Jan Owen

Hi, my name is Jan Owen. I opened Back Porch Counseling to help individuals who may be going through difficult seasons of life. It was my personal experience that led me into the field of counseling. After I lost my first husband, my world turned upside down. I had no idea what my future held. And mostly, I felt so alone.

During that time in my life, the support of an empathetic and skilled counselor helped me find hope again. Due to my experiences, I feel a calling to walk with and care for individuals who are struggling with the pain life can often bring.

I have received training in bereavement and life transition counseling with Dr. Alan Wolfelt at the Center for Loss and Life Transition. I spent a year during my internship practicing at Community Grief Support in Birmingham, Alabama. Additionally, I am both trained and certified in EMDR. I also have twenty years of experience in ministry and am an ordained Baptist Minister, although I am no longer serving in a church setting. I often work with clients who desire to include the exploration of spiritual topics, questions, or abuse in their therapy work. In 2017, I published my first book, "Fighting Forward: A Widow's Journey From Loss to Life."

Before becoming a therapist, I also worked in the non-profit realm which included providing free leadership training for ministers and church volunteers in Rwanda, India, Guatemala, Uganda, the Dominican Republic and Haiti. hold a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Alabama in Interdisciplinary Studies with a Focus on Leadership, and a Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from the University of Alabama. I am a Licensed Professional Counselor in the state of Alabama and also hold a license for telehealth therapy in the state of Florida. I also hold a certificate in Grief and Death Studies from the Center for Loss.

I have a cabin on my property, and in addition to seeing hourly clients at my office in Huntsville, Alabama, I also offer EMDR and grief intensives at my cabin near the Tennessee River.

On a personal note, I enjoy reading, college football, playing guitar, hiking, writing, traveling, riding in my Mustang convertible with the top down and the music turned up, and spending time with my family and my sweet pups Ruby and River. Most mornings find me on my back porch swing, watching the birds and enjoying the beautiful woods around my home.