We recently connected with Janelle Dawsey and have shared our conversation below.

Janelle , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to hear the story behind how you got your first job in field that you currently practice in.

My first job in this field was at Odyssey Family Counseling Center in College Park, GA, a place that primarily served African-American clients navigating a range of challenges—mental health struggles, family and relationship issues, substance abuse, and more. Looking back, I can honestly say it was one of my favorite jobs in this field because of the community I was able to serve.

From the very beginning, I knew my purpose was bigger than just being a therapist. I wanted to rebuild and strengthen the familial structure within Black families because I believe that strong partnerships create strong families, strong families build strong communities, and strong communities shape a stronger society. Working at Odyssey gave me a solid foundation for the work I do today. It showed me firsthand how deep the need is for culturally competent, compassionate, and relationship-centered care—especially within Black communities.

At the time, my goals were simple but powerful: to learn, to grow, and to truly make an impact. I wanted to understand the real issues people were facing, not just from textbooks but from lived experiences. Looking back, I’m incredibly grateful that this was where I started. It reinforced my calling and set me on the path to where I am today—helping people heal, grow, and redefine love on their own terms.

Janelle , love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I’m Janelle Dawsey, a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, speaker, and author with over a decade of experience helping individuals and couples navigate love, relationships, and the emotional challenges that come with them. I’m the founder of 4 The Love Counseling & Consulting, a therapy practice that specializes in relationship dynamics—whether it’s dating, engagement, marriage, divorce, co-parenting, or grieving the loss of a spouse/partner. Our services include individual, couples, and group therapy.

I’ve always been fascinated by the ways relationships shape our lives—how love can build us up or break us down. But what truly shaped my path was my own personal experiences with love, heartbreak, and growth. I’ve lived through the messy, complicated, and painful realities of relationships, and I know firsthand how hard it can be to navigate them alone. That’s why I created 4 The Love Counseling & Consulting—to be a safe space where people can heal through heartbreak and transform their lives in love.

What makes 4 The Love different from other therapy practices is that we don’t just focus on mental health—we focus on love. While many therapy practices address anxiety, depression, and trauma, we look at how those struggles impact relationships. Because the truth is, love and relationships shape so much of our emotional well-being. Whether someone is struggling with self-love, romantic relationships, family dynamics, or recovering from past hurt, we’re here to guide them through it.

I’m most proud of the impact I’ve made on my clients’ lives. Seeing people come into therapy feeling broken, lost, or hopeless, and watching them rediscover themselves, set boundaries, heal, and build healthier relationships—that’s the real reward.

If you take one thing away from my work, it’s this: love should not break you. It should build you. Whether you’re healing from a breakup, trying to strengthen your relationship, struggling as a single parent, or just figuring out who you are, you deserve support. And that’s what 4 The Love is here for.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

About five years ago, I found myself at a crossroads in my career. I had been working as a therapist, but I started to feel pulled in a different direction—matchmaking and date coaching. I thought, Maybe relationships would be healthier if couples had the right guidance from the very beginning. I was seriously considering leaving therapy altogether, believing that helping people find the right partner from the start would have a greater impact on long-term relationship success.

But after working with a few clients in the dating and matchmaking space, I had a realization: The issue wasn’t just how people were dating—it was the unresolved heartbreak they were carrying into those relationships. Their struggles weren’t simply about compatibility; they were deeply rooted in past wounds from family dynamics, previous relationships, and even childhood experiences. I realized that finding the “right match” didn’t guarantee a healthy relationship—healing from past pain was the real work that needed to be done.

That realization brought me full circle, but with a new perspective. Instead of pivoting out of therapy, I redesigned my entire practice. I moved away from being a solo practitioner and built a group practice that focuses on relationships at every stage—dating, engagement, marriage, divorce, and even co-parenting. I didn’t just want to help people find love; I wanted to help them heal through heartbreak and build the foundation for lasting, healthy relationships.

This pivot was also deeply personal. At the time, I was navigating my own relationship struggles and ultimately going through a divorce. That experience forced me to grow in ways I never expected, and when I came out on the other side, I realized how much my journey could help others. I knew that if I could make it through, I could guide others through it too.

Any advice for managing a team?

I don’t have a huge team—right now, it’s about four clinicians and two administrative staff—but I’ve learned that team morale isn’t about the number of people you manage; it’s about how you lead them.

For me, it all starts with perspective. I don’t see my team as people who work for me—I see them as people who work with me to fulfill the mission of our practice. Every person brings their own expertise, strengths, and knowledge that contribute to the growth of the company. I believe that when everyone feels valued, they show up more engaged, more invested, and more motivated to do their best work.

One of the biggest mistakes business owners make is forgetting the value of each role. In reality, if even one position is looked at as unimportant, it can disrupt the entire flow of the business and ultimately impact morale.

Maintaining high morale isn’t just about praise—it’s about respect, support, and clear communication. I make sure my team knows that their input matters, their roles are essential, and their well-being is just as important as the work they do. At the end of the day, a company is only as strong as the people within it, and I never take that for granted.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.4theloveco.com
• Instagram: 4theloveco
• Facebook: 4 The Love Counseling & Consulting
• Linkedin: 4 The Love Counseling & Consulting
• Other: TikTok: its4theloveco

Image Credits

Devin M. Young Photography