We had the good fortune of connecting with Nicole Burns and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Nicole, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
Unbound Courage was started to assist women in recovery ( mental health & addiction) using a whole person wholistic model. On my own recovery journey I found very little comfort in talk therapy and failed medications, I found my home in body based self regulation techniques, CBT and DBT exercises that allowed me to move into recovery. At the same time I discovered a community of supportive women. I made if my mission to become educated to be able to provide educated and professional support on their recovery journey. I have been a nurse for over 20 years so this just fell right inline. I began my certification process while providing free support groups to the women in my community. Then I was woke up in the middle of the might by the Holy Spirit telling me to start a non profit so I did. Once i did that I found support and passion in others around me. We have been able to provide free support groups for recovery, grief and youth bereavement as well as community connection opportunities. We currently are contracted consultants working with high risk individuals to assist them with stabilization in their respected programs. This allowing us to serve over 378 individuals in our first year.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I have been a nurse for over 20 years practicing in long term care facilities, behavioral health settings, acute care settings and for the last 13 yrs in home health care. This journey has been a fun one. I found my passion for mental health while working in behavioral health. While working in health care I obtained my certifications in trauma and resiliency coaching, addiction coaching and peer support. I found that my years of nursing and case management made becoming a holistic provider for mental health & addiction recovery a smooth transition. The biggest challenge is navigating the terrain, however with the right team anything is possible.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
My favorite spots around Fort Morgan are Mosqueda Delicacies Ice Cream amazing hand crafted ice cream, enjoying a hot tea or coffee at books on main. Touring the art and the work completed during HGTV home town make over downtown, viewing our beautiful community mural, delicious pizza served up by Darren at Fahrenheit 851 pizza, and savory Mexican cuisine at Casa Patrons. Taking walks down at our local nature trails at riverside park. During the summer we have Thursday Night Live free concerts in our city park and of course our famous Bob Stock its a blast 2 days of free concerts with bands like warrent, spin doctors, and vanilla ice.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My family is my biggest supporter of my dreams. My mom and dad are the ones who taught me resiliency My mother works side by side with me in the non profit providing services to individuals. My dearest friends who make up my board all their joy in coming along side me but also their professionalism as the board is made up of a nurse practitioners, nurses and non profit management specialist. Growing our mindset, Advocates for Recovery, Porch Light Health, United Way of Morgan County and Morgan County Family Center are all organizations who jumped on board with me to help me grow as an entity and see the value in our model of post traumatic growth. Jesus Christ who gave me new life and set me free.

Image Credits
My own personal photo

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