We were lucky to catch up with Dr. Dennis McLeod recently and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Dr. Dennis thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to hear the backstory of how you established your own practice.
So, in setting up my first practice, I really had to lean into my own knowledge and wisdom. There is not a lot of support for psychologists starting their own private practice. I believe this might be due to the systems in which we are trained us and their desires to maintain us as their employees. I asked countless questions of the few friends I had doing this work, and ensured to maintain mentorship along the way. My basic steps were to business plan/vision, start small, gain a business EIN, put effort and money into marketing, and, no matter how small, start with one client at a time.
There were many challenges along the way, and lessons learned. For example, I learned the hard way that a business EIN is free. I lost some money, but learned an invaluable lesson about attention to detail and research. One of my biggest strengths was to start the process small while I was working another job. And knowing what I know now, I’m not sure I will have done anything differently. When you are one of a few, trusting yourself is imperative. That being said, if I had to do this over again, maybe I would have started sooner. My advice for young professionals, considering starting their own practice is to seek mentorship and bet on yourself! Ask around and don’t be shy. I really want to see people win, and I’m happy to support folks in any way possible. If it doesn’t exist (or even if it does) there is room for you, and the world needs your skills!
Dr. Dennis, 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?
My name is Dr. Dennis McLeod II. I am a psychologist in private practice, mental health consultant, and mindfulness teacher. I got into this work through training in the VA and other sites while at the University of Florida. I provide individual and couples counseling as well as consultation to a number of colleges and universities. Beyond my vast speciality training (in trauma, coping, depression management, substance use, chronic pain management, etc.), my demographics, personal and professional histories, and my ability to connect and inspire change set me apart. I am most proud of being one of the few Black male psychologists in the country and my commitment to helping Black and Brown people become their best selves. I believe the potential that we have is immeasurable, and if we can learn to lean into our inherent wisdom, we can be much more than our ancestors’ wildest dreams. I believe we can completely alter the course of our familial histories, and cause the generations to come to excel because we learn to show up for ourselves and loved ones in healthy, deep, meaningful ways. Learning to love yourself as a Black/Brown person can be hard, especially in America, but we can do this and so much more! Reach out and let’s get connected.
Can you talk to us about how your funded your firm or practice?
I funded my business through my day job while I was building a part-time practice. Eventually, the practice was so profitable that I had to leave that job to pursue my dream full-time. The initial costs were minimal as my practice is entirely virtual. I think this makes sense given where we are in a post-COVID society and the benefits there.
If you could go back, would you choose the same profession, specialty, etc.?
Absolutely. I was slated to become a biologist, hence, my undergraduate degrees in Biology in Spanish. In a 2008 recession, I paused after my undergraduate studies to consider what I needed/ what interested me. I reflected to find that psychology had always been a passion of mine, took post-baccalaureate classes at Georgia State, and shortly started graduate school to pursue my dreams. This was a pivotal and defining moment in my story.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.dennismcleodphd.com
- Instagram: drsockology
- Linkedin: DENNIS MCLEOD
- Twitter: drsockology
- Youtube: Quarantine Snacks Podcast