We’re looking forward to introducing you to Khiara Mills. Check out our conversation below.
Hi Khiara, thank you so much for joining us today. We’re thrilled to learn more about your journey, values and what you are currently working on. Let’s start with an ince breaker: What makes you lose track of time—and find yourself again?
Walking with my pups. It’s one of the few moments in my day where I can be fully present—with them, with myself, and with God. These walks aren’t just for them—they’re sacred time for me to ground myself. I start and end each day with a walk. In the morning, it’s a chance to center myself in prayer, reflect, and align with purpose before the world starts demanding my attention. In the evening, it becomes a space to process the day, recharge, and explore how I can show up more intentionally tomorrow, God willing. It’s my reset—where I lose track of time, but reconnect with what matters.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Khiara Mills aka “Mills”, a Licensed Professional Counselor and the founder of Motivating Minds Mental Health Counseling PLLC. I am licensed in both Texas and Illinois. I provide therapy to teens and adults—especially those navigating anxiety, trauma, life transitions, and identity challenges. My work centers BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ communities, because I know firsthand how powerful it is to feel seen, heard, and supported by someone who understands your lived experience.
What makes Motivating Minds unique is that it’s more than therapy—it’s a space rooted in empowerment, healing, and growth. I don’t just help people process where they’ve been; I support them in moving toward who they’re becoming. That means blending clinical tools with real-life strategies, motivation, and honest reflection.
Since our last interview, I’ve expanded beyond individual sessions. I now offer virtual support groups, speaking engagements, and community-based mental health trainings. Most recently, I’ve expanded my reach by launching internship cycles for graduate students in mental health programs. These interns gain hands-on experience in areas often overlooked in the classroom—like private practice operations, culturally responsive care, and community-based work. It’s been incredibly meaningful to pour into future clinicians while continuing to grow the mission of Motivating Minds.
Right now, I’m passionate about building out programs that make therapy and mental wellness more accessible, especially for those who’ve been overlooked or underserved. Whether it’s through therapy, workshops, or wellness events—my mission remains the same: to help people reconnect with their purpose, power, and peace.
Most recently, I was accepted into the Goldman Sachs One Million Black Women: Black in Business Program through NYU Stern School of Business. This opportunity will help me bring this vision to life by providing the tools, resources, and strategies to scale these initiatives.
Okay, so here’s a deep one: What breaks the bonds between people—and what restores them?
What breaks the bonds between people is often unspoken hurt—misunderstandings, unmet needs, assumptions, or unhealed parts of ourselves that project pain onto others. When people stop feeling seen, safe, or valued, disconnection follows. Sometimes it’s not the conflict itself, but the silence around it that does the most damage.
What restores those bonds is intentional repair: honest conversations, accountability, empathy, and consistency. It takes humility to admit harm and courage to hold space for someone else’s experience. I’ve learned—both personally and professionally—that relationships can’t thrive without emotional safety and mutual effort. Restoration doesn’t mean perfection; it means showing up with a willingness to do the work, again and again.
What did suffering teach you that success never could?
Suffering taught me about God’s favor in a way that success never could. It reminded me that even in the hardest seasons—when things felt uncertain, delayed, or painful—I was still being prepared and protected. Every hurdle I’ve faced has stretched me, shaped me, and built a level of strength and faith that success alone could never provide.
Through suffering, I learned to trust that what’s meant for me won’t miss me. That even the detours have purpose. Success might celebrate you, but suffering develops you. And that development is what makes you ready for the very things you once prayed for.
So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. What’s a belief or project you’re committed to, no matter how long it takes?
I’m deeply committed to destigmatizing therapy within the BIPOC community—no matter how long it takes. Mental health is health, and I want people to see therapy as just as essential as going to the doctor or taking care of their physical well-being. For so long, we’ve been told to “just pray about it,” “be strong,” or “keep it in the family,” but that silence has created generations of unaddressed pain.
As someone strong in my faith, I always remind people—it’s okay to do both. Your faith is the foundation, and therapy is a tool. God can work through both. We don’t have to choose between spiritual and emotional care—they can coexist, and together, they can be incredibly powerful.
My mission is to shift the narrative—through therapy, education, visibility, and representation—so that healing becomes accessible, normalized, and celebrated in our communities. It’s not a quick fix; it’s a generational movement. And I’m here for the long haul.
Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. If you laid down your name, role, and possessions—what would remain?
If I laid down my name, my title, and everything I owned—what would remain is my faith in God, my resilience, and my heart for helping others heal and evolve. Titles and roles can change. Seasons come and go. But at my core, I’m someone who believes deeply in purpose, connection, and growth.
My faith is what anchors me. It’s what reminds me who I am, even when the world feels uncertain. My resilience is what’s carried me through every storm. And my passion for guiding others through their healing—that’s something that will always live in me, with or without a platform. That’s the legacy.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://motivatingmindscounseling.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/motivatingmindsmhc/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/motivatingmindscounseling
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Motivatingmindsmhc/
Image Credits
Alex J. Martin
