii: A Mental Health Tribute Yahoo How to Support Someone Struggling With Their Mental Health Brown Girl Mag 9 South Asian Misconceptions Standing in the Way of Mental Wellness NAMI Mental Health Advocacy & Education Articles (3) ACA Blog Professional Counseling Articles (8) Medium Mental Wellness, Boundaries & Identity (long-form) Thrive Global Burnout Prevention & Thriving in Modern Life
All PT Articles →
5
broadcast outlets
TV & Radio
national coverage
20+
publications
National
& international reach
The Mental Wellness Practice Podcast

The Mental Wellness Practice

An educational podcast where you can expand your mental health knowledge and gain practical strategies to cultivate mental well-being. Hosted by Dr. Shainna Ali — updated weekly.

Listen to the latest episodes of The Mental Wellness Practice Podcast

Solluna with Kimberly Snyder

Ep. 629: “Childhood Trauma and How to Learn Self-Love”

Thank You Heartbreak

Ep. 101: “I Used To Think I Didn’t Need Help” with Chelsea Leigh Trescott

Veggie Doctor Radio

Ep. 144: “Modern Friendship with Dr. Shainna Ali”

Veggie Doctor Radio

Ep. 85B: “How Self-Love is an Act of Service”

Mental — Destigmatise Mental Health

Ep. 329: “Boundaries, Anxiety, Self-Love & Better Connection”

Phoenix Helix

Ep. 202: “Self-Love Workbook with Dr. Shainna Ali”

Something For Everybody

Ep. 335: Self-love, healthy boundaries, and raising emotionally intelligent children.

Mind Money Balance

Ep. 42: “Self Worth and Money with Dr. Shainna Ali”

It Starts With Attraction

“The Seven Components of Self-Love”

Greatest Day Podcast

Ep. 14: “Self Love with Dr. Shainna Ali” — self-love, self-care, social media & the loneliness epidemic

She Believed She Could™ Podcast

“How To Practice Self-Love And Create Healthy Boundaries” with Allison Walsh

Mama Knows

“Reparenting Your Inner Child, Now That You’re a Mom Yourself”

Angus Eye Tea

“What Happens When You Ignore Self-Love?” — defining self-love, self vs. selfish, and men & self-love

Live Happy Now

“Self-Love for Kids with Dr. Shainna Ali” — discussing Luna Finds Love Everywhere

Fit Womens Weekly Podcast

“How To Set Boundaries Unapologetically With Dr. Shainna Ali”

High Vibe Mindset

Ep. 59: “Mental Health Meets Empowerment: Transformative Self-Love Practices”

Elevated Wellness

Ep. 61: “Designing Healthy Boundaries with Dr. Shainna Ali”

Get in Touch

Let’s Connect

For speaking inquiries, media requests, consulting, or collaboration — Dr. Shainna would love to hear from you.

Send a Message →