We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Justin Dodson, PhD, LPC. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Justin below.

Justin, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to hear the backstory of how you established your own practice.

I opened my practice in August of 2020. At that time, starting my practice meant ordering Sushi, and sitting on my friends sofa on a Friday night to obtain my LLC and EIN number. I hadn’t thought of a name for my practice yet, or even had many thoughts about structure. What I did know is that I was working as an Assistant Director at a Residential Treatment Center and it wasn’t enough for me. I missed doing direct client work that I believed made an impact on others. Starting my practice was really about me incorporating my first love which was to provide therapy to others. Once I created the formal business, I got a psychology today page so I would be visible to people, identified what my rate would be, (which at that time was really difficult to maintain due to my own insecurities), and made gmail account. Fast forward, That same friend helped me create a website and I created some intake documents. I didn’t realize then, that I was creating what my future would look like, quitting my job, Expanding my private practice full time working specifically with adult males offering in person and virtual services, raising my fee, and thriving.
I would say that my initial challenges were learning how to manage finances and keeping them separate from personal. Understanding how much to separate for taxes, and fully realizing that as a business owner, everything was now on me.
If I were to do anything different, I would have hired my business consultant sooner, hired a booker, and stuck with my fee earlier on instead of haggling with people.
To those who are interested in starting their own practice or business I would say this is not the time to have it all figured it out in order to start. There will be a daily lesson to learn & differences to embrace. Identify what your ideal lifestyle looks like in terms of scheduling, fees, overhead cost to maintain your business, and population you want to serve would be the first things to iron out.

Justin, 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 am a native of Memphis, TN. I was raised by my mother and had an older brother. My father passed from a heart attack the day before my 10th birthday. I really attribute that as a defining moment of taking on responsibility and having anxiety. Growing up, my mom was great and did what she could to provide for us. However, I did experience bullying, low self esteem, and negative self defeating thoughts. Once I learned how to love myself, life changed. I actually wanted to be lawyer growing up. I studied and practiced mock trial and knew that was my path. I would say that I got into therapy, similar to most therapist, I was good with talking and there as absolutely no way I would be adding numbers or building things with my hands. Fast forward, I realized my gift was to see people and allow them to be seen. I would say my frustration with developing therapist is that it’s become this “cute” thing to do because they “want to help people” but in my opinion, you also have to be gifted for this field.
Once I started college, I chose psychology because i knew talking to people was going to be my path. It was a drastic change; Graduated in 4 years from UT Chattanooga and although I was told to apply to 10 graduate schools, I applied to one and they accepted me. Whew, close call. I was hired coming out of graduate school at the same facility I worked in as an intern and in undergrad so the relationship and familiarity was there, plus a salary of 32k/year which at that time, seemed like plenty.
I think what sets me apart from others, is that I have life experiences that books can’t teach, an ability to see people, and I know how to use my personality and humor to make the process enjoyable. Many times, my clients simply need a safe space to escape to, process thoughts, and feel empowered. I like to believe I help increase emotional intelligence, help clients develop language, and empower them to practice healthy patterns of behavior and beliefs.
I am most proud of two things: leaving my full time job to explore my business (having the courage to say bye) & recently a client came into my office and took his shoes off. That made my day because it communicated that he was in a safe space, and for that, I know I am where I’m supposed to be.
I want people to know that healing, exploring self, etc isn’t an overnight change so having patience, doing the work that you lay down in therapy is important. And no, your therapist isn’t charging too much.

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

I explore each day with an attitude of gratitude. My mentor actually shared a lesson with me that I believe is the direct reason I’ve built what I believe to be a strong reputation within the market. He told that when you aren’t messy, a safe person, and consistent, people will be drawn to that. I try my best to be punctual, professional, fun, and myself. After-all, who wants a lame therapist, I don’t.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

I have had a history of becoming really sad when I didn’t get a job I interviewed for and felt I was qualified to perform. And I mean seriously defeated and down. I have had to unlearn that being rejected for a role, means that you simply weren’t supposed to be there at that time. It’s a tough pill to digest in the moment, but it has never failed that once I kept moving, the dots connected and I learned why those roles weren’t given or fitted for me. And for that, I am thankful.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.navigatingcouragecac.com/
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/itsdrkeith
• Linkedin: https://linkedin.com/in/justin-keith-dodson-ph-d-lpc-74747063

Image Credits
Photographers- Kristen Cheers & Brandon Williams