Meet S. LaShay Dowley | Director of Clinical Affairs, Psychotherapist, Sex Therapist, Certified Professional Counseling Supervisor, Adjunct Sex Educator

We had the good fortune of connecting with S. LaShay Dowley and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi S. LaShay, how do you think about risk?
What do I think about risks? I think we take a risk in everything we do or do not do. Whatever choice we make, there’s a risk associated with taking it one way or the other. We will always be faced with taking a risk. I took a risk to leave a safe, stable, and amazing career at a local hospital to build a private practice. I along with everyone else could bet on me retiring from that hospital. I loved it!! The mission of that hospital has always been on paper to improve the health of the community by providing quality, comprehensive healthcare in a compassionate, culturally competent, ethical and fiscally responsible manner. My tenure at the hospital changed when my ability to align with the direction psychiatric patient care was heading in. So, true to who I am, I took a huge risk by saying yes to creating a pathway that would allow me create authentic spaces and relationships. To actualize the mission in my my own work that supported the very mission I followed until the day I resigned. I wanted to support people who wanted more from therapy, yet could not always financially access what they wanted and needed and what they so desperately knew they deserved. I have never regretted that risks, and I look forward to many more in the future. The choice not to take a risk, is still taking a risk.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
I do not know what sets me apart from others. However, what I want to believe is that each professional relationships I get an opportunity to have, is one that will remain always. The name of my business is Enduring Connections Counseling Group. My professional relationships are still relationships. I am the most proud of the people I get to do life with, and how those relationships continue to aid in the work I get to prioritize for myself. I do not ask any of my clients to do work, I am not willing to do. It is my mission to provide a forum for authentic conversations. That is not just my business tagline, that is what I desire to have, and give others permission to experience. The beginning was hard. Seeing yourself as a champion despite of what you are experiencing can be difficult. The 12 Stages of the Hero’s Journey by Joseph Campbell is a real thing. I have had to embrace the good, bad, and ugly in order to survive. Surviving can look a lot like pivoting at times. Being flexible and steadfast even when you do not want to. To sometimes “just show up.” Some of the biggest “Tests, Allies, Enemies,” are us. That is the fruit and sourness of being an entrepreneur. On all accounts, my business is flourishing. I have so many people to thank for that. Many educators, mentors, supervisors, family members and friends each in differing ways contributed to this success. What I would like people to know about my brand, is that this practice is committed to serve, find solutions, and sit-in the dark lonely place where manyhumans find ourselves nonjudgmentally.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
So let me first start by saying, I do not have a best friend. I am very communal. I run in what others have named as a wolf pack. I spend a lot of time with biological and chosen family members. We really enjoy good food, conversations, dancing, vintage shopping, and a good glass of wine. I like to engage Atlanta as tourist. What would an exciting fun filled week look like? Recovery is always the initial goal. We work hard!! With that being said, starting the weekend arrival at Bar Margot is a must. Having a full weekend stay at either The St. Regis Hotel, or Serenbe would be delightful. Start each morning with a workout, yoga, a nice breakfast, and either a massage, body scrub, or sauna. I love to visit local vintage stores, consignments shops, and festivals. Nightly dinners would be centered around outdoor dining availability, and music. I love to eat at farm to table restaurants. No franchises for me. I would definitely go to some mom and pop eateries for lunch and/or brunch. A theater performance at Kenny Leon’s True Colors Theatre, and/or The Fox Theatre is necessity. There would be a day where we would visit a few independent book stores, the High Museum, and a movie at IPIC in Colony square. Lastly, there’s nothing like eating Sunday dinner from Collard Green Cafe, a local down-home soul food restaurant in Tucker to recover before ending the visit. These are a few of my favorite things.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Absolutely, my mother and my father for being individuals who took risks before they would eventually inspire me to do so. My mother was the first daughter in her family to attend college. My father was probably grinding the day he steeped out of the womb. Both of them directly and indirectly gave me permission to embark on my own Hero’s Journey. It’s in our bones.

Website: slashaydowleycounseling.net

Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/s-lashay-dowley-a14a4322