Today we’d like to introduce you to DJ Colson.
Hi DJ, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My name is Dylan, though most people know me as DJ. I was born and raised in the small town of New London, North Carolina. I grew up surrounded by a family of helpers; most of my relatives worked in helping professions, so being there for others was instilled in me from a very young age. Looking back, two constant threads running through my childhood were a deep love for music and a natural drive to support those around me.
My path to where I am today was anything but linear. I started my undergraduate journey at Catawba College in Salisbury, NC, as a Music Education major, believing I could bridge my two passions: music and helping others. By my sophomore year, however, I realized that music was better kept as a personal passion rather than a lifelong career. To stay on track and graduate in four years, I had to pivot fast. Since math came easily to me, I switched my major to Business Administration with a concentration in Accounting. In hindsight, that shift was a blessing in disguise, giving me the foundational skills I’d later need to run my own practice.
After graduating on time, I spent several years working in corporate finance from 2014 to 2020, eventually making the move from Salisbury to Charlotte, NC.
Like so many others, the 2020 pandemic forced me to pause and reflect on what I truly wanted out of life. I realized I felt unfulfilled; I constantly caught myself wishing my work contributed more to society, and I spent almost all my free hours outside of work trying to fill that void through volunteering. After sitting down with my partner (now husband) to talk through my options, I decided to take a leap of faith: I returned to Catawba College to pursue a Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling.
Since we were all staying home during the pandemic, it turned out to be the perfect time to go back to school. Throughout graduate school, I found myself drawn toward working with the LGBTQ+ community, individuals navigating addiction, and Black and brown individuals. Following graduation, I gained comprehensive experience across various care settings, from residential, Intensive Outpatient (IOP), and Partial Hospitalization (PHP) programs to traditional outpatient therapy and detox facilities for both mental health and substance use disorders.
Just as I was closing in on completing my residency hours in North Carolina, my partner threw a curveball: he wanted to move back to his home region near Richmond, Virginia. Leaving North Carolina meant walking away from the “704” area code I’d called home my entire life, and I knew Virginia had significantly more stringent licensing requirements for counselors. Despite the hurdle, we made the move to Virginia in 2023.
I took a community-based job with a substance abuse agency in 2023 to complete my required clinical hours. Through that grit and determination, I successfully achieved licensure in both North Carolina and Virginia across both mental health and substance abuse disciplines earning my credentials as an LCMHC and LCAS in North Carolina, and an LPC and LSATP in Virginia.
In 2024, I took the ultimate leap and founded my own practice, Authentic Counseling & Care, PLLC. I wanted the freedom to curate my caseload, focus on my specialties, and directly serve the populations where I felt I could make the greatest impact. While building the business, I balanced several contract positions doing substance abuse assessments for agencies. Today, in 2026, I am proud to say I am fully devoted to my private practice full-time, doing the work I truly love on my own terms.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road, mostly because my path was far from linear. Beyond the external challenges like pivoting degrees mid-college and navigating the strict licensing requirements when moving from North Carolina to Virginia much of the hardest terrain was internal.
Early on, I battled a lot of “what-ifs.” I wrestled with the fear of failure and spent time worrying about how others would perceive my decision to leave a stable finance career. Mental health counseling isn’t always fully understood by everyone, and I wondered if people in my circle would truly grasp what it takes or what it means to be a licensed therapist.
Beyond career anxieties, there was the deeply personal journey of learning to show up in my own life as my full, authentic self. For years, I had been out to close friends and a few family members, but in 2021, I made the intentional choice to live completely authentically regarding my sexuality across all areas of my life.
It became clear to me that if I wanted to empower my clients to embrace who they truly are, I had to model that same courage myself. Recognizing the power of personal authenticity not only transformed my own life, but it also fundamentally shaped how I practice today allowing me to create a safe, genuine space where others feel seen, understood, and supported in doing the same.
As you know, we’re big fans of Authentic Counseling & Care, PLLC. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Authentic Counseling & Care, PLLC is a fully virtual mental health practice providing thoughtful, affirming therapy to adults across Virginia and North Carolina. The practice was founded on a simple premise: therapy should be a space where you can actually be yourself not another place where you have to perform, explain, or fit into someone else’s expectations.
I specialize in working with adults navigating anxiety, major life transitions, identity exploration, relationship dynamics, and substance use or recovery. I have a particular passion for supporting LGBTQ+ and Black and brown individuals and minority populations who too often do not see their lived experiences, cultures, or identities reflected or fully understood in traditional mental health spaces.
What truly sets Authentic Counseling & Care apart is the bridge between deep clinical expertise and a genuinely human, approachable connection. Therapy here isn’t about handing down a list of things you “should” be doing or trying to “fix” you. Instead, it’s about building a space where we can be completely honest about what’s going on, unpack the underlying patterns, and figure out what meaningful progress looks like on your terms.
That commitment to connection also extends beyond the therapy room. I co-lead community meet-up groups with The Black Therapist Social, creating relaxed, welcoming spaces for Black mental health professionals and community members to connect, build relationships, and foster a stronger sense of community. For me, mental wellness is not just about individual therapy, but also about creating opportunities for people to feel connected, supported, and seen.
The name Authentic Counseling & Care was chosen with intention. Authenticity is the cornerstone of both the brand and the therapeutic process. I want my clients to feel comfortable showing up as their complete selves, whether they’re actively discovering who they are, working through recovery, navigating a life shift, or simply trying to feel more grounded day-to-day.
Brand-wise, I am most proud of creating a practice that feels exceptionally warm and approachable without compromising on high-level clinical rigor. Therapy doesn’t have to feel cold, sterile, or detached from real life to be effective. My goal is to maintain a professional standard that never loses the personality, warmth, and realness that make true healing possible.
Because Authentic Counseling & Care is fully telehealth-based, clients across Virginia and North Carolina can access high-quality care with convenience and flexibility. Whether someone is seeking long-term therapy, short-term support during a transitional season, or a dedicated space to gain self-insight, my practice is all about meeting people exactly where they are and helping them move toward where they want to be.
Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
Growing up, my family always described me as a “busy” child. I was always on the move and getting into something! I was the oldest of three, with twin younger siblings five years behind me. As a Black kid growing up in a rural area, I was adventurous, a little quirky, and never quite fit into any neat box or stereotype and honestly, that never bothered me.
Even as a kid, I was open, grounded, and easy to talk to. I was actually on the quieter, shyer side, which meant I spent a lot of time just listening. Looking back, I realize that when people talked to me, it might have been one of the few times someone truly let them speak without interrupting. It always felt like a privilege that friends and family trusted me with their feelings from such an early age.
When it came to interests, music was my whole world. I picked up the trombone in 6th grade and played all the way through college. That deep love for music has stayed with me ever since. I’m a huge fan of live music, go to as many concerts as I can every year, and love collecting vinyl records. If you ever jump on a virtual session with me, you’ll probably spot a few of my favorites hanging in the background!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.authenticc-c.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authenticcounselingcare
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthenticCounselingandCare
