Today we’d like to introduce you to Shanaz Ikonne.
Hi Shanaz, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
My journey into mental health and entrepreneurship has been deeply personal, purpose-driven, and shaped by both professional and lived experiences.
I’m a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), National Certified Counselor (NCC), and Registered Play Therapist (RPT) based in the Austin area. I currently own and operate a virtual private practice serving women, professionals, mothers, and business owners navigating anxiety, burnout, trauma, life transitions, postpartum challenges, and chronic stress.
I started this journey because I wanted to serve more people and help fill the gap for inclusive, trauma-informed mental health care. Over time, I realized there was also a major need for conversations around workplace wellness, burnout prevention, and reducing mental health stigma—not only in therapy spaces, but within organizations and leadership teams as well. That led me into professional speaking, consulting, and training.
Part of what pushed me to build my own business came from difficult experiences within previous workplaces. I experienced racism and being consistently overlooked for promotions while still carrying leadership responsibilities, building programs, and doing the work without equitable recognition or compensation. Those experiences deeply impacted me and helped me recognize the importance of healthy workplace culture, psychological safety, and advocacy within professional environments.
Another deeply personal part of my story involves advocating for women of color in maternal mental health spaces. Experiences surrounding racism in birth and healthcare settings opened my eyes even further to the disparities Black women face during pregnancy and postpartum recovery, including significantly higher maternal mortality rates. That experience strengthened my passion for supporting postpartum women, advocating for culturally responsive care, and creating safer spaces for women to feel heard, supported, and believed.
Today, my work includes virtual therapy services across Texas, speaking engagements, workplace wellness consulting, crisis response support, and trainings focused on burnout prevention, trauma-informed leadership, mental health awareness, and nervous system regulation. I work both directly with clients and B2B organizations to help create healthier, more sustainable environments for people to thrive personally and professionally.
At the core of everything I do is the belief that mental health care should feel human, accessible, culturally aware, and compassionate. I want people to know they don’t have to wait until they completely fall apart to deserve support.
I’m currently accepting new therapy clients and continue partnering with organizations and teams looking to prioritize mental health and workplace wellness.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Absolutely not. Entrepreneurship has been rewarding, but it definitely has not been a smooth road.
When I first started my business, I knew the clinical side well—but I didn’t know much about bookkeeping, taxes, or the operational side of running a company. At one point, I ended up paying a significant amount to clean up financial systems because I simply didn’t know what I didn’t know. That experience taught me quickly how important it is to understand your numbers, build strong systems, and find the right CPA and professional support team.
Marketing has also been an ongoing learning curve. Social media and content creation can feel like an entirely separate part-time job because the landscape changes constantly. At the same time, I genuinely enjoy creating content and sharing mental health education, tools, and encouragement with people online. It allows me to reach individuals who may never step into a therapy office but still need support and validation.
Being a solo entrepreneur means wearing many hats at once—therapist, speaker, marketer, administrator, accountant, consultant, and creative director. It requires adaptability and learning how to evolve alongside changes in business, technology, and client needs.
One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is that every business has seasons. There are seasons of growth, slower seasons, rebuilding seasons, and seasons where you have to prepare ahead. I no longer stress because God is with me in every season and has called me to this work. Understanding that rhythm—and not panicking during quieter periods—has been essential for maintaining a healthy business and mindset.
I also didn’t really have a strong community of entrepreneur friends until recently, and that has made a huge difference. Having people who understand the ups and downs, who can brainstorm ideas with you, celebrate wins, and support you through challenges has been life-giving. Entrepreneurship can feel isolating, so finding community has been incredibly important.
Even with the challenges, I truly love being an entrepreneur. The obstacles have helped me grow personally and professionally, and they also allow me to better support other business owners who may be struggling silently. I want people to know they are not alone in the process, which is why I also serve business owners in their mental health and wellness.
We’ve been impressed with Shanaz Ikonne, PLLC, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I’m known for being a therapist who doesn’t feel “traditional.” People often tell me I’m approachable, relatable, warm, and easy to talk to. Whether I’m in a therapy session, speaking at an event, or networking in the community, I genuinely love connecting with people and helping them think creatively about wellness, healing, leadership, and even business growth.
I’m also known for being able to help people brainstorm ideas and strategies almost instantly. My brain naturally works creatively, especially when it comes to mental health, marketing, workplace wellness, and building meaningful connections. If God gives me an idea, I create it and share it. That’s how many of my digital products, guided meditations, templates, journals, workbooks, and wellness resources were born, including Emotional Support Animal Evaluations and Letters when appropriate.
What sets me apart is both my personality and the depth of my clinical experience. Over the years, I’ve worked across many different levels of care and treatment settings, including substance use and detox programs, residential treatment centers, inpatient and outpatient programs, IOP and PHP settings, dual diagnosis treatment, home-based therapy, school-based trauma programs, and private practice. Those experiences gave me a broad understanding of how mental health impacts people across different environments, cultures, ages, and life circumstances.
Because of that, I approach healing holistically. I don’t see people as diagnoses or checklists—I see the whole person, the nervous system, the story, the environment, and the experiences that shaped them. I blend evidence-based therapy with warmth, humor, creativity, nervous system regulation, and genuine human connection.
Brand-wise, I’m most proud of creating spaces where people feel safe, seen, and supported. Clients often tell me they feel comfortable opening up with me in ways they never have before. Some have shared that therapy with me helped save their life or finally helped them heal parts of themselves that nobody else saw or understood.
I also take pride in the fact that my brand continues evolving beyond traditional therapy. In addition to providing virtual trauma and burnout therapy, I offer speaking engagements, workplace wellness consulting, training, and accessible digital mental health resources that can reach people outside the therapy room. My goal has always been to reduce stigma and make mental health support feel more human, approachable, culturally aware, and practical.
I want readers to know that healing does not have to happen perfectly to matter. You don’t have to wait until you completely fall apart to deserve support. And sometimes the most transformative thing we can do is simply create safe spaces where people feel understood for the first time. I’m accepting new clients wws.shanazikonne.com
How can people work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
People can work with me in several different ways, and honestly, I’m always open to meaningful collaboration with individuals and organizations that value mental health, community, and authentic human connection.
The easiest way to find me is simply by searching my name online or visiting my website at Shanaz Ikonne PLLC https://www.shanazikonne.com. I can also be reached directly at hello@shanazikonne.com
I’m active across social media, including:
* Instagram: https://instagram.com/shanazlpc
* LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shanazikonne
* Facebook: https://facebook.com/shanazlpc
* TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@shanazikonne
* Threads Shanazlpc and YouTube Shanaz Ikonne
And if you’re local to Austin, there’s a good chance you may find me networking in the community or walking through a park or greenspace somewhere enjoying nature.
I collaborate with anyone who genuinely believes mental health matters. That can look like:
* podcast interviews
* media articles
* social media collaborations
* speaking on large community stages
* entrepreneurship and mental health conversations
* wellness workshops for gyms and fitness spaces
* workplace trainings on stress management and burnout prevention
* consulting with schools, nonprofits, churches, economic development centers, and women’s wellness organizations
I also support businesses and leadership teams through communication support, conflict resolution, trauma-informed consulting, employee wellness initiatives, and workplace culture development.
At the center of all of my work is the goal of helping people feel healthier, safer, more connected, and more supported—both personally and professionally.
I’m currently accepting new therapy clients, speaking engagements, consulting opportunities, workshops, and collaborative partnerships.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.shanazikonne.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/shanazlpc
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/shanazlpc
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shanazikonne/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ShanazIkonne
- Other: https://buymeacoffee.com/shanazikonne
