Chamber Insider Blog

Thank you to Dylan Beckner, Founder of Beckner Counseling for sharing their story with us. Congratulations to the Beckner Counseling team on being named a finalist for the 32nd Annual Loudoun Small Business Awards!

Tell us the story of your business and how it has evolved.

I started my private practice in 2020, in the middle of COVID. At the time, I was working on an inpatient mental health unit and really struggled to find therapists with availability for the clients I was discharging. I realized there was a need for more accessible mental health resources, so I decided to open my own practice and become another resource for the community.

What started as a solo practice has grown significantly over the past six years. I’ve had the privilege of adding (now) five therapists to my team, and we are now able to offer a wide range of services, including individual therapy, EMDR, couples counseling, DBT, and art therapy. Watching the practice grow from a one-person operation into a team that can serve so many different needs has been incredibly rewarding.

Dylan Beckner, LCSW,
PMH-C, Founder

What are you most proud of when it comes to your team and/or business?

I’m most proud of the team I’ve built. I’ve been incredibly fortunate that each therapist joined the practice organically, and I’m grateful for the unique skills, personalities, and perspectives each person brings.

Being a solo provider can feel isolating at times, so building a team has been especially meaningful to me. More than anything, I’m proud of how many people we’ve been able to serve together and of the supportive environment we’ve created for both our clients and one another.

What sets your business apart?

Communication has always been one of my biggest priorities. When someone reaches out for therapy, I want them to know that their message matters. We make every effort to respond to potential clients within about 24 hours.

Taking the step to reach out to a therapist can be incredibly difficult, and it can be discouraging or even heartbreaking when someone never receives a reply. We work hard to make therapy feel approachable and to ensure that people feel heard from the very beginning.

In what ways do you give back to or stay involved in the Loudoun community?

I’m actively involved in the Health and Wellness LeadShare through the Loudoun Chamber of Commerce, and our group organizes one to two community events each year. I’m also proud to be a sponsor of Courage Closet, an incredible nonprofit serving our community.

What would it mean to you and your team to win a Loudoun Small Business Award?

Beckner Counseling Team

It would be a tremendous honor. I’m not a Loudoun County native, but I’ve called Loudoun home for the past eight years, and this community has become such an important part of both my personal and professional life.

My involvement and engagement with the Chamber have played a significant role in the success of my business, so receiving a Small Business Award would be especially meaningful. It would be an incredible acknowledgment of the work our team has done and would place us among previous award winners who I deeply admire for the businesses they have built.

Who is one person who has influenced you most in your career?

The social worker at my high school has had the greatest influence on my career. She was there for me when my dad passed away when I was 17. Her warmth, compassion, and kindness made an incredibly difficult time feel a little less overwhelming.

Because of the way she showed up for me, I decided that I wanted to become that person for someone else. She continues to be a role model for me, and so much of what I do is driven by the desire to make other people feel the way she made me feel during one of the most challenging times in my life.

What did you want to be when you grew up?

For as long as I can remember, I wanted to be a marine biologist. I grew up on the beach, and I’ve always loved animals and the ocean.

After experiencing the loss of my dad in high school, my perspective and my goals shifted. Going through grief made me realize how meaningful it can be to have someone there to support you during a difficult time, and that experience ultimately led me toward social work.

When you’re not working, where can we find you or what is another passion you have?

When I’m not at work or at home with my family, my favorite place to be is at the gym. I compete in bikini bodybuilding competitions, so fitness has become a really important part of my life.

With two toddlers at home, the gym is also a place where I can find some peace and have time to focus on myself. It’s a completely different kind of challenge from my work, but I love the discipline and sense of accomplishment that come with it.

How do you see your business evolving over the next five years?

I truly never imagined my business would grow to where it is today, so it’s exciting to think about where we could be five years from now. My goal is to own a building large enough to house our entire team and create a space where we can continue to grow together.

I’d also love to expand our services by having a prescriber on staff and offering psychological testing. Ultimately, I want to create a practice where clients can access a broader range of mental health services under one roof while continuing to maintain the personal, approachable experience that has been so important to us from the beginning.

https://becknercounseling.com/