Dr. Jenais Y. Means is the owner and lead counselor of the mental health counseling private practice Collaborative Means. Jenais combines her personal, educational, and professional experiences to integrate mind, body, and spirit wellness into her counseling and community work. She provides counseling for adults, groups, and families, and she offers supervision and mentorship to developing counselors. To promote wellness within the community, Jenais also conducts free workshops on stress management, anxiety, depression, sleep and wake routines, and career concerns.
Jenais is as energetic with family and friends as she is with her community. She cherishes shared meals and activities with her parents and spending time with her four nieces, two nephews, and four godchildren. For Jenais, a long weekend means trying something new, eating delicious food, or plotting an adventure with friends. She also enjoys activities that fuel her creative spirit, including dancing and creating mixed media art.
Jenais completed a 200-hour yoga instructor certification through My Vinyasa Practice’s Scholarship for Black Wellness and she was commissioned as a Spiritual Director through the Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary’s Academy of Faith and Leadership program. Jenais earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Xavier University of Louisiana (New Orleans, LA) in 2007, a Master of Arts degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Lenoir-Rhyne University (Columbia, SC) in 2017, and a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Counselor Education and Supervision from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte in 2024. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Supervisor (LPC/S) in South Carolina, Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor (LCMHC) and Qualified Supervisor (QS) in North Carolina, National Certified Counselor (NCC), Board Certified Tele-Mental Health provider (BC-TMH), and an Approved Clinical Supervisor by the National Board of Certified Counselors. In addition, Jenais is a two time fellow of the American Psychological Association Interdisciplinary Minority Fellowship Program.
Dr. Means provides in-person counseling sessions from her office in Columbia, SC. She also provides virtual counseling services to persons living in both North and South Carolina. Her Spiritual Direction services are not governed by state licensure requirements and therefore are provided both in office and virtually to persons living anywhere in the world.
Dr. Means works with clients using the following insurance providers.
Collaborative Means 