Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Erica Dawkins. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Erica, appreciate you joining us today. Was there a moment in your career that meaningfully altered your trajectory? If so, we’d love to hear the backstory.

When I think of defining moments, I would consider those moments where I had to choose between what I had and what I wanted. Throughout my journey towards starting my practice, I worked a lot of different types of jobs to either get experience or a paycheck to survive. Some of these jobs were “good jobs”, ones people vied for on a daily basis, but to me they were placeholders on the road to a bigger dream. There would always come a pivotal point where I had to choose to either stay and commit to that “good job” or take a leap of faith closer to my dream. Even now, I am still making decisions like that, and honestly they can be scary and anxiety inducing because the impact is so big, not only just for me, but also for the clients I serve. If I had to identify a lesson, it is to always remember your end goal, mission or purpose. As a therapist, my basic goal is to provide safe spaces for people to be able to get connected with themselves and so I cannot be afraid to change myself or my practice to evolve and flow to fit the needs of the people I serve. Through that, I have learned what it truly means to lean into a career versus doing a good job.

Erica, 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 got interested in mental health when I took my first psychology class in high school at the age of 15. I will never forget my teacher, Mr. Henderson. He was so engaging and attentive and the subject matter of the brain and human behavior really stuck out to me. I remember him telling me not to get a degree in psychology (lovingly lol), and when I saw him in a store during my sophomore year of college, I shyly had to admit I had gone against his advice. If I am honest, some of my drive to own a practice came from wanting to show him that psychology could lead to a meaningful and happy career, because I never regretted the choice to prioritize the study of human behavior or to continue to learn ways of behaving that are honest and positive. And he inspired that in me.

Going from a degree in psychology to a license in clinical mental health did take a bit of a u turn, resulting in me enrolling in two different master’s programs. The first of which I left with one class left to take, It was a field study class and I was struggling to find a professor to lead me. It was at this point I began to be worried about my career options, mainly because it was evident to me this was not the program for me and to validate that point when I did finally find a professor she left on sabbatical from school before I could begin, leaving me once again without guidance.

It was at this same time, I was working as a graduate assistant and one of my co-workers was in the counseling program and she loved it. After a conversation with her, I consulted with the program head and decided to switch programs. This meant I had to start all over, but I would do it all over again. The guidance and lessons learned I still use on a daily basis in my practice now. I felt like they cared if I was a good therapist or not. And now as a licensed clinical mental health therapist, I work with clients across the gamut from daily work/ life stress to severe anxiety and depression among other diagnoses.

I am most proud of my ability to find my voice as a therapist and to trust my clinical judgments. My business, Esteem Counseling and Wellness Center, is still a baby and I know it. I want to make sure that it grows with my clientele and that it stays relevant in treatment practices and opportunities, so therefore so must I as a practitioner. Because of my foundation and training, I acknowledge, appreciate, and relish the chance to keep growing. This is the reason why I chose an orchid as the logo to represent that growth mindset.

How did you put together the initial capital you needed to start?

Funding my business was tricky. I was working full time for another practice and used a small loan to help supplement my income and pay some start up costs for the first few months. I started my business after the initial shut down of the pandemic so working from home was huge. When planning for my business costs, the costs of an office space was higher than my apartment rent, so I was able to find a co-working space that was markedly cheaper and decided I would find a more permanent space once my clientele picked up. Very quickly my business became an online therapy space as most people either chose to be virtual or would ask for virtual sessions after scheduling in person. Though I am still paying the loan off, I have been able to keep my monthly business cost pretty manageable and I still have a space if anyone does want to come in office.

Other than training/knowledge, what do you think is most helpful for succeeding in your field?

In the mental health field the most helpful thing is to have a therapist of your own and positive support network. My family and friends are so understanding it can be overwhelming at times. I really appreciate them for encouraging me and believing in me and giving me space to be a business owner, They never make me feel bad if I am tired or can’t commit to things like I used to before, while still showing up and out for me every chance they get. It is motivating and validating. As for my therapist, I have had to recently get a new one and I learned quickly how hard it is to find the right person, and when you do, it is such a relief. I knew I needed someone “smarter than me” and “just like me” at the same time, and I feel like I have found that, so I can actually show up as a therapist in therapy and feel validated, heard, and attended to. These supports help me to feel grounded and keep me honest with myself.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.esteemcwc.com

Image Credits
Cottonbro Studio Christina Morillo