Today we’d like to introduce you to Dre Johnson
Hi Dre, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I was born and raised in Rochester, NY, a city riddled with poverty and crime. In 2010, Rochester had the lowest graduation rates in the country for Black males at 9% and just 10% for Latino males. Growing up, I lost classmates, teammates, and family to gun violence. I wanted more than anything to beat these odds. Growing up as a Basketball as well as Track & Field athlete instilled a competitiveness in me that I feel has kept me alive. As a teen, I worked at a Community Center in a neighborhood nicknamed “The Crescent of Poverty,” where I supported youth and families, providing food, toys, and childcare for our most vulnerable families. This is where I decided I wanted to become a Social Worker.
I earned my Bachelor’s in Social Work and began working in schools. In 2018, Florida Atlantic University granted me their Provost Fellowship to pursue my Master’s in Social Work. I worked for Broward County Public Schools before moving back to Rochester during the pandemic to help start New York State’s first Mental Health Emergency Response team of Social Workers. In 2022, I moved back to Ft. Lauderdale and started working in outpatient psychotherapy before resigning to open my own therapeutic practice. My practice has grown from just providing therapy to also include a creative clothing brand.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Coming from a school district that didn’t prepare me for college was difficult. My first semester of college I almost dropped out. I went to a Predominantly White Institution (PWI) and faced racism, profiling from police and professors. While away at college, people I grew up with continued to parish to senseless violence. I struggled to focus on my studies. I was one of just to black students in my dorm and felt isolated. I remember having a poster outside of my dorm room of Olympic Gold medalist Usain Bolt and finding it ripped down a with a racial slur written on it. I had to lean on my support system heavily to keep from dropping out of college.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Wellness State LLC, is virtual therapeutic practice and mental health services business dedicated to enhancing the lives of our clients by fostering mental, physical, and emotional well-being. Founded in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, in 2023, our journey began as a teletherapy practice and quickly evolved into a holistic wellness brand. We specialize in the most effective means of treatment for individuals dealing with trauma, depression/anxiety, boundary setting, imposter syndrome, and ADHD. Our approach is rooted in the belief that you are the expert of your life and that with the right tools, you can navigate the challenges of life, to cultivate resilience, self-awareness, and meaningful connections. We strive to provide an incredibly safe space to guide and support you on your path to healing, self-discovery, and a more fulfilling life.
We also offer professional speaking services, workshops, training sessions, merchandise and so much more.
Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
Risk-taking is an integral part of achieving success. In 2022, I decided to quit my 9-5 job and work for myself. I had to lean on my faith. It was not easy but I learned to ask for help. I had to sacrifice. I had to give up who I was to become who I was supposed to be.
Pricing:
- 55 min Individual Therapy session $150
- Virtual Speaking Rate: $150/hr
- In Person Speaking Rate: $200 /hr
- Business Workshop Training Rate: $300/hr
- T shirts, Hoodies, Notebooks $12-$50
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.WellnessStateLLC.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wellnessstatellc
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/1drejohnson
