ABOUT ME

I’m Shanae Benito, MA, LPC, NCC, a Licensed Professional Counselor, National Certified Counselor, speaker, nonprofit executive, and mental health advocate committed to helping individuals, couples, and communities heal, grow, and thrive.

My work is rooted in one belief: healing should be accessible, transformative, and sustainable. Whether through therapy, coaching, speaking, or community-based wellness programming, my goal is to create spaces where people feel seen, supported, and equipped with the tools to navigate life with clarity and confidence.

I earned my Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, graduating with a 3.8 GPA, and was inducted into Chi Sigma Iota, the international honor society for counseling professionals. My clinical work specializes in anxiety, depression, trauma, PTSD, relationship challenges, and life transitions, with a focus on supporting minority women, men, couples, adolescents, and underserved communities. My therapeutic approach is grounded in Trauma-Focused Modified Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-MCBT) and informed by specialized training in the neuroscience of addiction and grounding techniques.

Beyond private practice, I am the Founder and President of SB Wellness Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to expanding access to mental and physical wellness resources for BIPOC communities through programs centered on health and wellness, youth development, and racial equity. Through this work, I’ve developed and led community-based mental health initiatives, wellness education programs, and leadership development opportunities designed to reduce disparities and strengthen long-term community wellness.

My professional background also includes work in high-performance mental health spaces, including contributing to intensive mental wellness programming for professional athletes through sports psychology-based psychological skills training focused on resilience, emotional regulation, and performance optimization.

As a keynote speaker and facilitator, I lead conversations and workshops centered on mental health, trauma-informed care, emotional wellness, leadership development, and breaking stigma in communities of color.

At the core of everything I do, whether in the therapy room, on stage, or in the community is a commitment to helping people build healthier relationships with themselves and others, strengthen emotional resilience, and create meaningful change.

Outside of my professional work, I’m a creative at heart, a dancer, songwriter, and entrepreneur which continues to shape the way I connect, create, and show up in the world.

Ways to work with me:
Therapy
Mental Health Coaching
Speaking & Workshops
Community Partnerships
Wellness Programming