We were lucky to catch up with Dawn Levian recently and have shared our conversation below.

Dawn, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today What’s the backstory behind how you came up with the idea for your business?

Sadly, my business idea comes from a lifetime of hurt and tragedy but that’s what got me to where I am. Growing up, I was abused, which eventually led me to foster care homes. Sadly some of those were also abusive. The feeling of pain, being lost or hurt isn’t new to me. So while I was looking for an outlet for my husband to have a way to release emotions the idea to visit a rage room was presented to me. At that time, the closest one was hours away. I connected with this idea, like nothing I had ever connected with before. I had to make one and provide this space for others.

Mental health care is a very important need in one’s life but it’s not always sought out due to stigmas around it. However, holding in the things that make you mad, sad, frustrated or hurt will only hurt you more, both physically and mentally. There can be therapeutic value from physically letting go. At Break Room Therapy we have a marker in each room so you can write down what’s weighing on you- then BREAK it! It won’t fix the issue, but it feels good letting go of what you were holding on to. You can also cry, scream, swear and just verbally let go in a non-judgmental space.

Break Room Therapy strives to be a safe, affirming, and welcoming location for all! We are here for the whole community and once you step in our door you will see and feel that.

Dawn, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

My past could probably fill a book, and I understand more than many how difficult life can be. But rather then dwell on the past, I want to help others make today better. Life can be very hard and lonely at times. I also understand that “hard” is different from person to person. For whatever reason, there is still a stigma around seeking mental health services when life gets tough. However, not addressing the things that are making your life difficult or what’s hurting you can cause health issues, social issues and more.

With Break Room Therapy I want to provide a place for people to find acceptance and safety. We strive to be a welcoming location for all. When we say “all” we specifically point to our LGTBQIA and BIPOC communities.

I can’t fix what’s hurting you and make your life perfect. What Break Room Therapy can and does do is provide a judgement free space to come in and decompress from your stress. Want to scream? Then scream! Want to write down everything that’s hurting you, throw it  at wall and watch it break? Good, you can do that too! Or maybe you are just looking for a new fun activity that you have never done before. We can be that space also. We make a fun place for birthdays, anniversaries, bachelor/bachelorette get togethers and so many more reasons.

Any advice for managing a team?

When I look at who I want to be as a boss and owner, I remind myself of all the managers I had. Especially the ones I never want to be like. Life can be hard enough, the last thing a boss/owner should be doing is creating a space where their employees do not want to go or a place that they are not proud to see grow and do well.

All my employees know that they are more than just an “employee” to me and to the business. Their opinions matter and we seek their thoughts often. They are allowed to speak freely. We don’t make our staff feel bad simply because they need a day off or they are having a bad day. We treat each other simply as we would want to be treated. Yes, it’s a company and there are things to be done within their job functions. The best advice I can give regarding having a great team behind you is, to remember your brand means nothing if your team isn’t behind you and with you! I have worked HARD building Break Room Therapy and I am very proud of where we are. I won’t for one second pretend the success is all on me. I have great staff behind me, and I feel like the reason they are with me on this journey is because they are valued and treated with respect. I try to remind myself of all the bad jobs, bad bosses and bad managers I had in the past and will not allow myself to ever become them.

How did you build your audience on social media?

I have worn many hats in other positions before opening my own business. As a business owner you have 2 choices, you can either outsource items that are needed, or you can do it yourself. Running a social media account or providing marketing work was never anything I had done before. I connected myself to as many networking opportunities and different connections as I can, so that I can learn and grow.

I belong to a wide network of other small business owners through a few channels. One of those channels is an amazing place called SpringGR. They help new entrepreneurs get off the ground and build their businesses. During one of the classes I took with them we were discussing how to paint a picture of your “why” concerning why people should come visit your business. One person voiced to “not to be wordy” and “keep your posts short and to the point”. This might work for some businesses or at certain times, but what I have learned was to be you! When I am willing to be vulnerable, to show my human side and to be open on posts, those are the ones with the most likes, shares or interactions. Since Break Room Therapy’s mission is to help others get through this thing called life and to help decompress from stress, its helpful for my audience to see the owner as a real person with struggles too.

Not every post is wordy or hitting on the core of emotions, but, when needed, we don’t shy from tough subjects. We also decided a long time ago that some things you can respectfully disagree with other on, for example, does pineapple belong on pizza? Human rights issues are not something you can quietly support. It’s no longer ok to be silent when it comes to matters that hurt others. We have been open, honest, and far from quiet when it comes to our support of all. My suggestion is to be yourself. My love for my business, my reason its open, my passion on why we work so hard to be here is displayed in my posts. If you can see why we care, then hopefully we can connect with you on a personal level when you visit our page.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.breakroomtherapy.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/breakroomtherapy/?hl=en
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BreakRoomTherapy
• Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/breakrmtherapy
• Other: TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@breakroomtherapy

Image Credits
https://www.facebook.com/snapstudioGR