Today we’d like to introduce you to Justin Dodson, PhD, LPC.
Hi Justin, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today.
I started believing that I could help people be seen by talking and using reflection. Back then, I didn’t know what I was doing other than being kind and serving as a listening ear. I’ve always been interested in people and talking.
What better way to earn a living and live on purpose than to develop into a therapist? I went to college and majored in Psychology at the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga. I obtained my M.S. in Professional Counseling from Lipscomb University and my Ph.D. in Counselor Education & Supervision from the University of Memphis.
I have worked in non-profit, university settings, and private practice since 2012.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Smooth, not at all. If anything it’s been an anxiety-filled ride with clarity, growth, and relief. All of the good things have happened after the anxiety which makes you feel silly.
Most of my struggles have been trying to figure out how to navigate this profession alone. I was always the only black male at jobs, conferences, and graduate programs. The other struggle was being unsure of how to execute the vision I had of my future.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am a mental health therapist and consultant. My practice specializes in adult men’s mental health and training teams on various topics such as suicide prevention, general mental health facts & myths, and crisis intervention. I am most excited about being exactly where I am supposed to be in life & investing in my practice, I am always humbled when men make contact as a first step toward change or when organizations seek services.
I’ve been a therapist since 2012. I got where I am by redefining my relationship with success, focusing on myself, and not measuring my success to my counterparts or social media influencers. I would say that I continue to operate from an old-school mentality. Running a business to be profitable has not been easy being an entrepreneur in a business where people assume you’re supposed to be a pushover because you are in the helping profession is challenging. Additionally, being a businessman with clinical skills creates sustainability.
I overcame challenges by showing up daily, recognizing that I need time to dream, create and hold my boundaries, and enjoy what I am doing. I’d like people to know that I love what I do, I believe in people having the right fit for a provider so I try connecting people with other clinicians when we prove not to be a good fit.
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting.
Don’t let anxiety take up the space that trust can fill.
If I could go back in time and live by my lessons, I would say, start saving for retirement, things work out how they are supposed to, and it’s ok if you don’t get the job; your purpose is more than just that job. I wish I knew how to negotiate when I started, I also wish the structure of mental health believed in paying therapists like we do executives.
Pricing:
- Therapy Sessions $100-$175/session
- Consulting $2,500 +
- Fireside Chats $2,500+
Contact Info:
- Website: navigatingcouragecac.com
- Instagram: @Itsdrjkeith
- Linkedin: Justin Keith Dodson, Ph.D., LPC
