Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Jettana Okoye, LCSW, NBC-HC. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Jettana, appreciate you joining us today. Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?

Taking six months off of work for maternity leave has been the biggest risk I’ve taken in my business thus far. You might be thinking, “maternity leave isn’t (or shouldn’t) be considered a risk”. However, when you live in America, happen to be a woman, Black, and a solopreneur that relies on consistent work…The amount of time you’re off can end with the closing of your business, a decline in income, or decreased clientele.

I did plan ahead and have a roster of wonderful clients that I’ve built a great rapport with over the years. I’ve spent the bulk of my career preaching the value of rest and giving yourself grace, and my clients reciprocated these teachings in a way that makes me feel very fortunate. Having a family has always been something that was on the horizon, but it wasn’t until I felt the true highs and lows of running your own business that the fear started to creep in knowing that I wanted to be fully present as a mother. Knowing that my body would shift and change, my focus would ebb and flow, I had to think about my pregnancy through an entirely different lens. It was scary to think that I might return to a practice that didn’t exist anymore.

In preparation for this time off, I took a coaching certification through Duke University’s Integrative Medicine Center. This type of certification would allow me to continue the meaningful work I feel so connected to while also staying present in my current and future personal roles.Taking on two new titles: mother & life coach, has been challenging, rewarding, and provided me with the space to grow. I now have the capacity to help my clients with a fresh perspective and evidence-based tools allowing me to treat each person holistically. For that, I am beyond thankful.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I’m Jettana Okoye and I am a licensed psychotherapist in North Carolina and owner of J. Okoye Wellness. I didn’t begin my work in life as an entrepreneur though. For the majority of my life I thought I would be a lawyer. I even went to college with that intention. But in the spring of my freshman year at Western Carolina University I decided to take a social work class as an elective and my life was forever changed. I always knew I wanted a career where I would be helping others but outside of law I didn’t know how to do that. That elective class made it clear I would not be a lawyer. I didn’t know what I planned to do with a social work degree, all I knew was that it was the right choice for me. After working in the social work field for a year post-grad, I decided to expand my clinical knowledge. I obtained my Master’s degree in Social Work from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. While in graduate school, I began to notice the holistic nature of successful change. With appropriate resources, skills, support, and treatment, clients were able to improve. It was then that I decided I wanted to be a psychotherapist.
During my first few years as a clinician in various companies, I noticed a trend. Company after company I found myself being the only black person or one of very few in my positions. I wanted to create a safe space for BIPOC and other minorities to share their mental health struggles. As an African American, mental health in my community historically has had a negative connotation. These reasons and experiences led me to start my own private practice.

I am now the owner of J. Okoye Wellness, a private practice focused on mental wellness as a means of cultivating healthy lifestyles. I wanted to provide mental health services to minorities to shift the stigma and to be a safe representation for black individuals seeking therapy. As I grew my practice, the need to provide mental wellness tools and space evolved.
I noticed that once some of my clients “did the work” to completion in therapy that they needed something different to move them towards their new goals. For me, this made coaching a great option for people who have done therapy and have done the work but have a more concrete goal they want to aggressively move towards.
What sets me apart from other wellness/lifestyle coaches and therapists is that I honor who I am and my strengths. I have a unique way of delivering mental health tools, feedback, honesty, compassion and challenge. Who I am as a clinician and coach is a no-nonsense accountability champion.
I don’t do fluff and nonsense when it comes to my clients achieving their goals. I will graciously “call you out” and work beside you to get back on track or to shift a behavior. I am skilled and lean into those skills and my personality.
I have a saying with all of my clients and it’s this… “I told you from day one who I was and you chose to stay!” Them “staying” tells me two things, that they are okay with being challenged and that they want change.
I am most proud of myself for continuing to push my own limits and limiting thoughts as I do with my clients.
I am proud to have done and to continue to “do the work” to become the greatest version of myself attainable.
I am proud and grateful of my gift to serve others and hold space for others. I have the privilege to work with some amazing individuals and I do not take that for granted or minimize my colleagues and clients impact on my own growth.
Many of my clients, both therapy and coaching, are struggling with anxiety, stress, depression, grief, trauma and the quiet threats like lack of boundaries, lack of fun and self investment, perfectionism, imposter syndrome, toxic productivity and self sacrifice.
I help my clients to establish their definition of rest and fun, identify and implement boundaries, re-establish motivation and positive productivity, and to develop and practice tools to manage anxiety, stress and depression. Together we reach their goals and we celebrate along the way.
My business is proof that better living, mental wellness and growth are all possible and practical. I have experienced and seen this to be a fact for myself and my clients and I would encourage anyone desiring the same to pursue that change with me.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

A number of things have helped build my reputation. One, is showing up as myself and my genuine care for the people. I want people to be the best versions of themselves and when they seek that out I get excited to help or point them in the right direction.
Two, I am honest, direct, caring and very skilled at marrying humor and compassion in work that’s often very heavy emotionally. I make time for people and do my best to connect their needs with my skills, tools, and evidence-based strategies.

I also know when a prospective client is a good fit and when to defer to one of the many excellent colleagues I have. This allows me to be sure that anyone seeking mental health solutions is finding the practitioner that’s right for them, even if it isn’t me.

And lastly, My network of colleagues is so rich due to making connections with previous co-workers, during internships, and in the community I am proud to be a part of.

These same connections have helped advise, support, encourage and advance me in my field. Once I started J. Okoye Wellness those same people promoted my business and helped me establish my practice and they sent me clients and countless opportunities.

My clients have since taken the lead on helping me maintain my reputation. They tell their colleagues, circles, and even strangers about our work together.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

Every entrepreneur anticipates the inevitable ebbs and flows of business . However, nationally the past two years have been exceptionally (and unexpectedly) hard for mental health practitioners. We have had to hold space for droves of individuals that are suffering through unprecedented times. We have had to navigate unchartered territory while continuing to keep our own heads above water. This active experience and my own personal experience of adding the role of mother has led me to continue my pivot into more coaching opportunities. I am still providing therapy but making coaching my main focus. The major difference between coaching and therapy is that coaching does not focus on regressive issues. Whereas therapy focuses a lot on coping with and processing the past and its impact on the present. Coaching is usually more short term and solution focused. As a professional, coaching is a new skillset but as a business owner it’s a new world. What that has meant is that I have had to learn to market myself in ways outside of psychotherapy. I have had to be more “in front of the camera” despite building a thriving therapy business “behind the scenes.”
It is a well hidden FACT that I am mortified by public speaking. I know based on my personal and professional experiences that I have the ability to change lives with my encouragement, skills, and way with words. I have the ability to serve and help others improve, shift mindsets and become their best. I also know that I want to help more people in that way and the only way to do that is to be seen. I do not play small but I am most comfortable in the background. Despite my comfort, I am well aware that growth comes from discomfort. I see it every day at work. I help people genuinely grow and I am constantly encouraged to do so publicly.
Pivoting more into coaching has been a consistent practice of “putting myself out there” as well as actively quieting my fears of public speaking. Practically this looks like being more present on social media, doing speaking engagements, recording webinars, providing workshops and doing group coaching versus the traditional intimate work of therapy. I look forward to continuing my therapy work and continuing to grow my coaching business. All in all I am being flexible and staying in a space of gratitude to the opportunity of growing both in business and family. Stay tuned.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.jokoyewellness.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jokoyewellness/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jokoyewellness/
• Other: Free Elevate Your Mind Elevate Your Grind Series https://www.jokoyewellness.com/elevate Directories https://providers.therapyforblackgirls.com/listing/jett-okoye/ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/jett-okoye-cary-nc/308214

Image Credits
Other Photos J Robertson The Slim Creative Website: https://www.theslimcreative.com IG:https://www.instagram.com/theslimcreative/?hl=en Maternity Photo Morgan Crutchfield Morgan Crutchfield Photography Website: https://www.morgancrutchfieldphotography.com IG: https://www.instagram.com/daffodyl/ Newborn Photo Melani Harris Melani J Photography IG: https://www.instagram.com/melanijphotography/