Meet Athina Danilo | Licensed Therapist, Author, and Etsy Shop Owner

We had the good fortune of connecting with Athina Danilo and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Athina, how did you come up with the idea for your business?
I’ve always had a deep passion for creativity—whether it’s painting, writing, or poetry. While I’ve been fully immersed in my role as a therapist, I’ve always wondered how I could merge that creativity with my clinical knowledge and experience in the mental health field. Last summer, as I experimented with Procreate and Canva on my Ipad, my creative ideas started to flow. That’s when I had the inspiration to start my own Etsy shop for printables and digital downloads!
I envisioned a space where shoppers could find a sense of calm and inner peace as they explored the shop’s offerings. Whether you’re looking for a daily affirmation to boost your confidence or serene printable wall art to enhance your therapy office or home, I hope my shop provides something meaningful for everyone. And that’s how my Etsy shop, Mindful Finds by Athina, was born. Discovering inner peace and wellness is just one print away!

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
My Etsy shop is still in its early stages, and it’s been a delightful journey experimenting with different ideas while balancing it alongside my private practice. This venture has come with its fair share of challenges, from learning how to effectively advertise my shop to creating inspirational mockups that truly invite shoppers to explore my offerings.

With my background solely in counseling, I sometimes wish grad school had included a few lessons on running a business! Not having much experience with marketing, I’ve had to be patient with myself, whether it’s been building my private practice since 2019 or opening my Etsy shop more recently. I do face moments of self-doubt, where the imposter voice compares my sales and reviews to other shops and leaves me feeling a bit discouraged. But I’m learning to approach these moments with curiosity and remind myself that we’re all on our own unique journeys in life. It’s a process filled with both beauty and challenges as we navigate our path forward.

Through building my therapy practice and now my Etsy shop, I’ve learned the value of surrendering. Surrendering isn’t about giving up but rather about leaning into your journey—whether it’s in your career, relationships, or other personal areas of life. It’s about trusting that amidst the uncertainty and challenges, you’ll find a way through. Surrendering to what we can’t control often reveals that we are capable of more than we realize, and it helps us thrive as our most authentic selves.

One way to nurture that thriving self is through self-care, which brings me to something I’m very excited about: my upcoming digital and printable e-book, “Nurturing the Healer: A Mindful Self-Care Workbook for Therapists.” It will be released on December 2, 2024. As a therapist, I understand the importance of self-care in showing up fully for our clients and for ourselves.

You can follow my Etsy shop to get notified when the e-book goes on sale. Thank you for your support as I continue this journey!

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Great question! The wonderful thing about Los Angeles and the surrounding area is the variety of places to eat and experiences to enjoy in almost every corner. As a nature lover, I’d definitely include a few hikes on the list. Whether it’s taking in the ocean breeze on a Malibu trail or enjoying a beautiful sunset on local trails in the San Fernando Valley—my favorite is the Marvin Braude Trail—there are plenty of outdoor options. For more nature-focused activities, I’d recommend a lovely day at Descanso Gardens in La Cañada Flintridge or walking along the canals and catching some waves at Venice Beach.

There are also numerous museums worth visiting, such as the Huntington Library and Botanical Gardens, the Getty Center and Getty Villa, LACMA, The Broad, and MOCA. If you’re looking for more kid-friendly options, the California Science Center, Griffith Observatory, and the Natural History Museum are great choices.

When it comes to grabbing a bite to eat in Los Angeles, there’s a rich fusion of cuisines to please your taste buds. Here are a few places I’d recommend:
**Grand Central Market** in Downtown, featuring a diverse collection of cultural cuisines from various vendors.
**Koreatown**, known for its excellent Korean BBQ restaurants.
**Malibu** which include Mastro’s Ocean Club, renowned for its seafood selection and top-quality steak.
**Westwood**, home to several Persian restaurants and bakeries, with Shamshiri being at the top of my list.
**Olvera Street**, a lively Mexican marketplace with gift shops, cafes, and restaurants.
**Little Tokyo**, a Japanese-American cultural district offering great options for Japanese food.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Although many people, resources, and spaces deserve recognition and thanks in my journey, I want to take a moment to highlight the group practice I’m affiliated with: Sync Counseling Center. Growing up, I often struggled to feel a sense of belonging, whether as a bicultural individual or in other contexts where I felt unseen and dismissed. Landing at Sync was a rare and special experience where I felt truly seen and understood for who I am.

Working alongside my colleagues, who have become like a second family to me, has not only enhanced my clinical skills but has also contributed to my personal healing. I’ve begun to feel more “enough” as I am. Sync’s slogan, “Healing through Connection,” resonates deeply with me. Through helping my clients heal by offering them a space where they can be seen, heard, and emotionally supported, I have witnessed the profound impact of genuine connection.

We often overlook the healing power of being truly noticed and understood in our pain and hardships. I am beyond grateful for my time with Sync, as it has significantly shaped who I am today and influences the work I do and share with others.

Website: https://mindfulfindsbyathina.etsy.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/Athina-Danilo-MS-LMFT-100057180500678/?_rdr

Other: Private Practice Website: https://www.athinadanilo.com/