We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Monique Dunn. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Monique below.

Monique, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to hear stories from your time in school/training/etc.

My name is Monique Dunn and I am the founder of Destination Therapy and Licensed Therapist in Houston, Texas. I am a British therapist and I began my training to become a clinician in the U.K. where I attended the University of Nottingham, England. I was really grounded by the “experiential learning” aspect of the program, which I didn’t realize at the time would go on to provide some of the most important and impactful skills I would end up utilizing almost daily as a Licensed Therapist.

When providing counseling and psychotherapy services to my clients in Houston, I often reflect back to my time training as a student where we were constantly being pushed to experience for ourselves what it’s like to be a client coming for therapy. I know how it feels to meet with someone new, open up to them, become vulnerable and seek support. I was lucky enough to train with a cohort of fellow students who took the role play seriously and actually helped one another work through issues using techniques we would later come to find second nature in the therapy room.

A unique element of this program is that we were required to be engaged in our own personal psychotherapy throughout the course, which was a wonderful experience. I can relate to my clients because I have also made that nervous first call for a consultation, drove to a new place to meet with a therapist I’d never met before, and sat with a stranger (who then became someone who knew me most deeply) to engage in the process we call therapy. These experiences have served as a foundation to hold the utmost respect to anyone seeking out support, and ensuring that even if my practice Destination Therapy isn’t the right fit, that they leave with some resources to help them on their way.

You can find details about the practice here: https://www.thedestinationtherapy.com/

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

Destination Therapy is a counseling and psychotherapy practice in Houston, Texas. The practice serves clients both in person here in Houston, Texas where I am based, as well as online via Telehealth anywhere in TX or NY state(s). Destination Therapy supports clients who are busy professionals struggling with anxiety, perfectionism and burnout.

Destination Therapy was born from my desire to build a therapeutic space that aligns with my values and reflects the anchor of my work, which is a dedication to provide anti-racist, culturally affirming care that celebrates intersectional identities.

Destination Therapy offers a hybrid (in person or online) model for modern, approachable therapy that is facilitated by well trained, professional clinicians who are passionate about high quality care in the therapy and wellness space. We genuinely care about our clients and demonstrate this in the passion we bring to our work.

One of the things I am most proud of in regards to Destination Therapy, is our continued effort to destigmatize the field of mental health. We really want to normalize therapy, our clients, and us as clinicians. We do so by showing up authentically as ourselves, creating a safe space for clients and focusing on building real, meaningful and authentic relationships with our clients.

What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?

Word of mouth! One of the greatest compliments I believe that I get as a business owner is when one of my clients passes along my practice (Destination Therapy) to someone seeking out our services for support. As a Licensed Therapist, I am grateful to have built so much trust with my clients, that many of them refer people in the community (work, neighbors, family members) to Destination Therapy when they are in need. This to me is also a great reflection of our vision to destigmatize and decolonize the field of mental health. I light up knowing that folks are talking about therapy so openly and as a minority woman business owner, that I get to be part of what comes to mind when someone says “do you know of any good therapists?”

In addition to word of mouth, I think social media has been another great way to grow the clientele at Destination Therapy. I have a therapist page on Instagram @monique.speaks that I post frequently on with content about anxiety, perfectionism and burnout and my experiences as a therapist. There is also a main practice page @destination_therapy that is a great reference point for potential clients who are looking on social media for resources and can get info about the practice. I believe accessing care should be easy, so I help streamline that process with quick website contact forms and a self scheduling feature for folks to connect with us seamlessly online.

Do you think you’d choose a different profession or specialty if you were starting now?

Absolutely! I truly love what I do and it’s an honor for me to serve as a clinician in this field. As a therapist I have been able to practice in different settings and places ranging from my home town Nottingham, England to the United States in NYC and now Houston, Texas. Launching Destination Therapy in Houston has been a dream come true, we are building a space that empowers our clients as well as our team members to feel supported and valued. At the core of this Humanistic practice, genuine human connection, unconditional positive regard and empathy will be it’s compass as we grow.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.thedestinationtherapy.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/monique.speaks/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Destination-Therapy/100083268884089/
• Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/moniquedunnlcsw
• Other: The practice IG: https://www.instagram.com/destination_therapy/

Image Credits
Credit: https://sweenshots.com/