April 8, 2025 • 12 mins
JaCarie Owens is a therapist and the Owner of Courageous Minds Counseling, LLC. She is a finalist for the Confidence Award.
Courageous Minds Counseling Website: http://courageousmindscounseling.com
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Episode Transcript
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(00:05):
Welcome to the Inspiring Women of Iowa podcast,
a special series
amplifying the stories of the Inspiring Women of Iowa Finalists.
Inspiring Women of Iowa is an annual event hosted by Girl
Scouts of Greater
Iowa with the goal of celebrating women of courage,
confidence and character who are making the world
(00:27):
a better place.
Why does that sound familiar?
Well, because it also happens
to be the mission of the Girl Scouts,
where they believe society is better because strong
women show girls that anything is possible.
This event was created by Girl Scouts of Greater Iowa in 2017
to celebrate women in our community
(00:48):
and share their stories, while raising support
for the Girl Scout programs
that build the next generation of inspiring women.
16 individuals are celebrated annually with the Courage,
Confidence, Character and Inspiring Advocate for Women Awards.
I'm your host, Sarah Noll Wilson.
I am a business owner, a champion of women, and I'm
(01:10):
also a proud Girl Scout alum.
So massive love to troop 238.
And I am honored to have the chance to speak with these amazing,
inspiring women and to share their stories with you.
Joining me
today is JaCarie Owens,
who is the owner and therapist at Courageous Minds Counseling,
(01:33):
LLC, and she is being nominated for the Confidence Award.
Thanks for joining me today, JaCarie.
Thanks for having me, sir.
I'm super, super excited.
Yeah. What?
Okay, so
before we get into the work you do
and the impact
you're trying to make,
what else should we know about you as a human?
So I so love that question.
I think what I want people to know about me is that
(01:56):
I am a natural leader and mentor.
And I just love lean into my leadership role.
I was able to strengthen that as a collegiate athlete.
And I just have found myself.
I tried to steer away from it for a long time,
but I've always found myself in these situations.
Like a magnet.
Yeah, I've always been in these spaces where,
(02:18):
people were drawn to me, as a mentor.
And so I finally leaned into that.
And I love pouring into other people.
Because ultimately, I want everyone to win.
I want everyone to feel confident and authentic in their spaces.
And so I just want people to know that.
(02:39):
And I love that
I actually was able to create a space here
at Courageous Minds,
where I feel comfortable showing up authentic and, showing up,
like me as a mom, as a therapist, and just me being me.
And so that is what I want people to know about me.
I love that, and I assume, as
a fellow business owner myself, who’s on the same mission of
(03:00):
how do we create work
that works better for humans,
that like
and I'm assuming your colleagues and your,
you know, your team members that you support
hopefully feel the same way of like, we're human.
We wear lots of different hats
and we play lots of different roles. Okay.
I am struck by how clear you came out with.
I'm a natural born leader.
I love that.
(03:20):
And I was like, well,
no wonder she's getting the confidence award
as somebody who's in the leadership, right?
Because we know as women, right?
And particularly as a black woman, being too confident
isn't always part of the narrative people want us to be.
Saying. Okay.
So as somebody who owns a leadership
(03:40):
coaching and consulting practice, I want to know from you,
when you think of being a leader or leadership, how do you
define that.
Oh, Sarah, that's a good question.
I'm going to go back to that authentic.
It's how you show up in a space.
And how do you show that confidence and how does it seep out?
(04:02):
I think naturally when I talk, I talk with confidence.
And I think I talk for people to listen.
And so if you can draw that attraction,
if you can draw that, then you can be a natural leader.
It's just about how you show up and how you use it.
Yeah.
Well and that goes back to your, you know,
you want to see everyone succeed and pouring into, so.
(04:23):
You know, there
there are lots of people who want to talk
in ways that they want people to listen to them,
but they're not, like,
worthy of that time or that space or that energy.
But when you're showing up
with such deep care
for those around you, it makes it way easier for people.
Okay,
so you've mentioned a little bit
about the organization that you started.
Talk to us about the work that you do
(04:44):
and, and what has driven that path for you.
Yeah, I love this question.
So I wear many hats if you don't know.
At my core, though, I am a mental health therapist.
I am a supervisor of our internship program
that we have created here at Courageous Minds Counseling.
I also supervise, several other
(05:07):
therapists in their growth in the field.
I am also a mentor, and I actually
am a training coach for the therapy of EMDR.
And so I teach other therapies how to do EMDR
and how to show up confidently when they're doing.
Yeah.
How long?
So when did you start your organization and how
(05:27):
how long,
how long have you been in this field
and when did you start your company?
Because it's you have quite a team.
I was looking at your website.
I just get excited when I meet fellow business owners, women.
I'm so excited about my team.
So I actually started being a therapist in 2015,
and I started my practice in 2018.
And I fell into,
(05:48):
I almost fell into it,
I think I
this is kind of going to go a little bit,
so rock with me a little bit. But.
Yeah, I’ll follow you.
I was in a space where I was struggling to show up,
and how I need to show up in a space
and ideally, what the textbook was saying
on how I need to show up in a space.
And it just didn't feel good to me,
(06:09):
and I didn't feel like I had the right guidance,
to not only build my skills, but to allow me
to show up in a way that felt comfortable for me,
to be able to build rapport with people
and to be able to help them through their stuff.
And so the the group practice and the internship program
actually came from that.
(06:29):
I just wanted people to feel confident.
I just wanted people to feel competent in their space.
And so, yeah, I use this as a way to not only provide safety
for how they show up, but to also ask questions
and get guidance and be challenged a little bit by me.
Right.
But I'm leaning in with love in my challenge.
(06:51):
So being challenged to move through some of their
inherently negative beliefs about themselves
and how they show up as a therapist.
And so this whole thing came from me, just wanting people
to show up authentically and show up how
they felt good about showing up in that space.
And I think my goal and my hope for that
is that it will create a ripple effect.
(07:12):
So I help to mold and mentor one therapist,
and then they're able to go out into the world and help
hundreds of clients healed their on their healing journey.
Yeah.
Well, and isn't that ultimately what can set therapy?
I mean, when I think of my experience, what the places
that I have been most successful in my therapeutic efforts
(07:36):
is where it's a space where not only can I be my authentic self,
that I can see that my therapist
is their authentic self as well.
Obviously there's the right, like there's the boundaries
and there's that kind of, various,
you know, parameters that people put in place,
but it isn't treated so, I'm thinking transactionally,
(07:57):
but that's not even an accurate word.
More like,
you know,
I'm thinking of just a sanitized way, right?
Yeah. Like, I think for me, it felt very robotic.
It felt very, like rigid.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
It didn't feel like what I love.
I mean, my love is relational trauma.
So it didn't feel relational.
(08:19):
It just felt very rigid.
And I struggled with that.
I, I love all of that.
I love all of that.
And I love that you're like,
I'm just going to build my own house
so that we can That’s exactly what I did.
do the work ho we're supposed to do.
And this is I mean, I just like, I'm here for all of that.
Okay.
So obviously you've been nominated and,
(08:40):
were identified as a finalist.
And one of the questions that I've enjoyed
asking people is knowing that you've inspired so many
who took the time to nominate you, who
who is somebody who inspires you?
Oh,
so I want to
say that my biggest inspiration is my mom.
(09:00):
She showed resilience.
And she showed me what it looks like for me to push through.
Even when there's adversity, even when things don't feel good.
She showed me really, like, at the end of the day,
you only have you.
If so, showing up you is going to be what feels good to you.
(09:22):
But then she still did it in a way where she led with love.
And I think that's where I got that from,
where I can push and challenge you in a loving way,
and you still be successful and you still have growth.
But watching her navigate those challenges
and still showing up for our family just made me realize that
generational strengths that she has, that
(09:44):
she's passed down to me.
So that place of love is where I feel
like I show up in my community and for my therapists.
So even when I have to challenge them,
they can continue to grow.
They still feel safe enough in that to be able to do that.
And I feel like I do that not only for my interns,
but actually for my clients, too.
Yeah.
I mean, I can already tell.
(10:04):
I was like, sign me up, you taking new clients?
I was like,
according to your website, you're not.
Just saying I looked.
But I know you have some other therapists who are,
but maybe we can make an exception.
All right.
Neither here nor there.
No. Okay, so
I know, I know, you all are in demand,
and so it's just so necessary what you're doing.
(10:24):
Always. Always booked. It's.
I have no doubt. No doubt.
You know,
there will be people
who will be exposed to your story, through the event in May,
through the postings
that the Girl Scouts of Iowa does, through this interview.
What would be one message, and I'm not saying
the one,
but just in this moment, this day
(10:47):
that we are recording this conversation,
what would be something
that you would love to leave people with?
Thinking differently, feeling differently, doing different?
Oh, I think I'm gonna go with my theme here.
Yeah.
I want to say,
it doesn't matter who you are if you are therapist, a leader,
or just someone who is trying to show up for themselves,
(11:11):
there is a power in showing up authentic.
It is, there's a power in
feeling good and feeling
comfortable in the space that you're in.
And here's the thing.
You don't have to do it alone.
Find your people.
Unfortunately, due to some internet
connection issues our recording
with JaCarie got cut a little bit short, but nevertheless
(11:32):
she left us with a wonderful closing message
on the importance of authenticity.
We are so thankful to JaCarie for sharing her time
and her talents with us today.
And despite the abrupt finish,
we do want to make sure that we share
some important information.
For those of you
who are interested in connecting with JaCarie
and learning more about the great work she is doing.
So to learn more about her organization, you can visit
(11:56):
Courageous Minds Counseling dot com.
Again, that is Courageous Minds Counseling dot
com to learn more or to connect with JaCarie and her colleagues.
The 2025 Inspiring Women of Iowa event will be held
on May 9th at the Meadows Events and Conference Center.
(12:18):
To purchase tickets
and get more information about supporting this event, please
visit Inspiring Women of Iowa dot com and all proceeds
from this fundraising event stay 100% local
to benefit Girl Scouts of Greater Iowa and their mission
to build up girls of courage, confidence
and character who will make this world a better place.
(12:39):
Thank you for listening and thank you for your support.
Welcome to the Inspiring Women of Iowa podcast,
a special series
amplifying the stories of the Inspiring Women of Iowa Finalists.
Inspiring Women of Iowa is an annual event hosted by Girl
Scouts of Greater
Iowa with the goal of celebrating women of courage,
confidence and character who are making the world
(00:27):
a better place.
Why does that sound familiar?
Well, because it also happens
to be the mission of the Girl Scouts,
where they believe society is better because strong
women show girls that anything is possible.
This event was created by Girl Scouts of Greater Iowa in 2017
to celebrate women in our community
(00:48):
and share their stories, while raising support
for the Girl Scout programs
that build the next generation of inspiring women.
16 individuals are celebrated annually with the Courage,
Confidence, Character and Inspiring Advocate for Women Awards.
I'm your host, Sarah Noll Wilson.
I am a business owner, a champion of women, and I'm
(01:10):
also a proud Girl Scout alum.
So massive love to troop 238.
And I am honored to have the chance to speak with these amazing,
inspiring women and to share their stories with you.
Joining me
today is JaCarie Owens,
who is the owner and therapist at Courageous Minds Counseling,
(01:33):
LLC, and she is being nominated for the Confidence Award.
Thanks for joining me today, JaCarie.
Thanks for having me, sir.
I'm super, super excited.
Yeah. What?
Okay, so
before we get into the work you do
and the impact
you're trying to make,
what else should we know about you as a human?
So I so love that question.
I think what I want people to know about me is that
(01:56):
I am a natural leader and mentor.
And I just love lean into my leadership role.
I was able to strengthen that as a collegiate athlete.
And I just have found myself.
I tried to steer away from it for a long time,
but I've always found myself in these situations.
Like a magnet.
Yeah, I've always been in these spaces where,
(02:18):
people were drawn to me, as a mentor.
And so I finally leaned into that.
And I love pouring into other people.
Because ultimately, I want everyone to win.
I want everyone to feel confident and authentic in their spaces.
And so I just want people to know that.
(02:39):
And I love that
I actually was able to create a space here
at Courageous Minds,
where I feel comfortable showing up authentic and, showing up,
like me as a mom, as a therapist, and just me being me.
And so that is what I want people to know about me.
I love that, and I assume, as
a fellow business owner myself, who’s on the same mission of
(03:00):
how do we create work
that works better for humans,
that like
and I'm assuming your colleagues and your,
you know, your team members that you support
hopefully feel the same way of like, we're human.
We wear lots of different hats
and we play lots of different roles. Okay.
I am struck by how clear you came out with.
I'm a natural born leader.
I love that.
(03:20):
And I was like, well,
no wonder she's getting the confidence award
as somebody who's in the leadership, right?
Because we know as women, right?
And particularly as a black woman, being too confident
isn't always part of the narrative people want us to be.
Saying. Okay.
So as somebody who owns a leadership
(03:40):
coaching and consulting practice, I want to know from you,
when you think of being a leader or leadership, how do you
define that.
Oh, Sarah, that's a good question.
I'm going to go back to that authentic.
It's how you show up in a space.
And how do you show that confidence and how does it seep out?
(04:02):
I think naturally when I talk, I talk with confidence.
And I think I talk for people to listen.
And so if you can draw that attraction,
if you can draw that, then you can be a natural leader.
It's just about how you show up and how you use it.
Yeah.
Well and that goes back to your, you know,
you want to see everyone succeed and pouring into, so.
(04:23):
You know, there
there are lots of people who want to talk
in ways that they want people to listen to them,
but they're not, like,
worthy of that time or that space or that energy.
But when you're showing up
with such deep care
for those around you, it makes it way easier for people.
Okay,
so you've mentioned a little bit
about the organization that you started.
Talk to us about the work that you do
(04:44):
and, and what has driven that path for you.
Yeah, I love this question.
So I wear many hats if you don't know.
At my core, though, I am a mental health therapist.
I am a supervisor of our internship program
that we have created here at Courageous Minds Counseling.
I also supervise, several other
(05:07):
therapists in their growth in the field.
I am also a mentor, and I actually
am a training coach for the therapy of EMDR.
And so I teach other therapies how to do EMDR
and how to show up confidently when they're doing.
Yeah.
How long?
So when did you start your organization and how
(05:27):
how long,
how long have you been in this field
and when did you start your company?
Because it's you have quite a team.
I was looking at your website.
I just get excited when I meet fellow business owners, women.
I'm so excited about my team.
So I actually started being a therapist in 2015,
and I started my practice in 2018.
And I fell into,
(05:48):
I almost fell into it,
I think I
this is kind of going to go a little bit,
so rock with me a little bit. But.
Yeah, I’ll follow you.
I was in a space where I was struggling to show up,
and how I need to show up in a space
and ideally, what the textbook was saying
on how I need to show up in a space.
And it just didn't feel good to me,
(06:09):
and I didn't feel like I had the right guidance,
to not only build my skills, but to allow me
to show up in a way that felt comfortable for me,
to be able to build rapport with people
and to be able to help them through their stuff.
And so the the group practice and the internship program
actually came from that.
(06:29):
I just wanted people to feel confident.
I just wanted people to feel competent in their space.
And so, yeah, I use this as a way to not only provide safety
for how they show up, but to also ask questions
and get guidance and be challenged a little bit by me.
Right.
But I'm leaning in with love in my challenge.
(06:51):
So being challenged to move through some of their
inherently negative beliefs about themselves
and how they show up as a therapist.
And so this whole thing came from me, just wanting people
to show up authentically and show up how
they felt good about showing up in that space.
And I think my goal and my hope for that
is that it will create a ripple effect.
(07:12):
So I help to mold and mentor one therapist,
and then they're able to go out into the world and help
hundreds of clients healed their on their healing journey.
Yeah.
Well, and isn't that ultimately what can set therapy?
I mean, when I think of my experience, what the places
that I have been most successful in my therapeutic efforts
(07:36):
is where it's a space where not only can I be my authentic self,
that I can see that my therapist
is their authentic self as well.
Obviously there's the right, like there's the boundaries
and there's that kind of, various,
you know, parameters that people put in place,
but it isn't treated so, I'm thinking transactionally,
(07:57):
but that's not even an accurate word.
More like,
you know,
I'm thinking of just a sanitized way, right?
Yeah. Like, I think for me, it felt very robotic.
It felt very, like rigid.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
It didn't feel like what I love.
I mean, my love is relational trauma.
So it didn't feel relational.
(08:19):
It just felt very rigid.
And I struggled with that.
I, I love all of that.
I love all of that.
And I love that you're like,
I'm just going to build my own house
so that we can That’s exactly what I did.
do the work ho we're supposed to do.
And this is I mean, I just like, I'm here for all of that.
Okay.
So obviously you've been nominated and,
(08:40):
were identified as a finalist.
And one of the questions that I've enjoyed
asking people is knowing that you've inspired so many
who took the time to nominate you, who
who is somebody who inspires you?
Oh,
so I want to
say that my biggest inspiration is my mom.
(09:00):
She showed resilience.
And she showed me what it looks like for me to push through.
Even when there's adversity, even when things don't feel good.
She showed me really, like, at the end of the day,
you only have you.
If so, showing up you is going to be what feels good to you.
(09:22):
But then she still did it in a way where she led with love.
And I think that's where I got that from,
where I can push and challenge you in a loving way,
and you still be successful and you still have growth.
But watching her navigate those challenges
and still showing up for our family just made me realize that
generational strengths that she has, that
(09:44):
she's passed down to me.
So that place of love is where I feel
like I show up in my community and for my therapists.
So even when I have to challenge them,
they can continue to grow.
They still feel safe enough in that to be able to do that.
And I feel like I do that not only for my interns,
but actually for my clients, too.
Yeah.
I mean, I can already tell.
(10:04):
I was like, sign me up, you taking new clients?
I was like,
according to your website, you're not.
Just saying I looked.
But I know you have some other therapists who are,
but maybe we can make an exception.
All right.
Neither here nor there.
No. Okay, so
I know, I know, you all are in demand,
and so it's just so necessary what you're doing.
(10:24):
Always. Always booked. It's.
I have no doubt. No doubt.
You know,
there will be people
who will be exposed to your story, through the event in May,
through the postings
that the Girl Scouts of Iowa does, through this interview.
What would be one message, and I'm not saying
the one,
but just in this moment, this day
(10:47):
that we are recording this conversation,
what would be something
that you would love to leave people with?
Thinking differently, feeling differently, doing different?
Oh, I think I'm gonna go with my theme here.
Yeah.
I want to say,
it doesn't matter who you are if you are therapist, a leader,
or just someone who is trying to show up for themselves,
(11:11):
there is a power in showing up authentic.
It is, there's a power in
feeling good and feeling
comfortable in the space that you're in.
And here's the thing.
You don't have to do it alone.
Find your people.
Unfortunately, due to some internet
connection issues our recording
with JaCarie got cut a little bit short, but nevertheless
(11:32):
she left us with a wonderful closing message
on the importance of authenticity.
We are so thankful to JaCarie for sharing her time
and her talents with us today.
And despite the abrupt finish,
we do want to make sure that we share
some important information.
For those of you
who are interested in connecting with JaCarie
and learning more about the great work she is doing.
So to learn more about her organization, you can visit
(11:56):
Courageous Minds Counseling dot com.
Again, that is Courageous Minds Counseling dot
com to learn more or to connect with JaCarie and her colleagues.
The 2025 Inspiring Women of Iowa event will be held
on May 9th at the Meadows Events and Conference Center.
(12:18):
To purchase tickets
and get more information about supporting this event, please
visit Inspiring Women of Iowa dot com and all proceeds
from this fundraising event stay 100% local
to benefit Girl Scouts of Greater Iowa and their mission
to build up girls of courage, confidence
and character who will make this world a better place.
(12:39):
Thank you for listening and thank you for your support.
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