Influential Woman · Mental Health
Dawn Balkcom, M.Ed., LPC
LPC
Owner and Clinical Director, Amani Counseling Services, PLLC
Richmond, TX
Her Story
About Dawn
I am a Licensed Professional Counselor in the state of Texas and the owner of Amani Counseling Services, where I work with clients ranging from ages 5 to 65. While my niche is working with men, I also work well with women who are seeking to find themselves, grow, and step into a more empowered version of who they are.
At the core of my work is a strong belief in boundaries; understanding them, communicating them clearly, and honoring them. I also emphasize that self-love is just as important as the love we give to others. For many people, that concept doesn’t come naturally. The way we were raised, through family structure, cultural expectations, church, and societal norms; often taught us to prioritize others, to “share the cookie,” and in the process, many lost sight of their right to have boundaries at all.
My message is simple and consistent: everyone deserves boundaries. Boundaries are not a barrier, they are a way to love yourself and others at the same time.
In my clinical work, I support individuals in understanding the patterns that shape how they think, feel, and respond to stress. Many of my clients experience anxiety, overthinking, internal pressure, or a sense of feeling stuck, even while managing the demands of daily life. My approach is collaborative and grounded in evidence-based practices, including cognitive and behavioral frameworks. I focus on increasing awareness, challenging unhelpful patterns, and helping clients develop more effective ways to respond to both internal and external challenges.
I aim to create a calm, direct, and thoughtful therapeutic space, one that balances reflection with practical application. I believe meaningful change happens over time through consistency, awareness, and intentional action.
As a business owner, my day-to-day includes not only seeing clients and completing clinical documentation, but also managing the operational side of the practice. From confirming appointments to working through the credentialing process with insurance panels, I remain intentional about both the clinical and administrative responsibilities required to sustain quality care.
One of my current challenges is visibility., ensuring that the community knows that Amani Counseling Services is here and accessible. Navigating social media as a primary tool for outreach has been an adjustment, but it is a necessary part of growing the practice and reaching those who need support.
I also remain committed to ongoing learning, staying current with therapeutic modalities and techniques that best serve my clients. Continued education is not optional in this field, it is part of the responsibility.
Looking ahead, my long-term vision includes supporting interns during their practicum and internship experiences. Once I meet the requirement of being fully licensed for two years, I plan to open my practice to interns around 2028. This is an area that matters to me deeply, as my own journey to find a placement that allowed meaningful, hands-on experience was challenging. I want to be a part of changing that for future clinicians.
Amani Counseling Services was created to provide a space that supports clarity, intentional growth, and improved day-to-day functioning—for both clients and, eventually, the next generation of therapists.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Dawn
01What do you attribute your success to?
What I attribute my success to is simple: I refuse to give up—and my faith.
I was sick the entire time I was in grad school. My mother often says I earned that degree throwing up in the toilet, but I still got it done. It wasn’t pretty, and it definitely wasn’t easy, but quitting was never an option.
I allowed myself to experience parts of the social side of college, but I stayed focused on the goal. There were moments when my strength alone wasn’t enough, and that’s where my faith carried me. It grounded me, steadied me, and reminded me to keep going when things felt overwhelming.
That combination, discipline, resilience, and faith, is what has pushed me forward. Even when things get hard, giving up has never been part of the plan.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I’ve received is that everyone starts out wearing a bit of a façade - and that’s okay.
In the beginning, you’re trying to get it “right.” You’re leaning on what you’ve been taught, how you think a therapist should sound, and how you believe you’re supposed to show up. But over time, that fades.
You find your voice. You find your rhythm. You become more authentic in the room.
Therapy is something you learn in real time. Growth doesn’t happen before you start - it happens while you’re doing the work.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
The advice I would give to young women entering this field is to learn who you are early and not abandon that to fit an image of what you think a therapist should be.
There will be pressure to sound a certain way, show up a certain way, and perform in a way that feels “correct.” Take what’s clinically sound, but don’t lose yourself in the process. Your presence, your voice, and your perspective matter in the room.
Be clear about your boundaries from the beginning. This field will ask a lot of you emotionally and mentally, and if you’re not grounded in what you will and won’t carry, you will burn out. Boundaries are not optional, they are part of being effective.
Also understand that you’re not going to have it all figured out. You learn this work in real time. Give yourself permission to grow, adjust, and develop your clinical identity without rushing it.
And finally, stay committed to your own growth. The work you do on yourself will directly impact the work you’re able to do with others.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest opportunities in the field right now is that LPC Associates can own a practice. That opens doors for clinicians to build something of their own much earlier in their careers, which is a major shift.
At the same time, one of the biggest challenges as a business owner is visibility, being seen so people actually know you’re here and understand the services you offer. Social media has become the primary way to do that, and for me, that’s been a learning curve. I’m right on the cusp of the generation where it was just starting to grow in my early 20s, but it wasn’t what it is today. Now, it’s essential. Learning how to navigate that space effectively has been one of my newer challenges.
Another ongoing responsibility in this field is staying current. There are always new therapeutic modalities, techniques, and approaches emerging, and being effective means staying engaged in that learning process. You have to remain a student in this work.
On the business side, I’m also working through credentialing with insurance, which is a detailed and time-intensive process. It requires patience and consistency, and it’s definitely shown me the level of diligence needed behind the scenes.
From a broader perspective, one of the challenges I experienced personally was finding a training site that truly allowed hands-on clinical work. That process was difficult, and it’s something that stayed with me. It’s also what drives my long-term goal to give back by supporting interns during their practicum and internship. Once I meet the requirements, I plan to open my practice to interns around 2028 so they can have a more supported and meaningful training experience than many of us had.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values that are most important to me, both in my work and in my personal life, are integrity, boundaries, self-awareness, and faith.
Integrity is non-negotiable for me. I believe in showing up the same way across the board, honest, grounded, and aligned in what I say and what I do. That consistency matters, both in the room and outside of it.
Boundaries are a core part of how I live and how I practice. They protect my peace, my energy, and my ability to be present for others without losing myself in the process. I don’t just teach boundaries, I live them, because they are essential to maintaining balance and being effective in this work.
Self-awareness is another key value. I believe you can’t ask people to do the work if you’re not willing to do it yourself. Understanding your patterns, your triggers, and your growth areas is what allows real, lasting change to happen.
Faith is what anchors all of it. It keeps me grounded, especially in moments that feel uncertain or overwhelming, and reminds me that I don’t have to carry everything on my own.
These values guide how I show up in the room, how I run my business, and how I move through my everyday life.
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