Meet Courtney Dorsey | Certified Life Coach, Teacher, & Best Selling Author

We had the good fortune of connecting with Courtney Dorsey and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Courtney, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?

As a black woman that struggled with anxiety pre-Covid, mental health wasn’t widely advertised at that time. I was raised in a Baptist church. I didn’t know anyone that went to therapy. As my personal relationship with God developed, my anxiety was still on the rise, which was very confusing and frustrating. 

During that time, I was struggling in my career, had a hard time finding a job in my field, and began living functionally depressed. Similar to what we define as a functional alcoholic, I was still showing up to work, still taking care of myself and others, but was steadily shrinking inside. The beautiful extrovert with the big personality was fading in the background. The negative, pessimistic, isolated woman inside was taking over, and my self-made mask was coming off. I decided to put my degrees into practice for myself, and went to therapy. While therapy was great, it had some missing links. In the white-dominated Western worldview of psychology, black women don’t always have a face, name, or voice, which means to me that there isn’t a therapeutic process shaped for us. 

With a bachelors of science and masters of art in psychology, a certification as a life coach, and life experience, I decided to create what I didn’t see, active life coaching treatment plans for black women suffering with anxiety and functional depression. 

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?

I am a public school teacher during the day, and a life coach, blogger, and podcaster at night. Ha! Who am I kidding? I have to manage all of it most days and times throughout the whole day! I merge psychology and education together creating the perfect blend of knowledge, compassion, and empathy for the mental health of people. I am most proud of the opportunities and spaces I get to share with people that need to share their stories with a listening ear. Listening is an art that needs to be practiced and mastered. 

What’s crazy is, being a teacher was never in my plans. I was in a horrible season in my career search, and was looking for a way out. During the height of Covid, I got a call from a local public school needing teachers, and decided to answer the call. (That’s what teachers call it, “answering the call”) I was desperately trying to leave my retail job and needed more money. I felt like it was divine intervention to say yes to something meaningful, to some folks that were in need, to something that I didn’t apply for, and to a call actually received because my phone is typically on DO NOT DISTURB, ha! 

Being a teacher is one of the most challenging professions I’ve ever encountered because teachers have so many hats to wear. It’s also a rewarding career that prepares you for just about anything. One day a student may do the absolute worst thing, the next day may reach another educational milestone, and my heart flutters! It’s taught me how to listen more, practice patience, endure, and be supportive. Kids have a “special” way of teaching YOU how to not take

things personally. It is all of the makings to be a great professional life coach dedicated to listening and supporting black women. Which is something that is very rare and well overdo! 

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.

The best places I have been in Atlanta and metro Atlanta have been Mable House Barnes Amphitheater for outdoor concerts. Roswell Mill Waterfall for an outdoor walk to see that beautiful waterfall. The Battery and the Suntrust Braves Stadium is a total package experience! Most major events are held at the State Farm Arena or the stunning new Mercedes Benz Stadium. The Suite Lounge is great for brunch and day parties. Harold’s Chicken & Ice Bar for great chicken and culture. I’ll hop on the Marta train and go all over the city, which in itself are stories for another day. There’s never a dull moment on the Marta train, which is also an Atlanta experience. 

So, start the day right with a nice hike at Roswell Mill for the beautiful scenery and workout. Then we gotta eat, so we’d head over to The Suite Lounge for brunch and the day party. It’s lit! Next we’d uber to Edgewood, walking down that long strip to see all of the artwork and culture, and top it off with Harld’s chicken. 

We have a whole other day planned. We head over to the Battery before a Braves game, hangout and bar hop. Then go to the Braves game. Uber to a night lawn concert at Mable House Barnes Amphitheater. It’s still lit, ha! 

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?

The organization I would like to give a shout out to is my alma mater, THEE Southern University and A & M College in Baton Rouge, LA. It was there where I rediscovered my passion for people and mental health, through the works and guidance of my amazingly hands-on professors. They went above and beyond to prepare me for the world, my education, friendships, and taught with great pride. 

I developed lifelong friendships with some of the best people, and found a piece of myself that I had always been in search for; the great side of being black. Being from a small town that is rooted in segregation, prejudices, and racism, I NEEDED my worldview to be shaped beyond that. It was there that I read this life changing book called The Psychology of the African Child. I was forever remade!

Website: Lifecoachcoe.com

Instagram: lifecoachcoe

Youtube: Life Coach Coe

Other: Apple Podcast & Spotify: Talk Sessions W/ Coe

Image Credits
Art Spirit Photography